Jocelyn Johnson, MS 1993, RN, PMHCNS, BC

Tell us a little about your background:

I grew up in a large family and spent my childhood mainly in a few spots in Massachusetts and Connecticut. In college, I initially got a BS in Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In the class of 1979, I was one of a small number of women. Though I loved studying math and science, I found the work culture to be unfulfilling.  After four years working in aerospace I took time off to reflect on finding a more suitable career path. 

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I became drawn to health interests while trying to address some of my own health problems as an undergrad.  Those interests became more compelling after losing a younger sister to leukemia in the early 1980’s. With this loss, my framework of health interests and self-directed study became broader and included holistic and integrative ways of self-care.

What brought you to study at UMass Amherst?

Pursuing health interests via the conventional route, I initially started Registered Nursing (RN) nursing studies at Greenfield Community College, graduating with an Associate of Nursing degree in 1988. I made use of the UMass School of Nursing coursework path to bridge into a MS (Masters of Science) degree program at UMass with a focus in psych and mental health.

What were some of the highlights of your education and/or career experiences after completing your UMass Amherst degree

These were intense years as I was working as an RN part time, raising a young child and taking a full course load. There was an occasional evening class when I had no childcare and brought my daughter to class. Thankfully, she played quietly then went to sleep and apart from my heavier load to the car all went well. One year I was a research assistant for Dr. Dorothy Gilbert, which was both interesting and lessened my tuition costs. I enjoyed the varied practicums in different clinical settings, particularly the consultation liaison practicum where I was asked to consult about team culture and make team building recommendations to the clinicians at Amherst College Health Services.

Working, while in grad school, in palliative care, inpatient psych and hospice settings help me with my initial sense of post-grad direction. With my MS in 1993, I accepted a position in community mental health at River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC) in Holyoke. This was a great place to learn as I worked in both a day program treatment team and in a medication clinic team. As a Department of Mental Health designated provider, RVCC served a high percentage of clients with chronic mental health conditions. This unique setting was excellent preparation to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center exam in 1995. I then began prescribing medications under the supervision of the clinic’s medical director who was a wonderful mentor.

In 2000, when the managed care squeeze hit in mental health, I started a small private practice and transitioned to this full time over about 5 years. Private practice made it possible to raise the ceiling on what I could bring to my clinical setting as I set my own schedule and increased my focus beyond meds to include integrative approaches and individual therapy. Starting in 2010 much of my continuing education focus became in functional medicine. Bringing this learning into my practice fulfilled long held aims to provide holistic and integrative care.

I retired from clinical practice in 2021 and recently published a memoir, A Path Forward: My Journey to Find Healing through Integrative Medicine, about using integrative methods instead of conventional ones to heal from my 2015 recurrence of endometrial cancer. With a low grade and stage cancer recurrence and a harsh but minimally effective treatment proposed, I postponed going with the conventional route and went full tilt into reversing my cancer by more natural methods. Thankfully the tools I used worked. In June 2023 I presented a poster session at the Institute for Functional Medicine’s annual meeting on my case of cancer reversal and resolution.

What do you enjoy doing for fun?

I play the ukulele in a local meetup group. This is such a joy! I have also been honing my public speaking abilities through Toastmasters for several years. Though initially quite challenging, with gaining greater confidence and speaking skills, it has become gratifying.  I love to travel to beautiful natural settings and spend time in the great outdoors. Yoga and meditation are daily sources of rebalancing and contentment. Spending time with family and friends also feels wonderful.

What are your plans for the future? 

Since publishing my memoir, I have been on a crash course to do more with social media. My experience with holistic and integrative methods of treatment, both professionally and personally, has raised my sense of the need for the incorporation of a greater breadth of integrative options in educational and clinical settings. I plan to continue seeking out like-minded clinicians and educators. Furthering holistic and integrative care is ultimately about empowering people to be effective in self-care and to be the effective hub of their team of care providers. I’d like to see what I can contribute to fostering the inclusion of these emphases into healthcare generally.

What is your favorite quote or philosophy? 

Many interests feed my growth edge. In recent years I’ve gotten a lot out of reading various books about Buddhism and neuroscience. There’s a great synergy happening as Western science and Eastern contemplative teachings come together.