Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime Stepansky Jessica Hallberlin
Hi Jaime Stepansky, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Jaime: Jessie and I met during our freshman year of college at the University of Georgia, where we were roommates. We later attended Smith College School for Social work and then, after years of working in various non-profit, agency, and private practices settings, we decided to team up and build Devon’s Place.
For years, we talked about the practice we would one day have and the good work we would do, but we were too busy building our separate careers to get started. Then, in early 2024, Jessie’s best friend Devon passed away tragically from brain cancer. We came together as friends, and decided that life was too short and relationships too precious to wait any longer to pursue our dreams.
We went through many names for our future business, all of them important in their own way, but none as special as naming our business for what we value most — relationships, connections, healing through love, giving back, and facing hard things together. Devon represents all of these attributes and we’re proud to carry her legacy forward.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Jaime and Jessie: We have been best friends for years and been through so many challenges together. As we work to grow our business, we are also constantly working together to support one another through everything that life throws at us. We channel our personal values of relationships, love, and support into the professional values of our practice.
Jaime’s response: One of the exciting obstacles that has come up since starting Devon’s Place was my decision to grow my family. I’m currently 8 months pregnant! And I could not imagine growing my family, while simultaneously growing and running a small business without Jessie’s partnership and support.
Jessie’s response: In December 2024, I found out I had a very rare type of cancer and underwent major surgery. Jaime has been by my side throughout this entire process and has done an amazing job supporting me and stepping up to take care of things with our business while I was healing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Devon’s Place treats children, adolescents and adults with a wide range of challenges. There are currently five therapists at Devon’s Place who specialize in a variety of mental health challenges including LGBTQ+ related concerns/challenges, OCD, anxiety, mood disorders, grief and loss, adoption related concerns/challenges, neurodivergence, and more. As a team, we offer individual, family, parenting, and group therapy, as well as various training opportunities for the community.
We place a strong emphasis on relationships and connection, both within our practice and the family systems we serve. Jessie and I try to cultivate this relationship first-/connection first- environment by making intentional space each week to check in personally and professionally, both individually and as a team, and also to collaborate and learn from each other. We believe everyone on our team is a valuable asset and has something we can all learn and grow from.
Devon was an educator and non-profit leader who highly valued giving back to her community. Above all, Devon was a dear friend and someone who truly dedicated her life to seeing the best aspects of everyone she encountered. We are most proud to honor Devon’s legacy with Devon’s Place by helping individuals and families grow, heal and (re)connect.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Devon was an educator and non-profit leader who highly valued giving back to her community. Above all, Devon was a dear friend and someone who truly dedicated her life to seeing the best aspects of everyone she encountered. We are most proud to honor Devon’s legacy with Devon’s Place by helping individuals and families grow, heal and (re)connect.
Pricing:
- $150
- $175
- Sliding scale available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.devonsplace.org
