In her pre-pandemic professional life, Jaclyn Borgia of Ivyland counseled patients in person. Using the moniker The Sassy Shrink, she transitioned to virtual sessions last August. The Reporter Online chronicled the progression.

Borgia felt as a teen she had the gift of empathy that would make her an appropriate healer.

The death of a classmate hit her particularly hard. “It plummeted me into a caregiving role,” she remembered.

In her post-education years, the startup of her business wasn’t exactly a smooth liftoff. She found the support from the Bucks County Chapter of SCORE — an entrepreneurial mentoring service — to be invaluable.

With her coach, Borgia formed a business plan, set her budget, hired a staff, and set her goals. The Sassy Shrink came to life.

When COVID-19 emptied her waiting room, Borgia vowed to “meet people where they are.” She knew that meant connecting in their living rooms via technology.

“There’s such a need, truly,” Borgia said. “I didn’t realize that I had a skill of being able to push all this good magic through the phone or Zoom.”

She now counsels clients online from all 50 states. The growth in business necessitated additional therapists, all of whom are credentialed in specialties like body image or relationships.

More on The Sassy Shrink is at The Reporter Online.