It’s actually happening! I’m launching a dream.

If I’m being fully transparent I simultaneously have a million ideas and no idea of what to put into this blog at the same time, but I’ve reached a point you might be familiar with where its simply “time” to begin. So hi! My name is Dr. Jacqueline Benson. I’m a clinical psychologist in California and I’m the founder of Center Stage Psychology.

I’ve been studying and working in behavioral health now for a decade. But I’ve been a performing artist for much longer. Like a lot of performers, despite my experience in front of an audience a lot of my personal and emotional life has been shaped by anxiety and fear. For as long as I can remember I’ve been terrified of my own voice. My journey as a performer began with classical cello, but after reaching the cusp of a professional career I decided to reroute completely and head to graduate school in the Bay Area to study psychology and that is where I completely fell in love with theater. The idea of having a script and being completely liberated from any concern about what to say resonated with me immediately. On stage I feel powerful and my voice feels welcomed and valued. But to get there I have to make it through the audition process which any performer can tell you is a complex, vulnerable and emotionally taxing minefield. It puts you face to face with rejection and launches you headfirst into systems and industries that haven’t historically prioritized the well-being of performers. But if you survive the audition process and book something and make it to center stage in front of an audience, the experience is indescribable. It’s what makes it all worthwhile. It’s why we sacrifice so much to do it. But then inevitably that show or gig ends and performers are left of collect themselves and start the grueling process all over again.

What I’ve realized from my own experiences and working with incredibly talented and creative artists and performers is that our relationship with our audiences, our artistry and our work is unique. It’s shapes how we develop as we study and train, how we begin to see ourselves and who we choose to become in our lives. It defines so many different sides of our emotional and relational experiences. How could something as powerful as performance, art and entertainment not also impact our mental health?

My hope is that Center Stage Psychology becomes a space for exploring how the unique challenges and experiences of artists, performers, entertainment and content creators impacts mental health. If your work demands that you share yourself with an audience my hope is that Center Stage is able to provide resources to help you thrive and care for your mental health and wellness while you navigate those demands. There are a lot of voices out there talking about mental health and wellness right now. But I hope that my voice and Center Stage is able to actively participate in and further meaningful conversations about mental health and wellness in the entertainment and performance industries. My goal is to create and provide helpful resources for identifying ways performers can be better supported in their work. I feel guided by the love and respect I have for the arts and entertainment communities and motivated by the urgency of our rapidly changing media and entertainment landscape. I hope I can make a difference and that in the process I can honor all of the incredible artists, performers and entertainers that I love. Who deserve to be healthy and well while they perform and create. I know these are lofty goals. Hopefully this blog is the first of many tiny steps forward.

Welcome to Center Stage :)