Authentic Beyond The Couch was created from my belief that healing is not confined to the therapy room, it’s a courageous, everyday journey that unfolds in the real spaces of our lives. I wanted to build a place where people feel seen, supported, and reminded that they are not walking their healing path alone. A place where we normalize struggle, debunk perfection, honor the strength it takes to heal, and acknowledge the redemptive power of God and therapeutic work process.

My name is Jirzia Blackman, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker–Supervisor with more than nineteen years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families. I’m also the Founder and CEO of Rhapsody Counseling and Wellness Center. I specialize in trauma and relationships, and I’m passionate about helping people move from pain into connection, wholeness, and new possibility.

My professional background includes work with at-risk children and families, survivors of violence, LGBTQIA+, individuals living with chronic mental illness, and adults navigating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and relational wounds. I hold certifications in EMDR, Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and I am a Level III Gottman Method Couples Therapist. But beyond my credentials, I bring my humanity.

I have been married for eighteen years and I am a mother of three. I worked hard to become who I am today, doing my own healing work in therapy while walking alongside others in theirs. My journey, including the places of brokenness and restoration, is part of the heartbeat of this space and why I love PEOPLE. It reflects my Isaiah 61:3 story, beauty emerging from ashes.

Authentic Beyond The Couch is an extension of that journey. It’s a place for real people, real stories, and real transformation. A space where faith, resilience, and mental health meet.

A home for those seeking authenticity, courage, and community as they grow.