Jodi Harris

My Story

Hi – I’m Jodi. I grew up in a small town in Central Texas surrounded by miles-and-miles of ranch land, caliche dust, cedar brush and stars in the night sky as far as the eye can see. I read a lot, free-ranged with my friends anywhere we could pass through the barbed wire, played tons of basketball and had a big imagination. Central Texas is a place that gets under your skin. It’s still my favorite place in the world. But I never thought I’d stay there.

From my earliest memories I was obsessed with far-away places and I dreamed of traveling the world – often looking out across the field behind our house and imaging what would happen if I just started walking. I wasn’t especially brave, but I knew I wanted to travel and a school trip to Mexico City at the age of 14 only solidified my wanderlust. There was no looking back.

Like anyone, there were times when I wasn’t sure where my path would lead.  And yet, no matter where I’ve called home – from Belfast to Antananarivo, from Santo Domingo to Tokyo – living a globally mobile life has been a significant part of what makes me, Me. I can definitely say that living a life in the space between “home” and “away” is my normal.

I created World Tree Coaching to meet the needs of the expat community after years of supporting globally mobile people in a wide-array of settings. The transition has always felt like a calling – merging my background in education, corporate training, mental health and intercultural support. I cannot imagine a more suited path for my passions, beliefs, and world view than supporting people in finding a sense of home no matter where life takes them.

I am incredibly grateful to be able to share this global adventure with my spouse (whom I met while performing Shakespeare in another small Texas town)  and three children. I am nurtured and sustained by their love and shared passion for a global life. And I still like to read, can’t resist picking up a basketball, and will always choose nature over the indoors.

My Professional Background

I have been a coach since I launched World Tree Coaching in October 2013. I currently hold the International Coach Federation’s’ Associate Certified Coach (ACC)  credential. I have a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin with a focus on Clinical Social Work and Conflict Resolution. I am also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Texas and Virginia*. I believe deeply in the importance of cultivating an understanding of the connections between the mind and body. I am a mindfulness teacher – recognized as a Senior Facilitator in Personal Leadership and certified to teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). I have worked in settings ranging from health care, mental health, education, corporate and non-profit training, and program management. I’m a passionate advocate for the globally mobile community and am proud to serve as Vice President on the Executive Committee of Families in Global Transition.

I have worked with individuals who are experiencing the challenges of cross-cultural adaption for nearly 20 years. My experience includes work with immigrants to the United States, students, trauma survivors, serial expats, diplomats and members of the military and their family members, and Peace Corps volunteers.

*I do not provide clinical social work or therapy/counseling services through World Tree Coaching, LLC. If you are looking for information on my clinical social work background, more information is available here. 

My Beliefs

The World Tree, an ancient spiritual symbol, perfectly captures my core belief that living between cultures offers an incredible gift of learning. It represents strength and sustenance. It symbolizes stretching up to the heavens, grounding down to the Earth and reaching out for the experiences that help us grow.