What Survived, Can Also Lead.
My work at Develop Your Authority© is rooted in one profound truth: real authority is built on the ability to survive your own dismantling. For years, I mapped the human psyche, only to realize that my own "broken" moments were actually when my potential was expanding the most.
I believe there is a necessary phase of psychological decomposition, a time when the masks we’ve worn begin to dissolve. For me, finding true agency required deep isolation; a time when the world went quiet so I could finally hear my own voice.
Your greatest destiny isn't a destination; it’s who you become while you are in the void. When your truth finally speaks, I am here to provide steady guidance and the heart to listen.
This Was My Story
I did not come to this work easily. My early life was shaped by relentless abuse and neglect, and later, at age 35, my body collapsed under the weight of neurological Lyme disease and variety of autoimmune illnesses. I spent years confined to a bed, and then in a wheelchair.
_____________________
I was being forced to confront
what could not be outrun or overridden.
________________________
Recovery did not arrive through traditional methods alone. It mostly came through surrender, acceptance, and the slow reconstruction of my inner world. I reclaimed my life by evolving from the inside out. Now, with my work rooted in neutrality, I teach others how to return to agency, stability, and self-leadership. This path was born from lived experience, resilience, and a quiet strength created in my darkest hours.
If Adversity
Shapes You,
Let Your Authority Be The Result.
________
Transformed In The Dark
I imagine many who find this website carry painful or complex life histories, because kindred spirits tend to recognize one another. My own background has been layered and demanding, offering both deep challenges and profound opportunities for healing and growth.
As a young adult, I realized that meaningful change required guidance, not willpower alone. I actively sought out positive role models and teachers, working with skilled psychologists, mentors, and guides across multiple disciplines from Eastern traditions to Indigenous wisdom lineages.
Ultimately, I returned to school, integrating formal education with disciplined frameworks, then shaped them into a coherent practice.
Forged Through The Fire
"My core belief as a coach and counselor is that when someone is given the right tools, old wounds can serve as a foundation in which wisdom and grace can emerge."
- Jessica Gracie
Embraced By Light
Today, I run a coaching practice devoted to helping others find their way back to themselves. I share the skills, presence, and support that once carried me through my own darkness, guiding people to the core of who they were before trauma took hold. I have reclaimed my life and I believe deeply in your capacity to reclaim yours.
Education &
Coaching Credentials
The Women's Leadership Institute for Conscious Coaching
2006 - 2007
The Hawaii Wellness Institute
Master UnTherapy Practitioner
Teaching Certification
Completed a 64-hour post graduate teacher training of the UnTherapy® Program and Internship with all the rights and privileges of a proficient mentor and teacher in the fields of UnTherapy®, Positive Psychology, and Reality Therapy.
Certified Personal Development Consultant
Consulting Certification
Intensive study of life management, personal development consulting, and professional peer mentoring. 64-hour certification program.
Certified Life Coach
Life Coaching Certification
Successfully completed the 64-hour intensive study on the integrative approaches of positive psychology, mindfulness, and solution-based problem solving earning all the rights and privileges of a professional mentor.
Certified Wellness Counselor
Counseling Certification
Certified as a Wellness Counselor completing the 64-hour intensive studies with all the rights and privileges of a proficient mentor specializing in the holistic approaches of life management, personal development, consulting, and wellness counseling.
C.
“I’ve worked with Jessie for more than 5 years, through many different challenges and life changes. Her ability to apply a unique blend of empathy and practicality to any situation is truly remarkable. She is not only a great listener, but actually helps move the needle in problem solving. Her gift at synthesizing our sessions in notes I can refer back to is an added bonus. I highly recommend her to anyone who is ready to embrace change- big or small- and lean into their own agency to make things happen.”
Find Your Voice.
Join Our Email List
Photography: Sunnie Major & Jay Leiva
All Rights Reserved © 2026 by DYA
