Researcher, Bibliotherapy Guide, Yoga Teacher & Shepherd
About Jen
Jen Yontz-Orlando's work thrives at the intersection where healing meets storytelling. As a writer, researcher, and therapeutic writing guide, she creates spaces where narratives become pathways to transformation.
Her approach is uniquely informed by the cultural contrasts of her Colombian heritage and Appalachian roots—a rich tapestry that influences both her personal creative practice and her work with others. Through memoir writing, Jen explores how cultural identities shape our personal narratives and understanding of self.
Her photography captures the quiet, overlooked moments of beauty in everyday life, reflecting her belief that significance often resides in life's subtle details.
As a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, she incorporates mindful breathing and presence into her artistic process, creating a holistic approach to creativity and healing.
These seemingly distinct practices form a unified journey of understanding how stories shape human experience. The rhythms of rural life in Keswick—from nurturing family connections to tending sheep—ground Jen's work in the ordinary moments where our most meaningful narratives often emerge.
Education and Professional Foundations:
* Certified Journal Facilitator, TWI, Denver, CO - ongoing
* Specialized Training in Holistic Wellness Approaches, Amrit Yoga - Ongoing
* Certified Journal to the Self Instructor, Therapeutic Writing Institue, 2023
* Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor in the Amrit Yoga Lineage of Light, 2021
* Master's in Library Science, Valdosta State University, 2011
* Master's in Business Administration, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 2005
* Bachelor of Arts, Journalism, Loyola University, NOLA, 1999
Research & Academic Recognition:
* Presenter, International Academic Librarian Convention, ATL, (2018)
* Published Researcher specializing in Bibliotherapy for Mental Health
in International Research in Higher, (2017) https://doi.org/10.5430/irhe.v2n2p67
* Spectrum Scholar, American Library Association (2015)
Community Support and Awards:
* Chronic Pain and Illness Group Leader, Lee Health, Ft. Myers, Florida - Ongoing
* NAMI, Lee County Volunteer Award, 2013
* NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Certified Family Group Leader and State Group leader and trainer, 2012