Jasmin Peralta
Jasmin Peralta is a dedicated mental health counselor whose life’s work has been shaped by decades of service, advocacy, and cross-cultural experience. Her journey began as a Catholic nun and missionary, spending nearly 20 years in South Korea from 1990 to 2004. During that time, she worked closely with children with developmental challenges, supported hospice and community health efforts, and collaborated with clinics and outreach teams to provide care for vulnerable populations. Over time, her mission expanded into advocacy, where she became deeply involved in supporting migrant workers and trafficked women—offering counseling, connecting them to medical and legal resources, and helping them find safety and stability.
Driven to deepen her impact, Jasmin pursued a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, funding her education independently through international support. She later returned to Korea, where she contributed to groundbreaking research on the trafficking of Filipino, Russian, and Korean women working in entertainment districts near U.S. military bases. Alongside this research, she provided direct, compassionate care—often building trust through creative and patient-centered approaches that allowed survivors to process trauma at their own pace. Her work not only supported individuals in crisis but also helped bring broader awareness to systemic issues affecting marginalized women.
After relocating to the United States in 2004, Jasmin transitioned into community-based mental health care, eventually settling in Massachusetts where she now works as an in-home therapist. She provides counseling to children and families—many from underserved and Medicaid populations—meeting them where they are and addressing complex challenges related to trauma, family dynamics, and access to resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she expanded her skill set by training in Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT), integrating techniques such as hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and neuro-linguistic programming to help clients uncover and heal deep-rooted issues. Passionate about empowering women, she has also developed a domestic violence support model centered on small, sustainable communities where survivors can support one another. As she looks toward the next chapter of her career, Jasmin remains grounded in her belief that true healing is realized when those once supported become advocates for others.
• Master's Degree in Psychology
• Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) Certification
• Ateneo de Manila University
Master of Arts - MA, Counseling Psychology
• University of San Jose-Recoletos
Bachelor in Commerce, Accounting
• Northeast Family Services
• My Sister's Place (Turibang) - Korea
• Trafficking and migrant worker advocacy
• Domestic violence shelter support
• Homeless outreach and meal distribution
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say I had a very strong support system in my family. My father, especially, was very supportive. I come from a family of eight children, and I'm the second youngest. I've always been quite outspoken, and even though I sometimes came across as a bit of a rebel, my dad never really turned away from me. He would even say things like, 'Are you sure you want to take her on?' jokingly, because once I felt strongly about something, I would talk it through until it was fully resolved. As I got older, my father continued to include me in conversations and decisions, and that relationship stayed close. I was definitely wild growing up, but I always carried a sense of responsibility and never did anything that would bring shame to my family. There was a quiet, unspoken understanding between my father and me that stayed consistent over time.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be financially capable. You have to study, because regardless, you have to have an education to have the edge in the working field. The more educated you are, the better your chances of getting a well-paid job. It's easier to leave a relationship when it's no longer healthy if you're financially independent. I have a child turning 21 now who is trans, which was a big challenge for me. It took me a while to understand and fully accept that. One of the things I learned is that once I accepted my kid for the choices they made, using the correct pronouns became easier for me. In the beginning, it was just so difficult. My kid didn't want to go to school immediately, and I encouraged them because I believed going to school early could help them finish sooner and start their career younger. But they told me, 'Mom, I'm not ready, I don't want to have student loans,' and I said, 'Okay, take your time, but remember, don't wait too long.' My kid had seen the work I do and everything, and now he's taking psychology too, which makes me happy. We have these long conversations at night.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
For me, it's honesty. I give my best regardless of your status in life. I give my full attention to everyone I work with. In the workplace, whether clients are commercial clients or Medicaid clients, I don't make a distinction. Everybody deserves quality of service, regardless of who you are. I believe that when the provider's effort is more than the client's, then the provider needs to pack up and leave, because it becomes enabling behavior. I will say, come back when you're ready, because right now you're wasting my time and I'm wasting yours.