Dr. Jillian LaFrance
Dr. Jillian LaFrance is a forensic psychology educator and behavioral health professional whose work focuses on reentry, community integration, and supporting individuals living with serious mental illness. Her career has been shaped by both professional experience and deeply personal understanding. Growing up in a family impacted by bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, OCD, anxiety, and depression, and later navigating her own bipolar diagnosis after years of misdiagnosis, she developed a profound commitment to supporting individuals living with serious mental illness. Her journey in behavioral health began working with children and elderly individuals as a Direct Support Professional and Behavioral Health Professional before moving into a special purpose school, where she helped students with aggressive behaviors and mental health challenges transition back into public school settings. She later spent more than two years in Child Protective Services before finding her calling in forensic and correctional mental health work.
For the past eight years, Dr. LaFrance has worked as an Intensive Case Manager and Housing Coordinator within Maine’s correctional system. In this role, she supports incarcerated individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders, helping connect them with housing, treatment, and community resources to reduce recidivism and improve long-term stability. She collaborates closely with attorneys, prosecutors, judges, probation officers, and service providers to develop individualized stabilization plans that support successful reintegration into the community. Known for approaching clients with compassion rather than judgment, she believes strongly that people are capable of healing, growth, and change. The moments that stay with her most are the deeply human ones, such as when a client tearfully thanked her for the support she provided during one of the hardest periods of their life, reminders that the work she does truly matters.
Alongside her work in case management and forensic behavioral health, Dr. LaFrance is also a remote adjunct professor of forensic psychology at South College, where she teaches and mentors future professionals. She values the unique balance of working simultaneously on the front lines of behavioral health while helping educate the next generation of professionals and advocates. In addition to teaching, she serves as an IRB Board Member for Reach University and contributes as a blogger for the International Bipolar Foundation, using both research and lived experience to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness. As a 2025 Mainebiz 40 Under 40 honoree, Dr. LaFrance is recognized not only for her professional accomplishments, but also for her determination, advocacy, and unwavering belief in meeting people with empathy, dignity, and hope.
• PhD in Psychology
• Walden University - PhD in Psychology, Concentration in Forensics
• Walden University - MS in Psychology
• University of Phoenix - BS in Psychology
• Maine Biz 40 Under 40 (2025)
• American Psychological Association
• National Society of Leadership and Success
• Golden Key International Honor Society
• Psi Chi International Honor Society
• International Bipolar Foundation Volunteer Blogger
• Reach University IRB Board Member
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, compassion, and perseverance. My work in mental health has always been deeply personal, shaped by both my family’s experiences and my own journey living with bipolar disorder. Those experiences gave me a profound understanding of the importance of empathy, consistency, and advocacy for individuals who are often misunderstood, marginalized, or overlooked.
For the past eight years, I have worked as an Intensive Case Manager and Housing Coordinator within Maine’s correctional system, supporting individuals living with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders as they navigate reentry and work toward rebuilding stable, meaningful lives after incarceration. I also teach forensic psychology remotely at South College, where I have the opportunity to share both academic knowledge and real-world experience with future professionals.
One of my proudest accomplishments was earning my PhD while working full time, raising my daughter as a single mother, and commuting long distances for work. That experience reinforced my belief that resilience, determination, and purpose can carry people through even the most difficult challenges.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received was to never sacrifice your mental health, well-being, or family for your career. In helping professions especially, it’s easy to pour so much into supporting others that you forget to take care of yourself. I’ve learned that self-care, setting boundaries, and taking mental health days when needed are not signs of weakness, they’re necessary for longevity and balance.
I also believe it’s important to make time for the people who matter most. Career success means very little if you are too burned out to enjoy your life or be present for your family.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to hang in there, because it can be a difficult road at times. This field is incredibly rewarding, but it is not always easy. Self-care is especially important when working in behavioral health and related professions.
There is a significant need for more professionals in this field, particularly those who lead with empathy, compassion, and resilience. The journey to get where you want to be, through education, training, and entry-level positions, can feel overwhelming at times, but the work is meaningful and worth it.
The most important thing is to stay grounded in your purpose. Even during the difficult moments, you have the opportunity to make a genuine difference in someone’s life, and that makes the challenges worthwhile.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the field right now is the growing demand for qualified mental health and behavioral health professionals, while many organizations still require years of prior experience before giving people an opportunity to enter the field. It can be difficult for new professionals to gain experience when so many positions require experience to begin with.
I am incredibly grateful that South College gave me the opportunity to teach and continue building my experience in higher education. Opportunities like that are important because this field urgently needs more compassionate, dedicated professionals.
At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity for growth in areas such as forensic behavioral health, reentry services, community integration, and mental health advocacy. There is increasing recognition of the importance of mental health support, particularly for underserved and justice-involved populations, and that creates opportunities to improve systems, reduce stigma, and make meaningful long-term change.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion, empathy, and advocacy are some of the values that matter most to me in both my personal and professional life. I am especially passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder and other serious mental illnesses. Too often, the media portrays people with bipolar disorder as unstable or violent, when in reality many individuals living with the condition are successful, compassionate, and highly accomplished.
I believe strongly in helping people recognize their own value and treating others with dignity and understanding, especially those who are often misunderstood or overlooked. Some of the most meaningful moments in my career have come from working with incarcerated individuals who simply needed support, compassion, and someone who believed in their ability to grow and change.