Her Story
About Jillian
I've always been a helper at heart, and I believe life's challenges and joys are not meant to be navigated alone. I've always been drawn to hearing other people's stories and walking alongside people through their good days and bad days. I've struggled with anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, and panic attacks myself, so I know deep down how it feels to be in the midst of a mental health struggle and not know where to turn. I also have a child who struggles with mental health conditions, and that was really isolating to navigate alone and often felt really judged. I knew that I wanted to help other people know that their experiences were valid, were not shameful, and to know that there are resources available to help them and their loved ones navigate the ups and downs. I feel like everybody has their needs, and everybody should feel like they are heard and understood. I like to provide a space of calm and comfort to everyone who needs it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jillian
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't be afraid to shift gears. Everybody seems to think they have to have it figured out - they need to graduate high school, go to college, pick their major, get right into their career, and stay there for the rest of their life. But nothing in life is constant. The only constant is change, and it's okay to make pivots as often as you need to, as long as you're following your desires and staying true to your core values.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get out of your own way. Don't feel like you have to have it all figured out, or like you have to know everything about everything. There's plenty of time to learn as we go, and as long as you have an open mind and an open heart, you're gonna be fine.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One challenge is definitely legislation that attacks human rights. I'm fortunate to live in an area where we generally respect the rights of others, but there are definitely other areas of our country that are not so lucky right now. Another challenge is that mental health is not so concrete as physical health, and that can be frustrating. People want a simple answer - you go to the doctor for strep throat and it's easy to get a prescription and leave feeling better, but mental health takes time, and it's highly customized to each person. You constantly have to be thinking outside of the box, and you constantly have to be learning and assessing new things. And then there's also just avoiding burnout. We deal with really complex things, and we have to manage our own mental health and well-being as well.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity, honesty, kindness, compassion, empathy, adventure, growth, and lifelong learning are the values most important to me.
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