We were lucky to catch up with Jill Tallents recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jill , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
There was a defining moment—but it didn’t come with a title change or a perfect plan. It came when the personal and professional parts of my life collided in a way I couldn’t ignore.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent years working as a social worker across hospital systems, child protection, and schools—advocating for teens in foster care, supporting families through crisis, and navigating some of the most complex systems with very little room for error. I was the steady one, the advocate, the fixer. But underneath all of that, something was stirring.
When my children began facing mental health challenges during their teen years, I saw the gaps more clearly than ever. I didn’t just understand the system—I lived the emotional toll it could take. I realized that therapy couldn’t be another checklist item. It had to be real, human, and radically transparent.
That realization led me to earn my Master’s in Social Work and start practicing therapy in a private agency, where I learned to blend everything I knew—advocacy, intuition, humor, clinical training, and a deep respect for the resilience of young people. That’s when the trajectory of my career truly changed. It wasn’t just about helping—it was about connecting.
Eventually, I launched Ash & Willow, a space that reflects everything I’ve learned: Therapy works best when it’s holistic, honest, and anchored in the belief that people—especially teens and young adults—deserve to feel seen without needing to have it all figured out.
The takeaway? Sometimes the most defining moments aren’t the ones you plan. They’re the ones that ask you to show up differently—more honestly—and invite you to build something you needed yourself.
Jill , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Jill Tallents—a licensed therapist, social worker, and founder of Ash & Willow, a telehealth therapy practice for teens and young adults who are navigating some of life’s biggest transitions. I specialize in anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, conflict resolution, and all the real, messy, in-between moments that don’t always fit neatly into a diagnosis.
My path into this work wasn’t linear, but it’s deeply rooted in two decades of experience walking alongside people during their hardest seasons. I started my career in child protection, foster care advocacy, hospital and school social work—fighting for kids who had no voice in systems that often failed them. I learned how to advocate fiercely, how to listen carefully, and how to stay grounded when everything else felt uncertain.
Eventually, after years of professional experience and personal insight (including raising three teens of my own), I completed my Master’s in Social Work and began practicing therapy in a private agency. It was there I saw how powerful therapy could be when it was done differently—when it wasn’t cold or clinical, but human, collaborative, and sometimes even humorous.
That belief became the foundation of Ash & Willow—a space that is equal parts safe, honest, modern, and faith-friendly. I blend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, motivational interviewing, and person-centered work with a touch of holistic wellness and real-life practicality. Clients come to me when they feel stuck, lost, anxious, or burnt out—and together we figure out a path forward that’s sustainable.
What sets me apart? I don’t do performative professionalism. I meet clients with transparency, warmth, and zero judgment. Therapy with me feels like a conversation with someone who genuinely gets it—someone who’s walked in and out of hard seasons too.
What I’m most proud of is building something from the ground up that reflects both who I am and what people truly need. I want people to know that healing isn’t a perfect process, but it is possible. You don’t have to have it all figured out to start, and you don’t have to do it alone.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Absolutely—without hesitation. I truly believe God placed me on this earth to serve others, and social work has given me the ability to do that in more ways than I ever imagined.
Over the years, I’ve worked in child protection, foster care advocacy, hospital and school social work, and now in private therapy practice. Each chapter has stretched me, shaped me, and reminded me of the sacredness of showing up for people, especially when life gets hard. Social work wasn’t just a job; it was a calling that opened doors to real connection, deep empathy, and powerful transformation.
Now, as a therapist and business owner, I get to walk alongside teens and young adults as they navigate their own stories. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade that for anything. This path chose me as much as I chose it—and I’m grateful every day that I said yes.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
It’s been a combination of community roots, professional integrity, and years of relationship-building. I’ve lived in this area for over 15 years—raising my family, attending a local church, and staying involved in the same schools and neighborhoods where many of my clients live. People know me not only as a therapist, but as someone who’s invested in the well-being of this community.
Professionally, my background in social work has allowed me to build strong, trusted connections with other providers, educators, and systems of care. Over the years, those relationships have grown through collaboration, consistency, and a commitment to ethical, client-centered support.
At Ash & Willow, I bring that same steady, grounded presence into therapy. I protect privacy, maintain clear boundaries, and create a space that feels both safe and supportive. Families trust me because they know I show up—with warmth, honesty, and deep respect for the work we’re doing together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashandwillowmn.com
- Instagram: @ashandwillowmn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jtallents
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-fewson-tallents-msw-lgsw-326135180
Image Credits
Sigrid Dabelstien: https://sigriddabelsteinphoto.com/