Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jillian Ziesmer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jillian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

A risk is letting go of the need for certainty, security, or succumbing to mainstream belief systems of the dominant culture. A risk is tapping into your inner voice and following your authentic path. It’s about honoring your truth. In my own life and career, if I get into a state of comparison and see my differences from others as being indicative of inadequacy or inferiority, then I am not valuing my authentic self. It is a risk to embrace my authentic self because I may be in the minority of what I choose to do, which can feel more vulnerable. However, I would rather look back at my life knowing that I took risks that supported my innermost passions, dreams, and desires. Risks I have taken include going back to school in adulthood for my bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees to follow a dream I had as a young teenager to be a psychotherapist. Personal life events deterred me from attending university directly after high school, yet deepened and enriched my ability to feel and understand the experiences of others in a way in which textbooks cannot provide. I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a psychotherapist and I took the risks I deemed necessary to attain my goal. There have been financial risks, such as student debt or maybe not earning as much as others. There has also been the risk of dedicating so much time to education and training for a career that does not necessarily guarantee a certain amount of financial security, but that fulfills my soul and purpose. The time dedicated to this career path has meant some level of sacrifice in other areas of my life, which can be viewed as a risk. However, after getting licensed as a psychotherapist, all of the risks I have taken have proven to be worth it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My interest in helping others began as a teenager when I worked as a volunteer peer counselor at a crisis hotline called Teen Line at Cedar Sanai Hospital. As an adult, I later returned to this place to supervise the teens during one of my internships.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. In my private practice, I work with individual adults and couples via telehealth in California. Through a collaborative relationship with the client, I explore family dynamics, relationship patterns, and underlying feelings and unconscious drives that impede a sense of well being. Some of the issues I treat include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, recovery, trauma (emotional, physical, sexual), suicidal ideation, grief/loss, cancer survivors, LGBTQ, and pre-marital counseling/relationship/marital issues. I help clients explore their feelings, past experiences, present situations, and hopes for the future. I utilize different therapeutic modalities and approaches based on the client’s individual needs and treatment goals. My goals for clients are to increase their understanding of themselves, challenge negative thought patterns, develop healthy relationships, and work through obstacles blocking them from discovering their truth and reaching their highest potential. I am excited about helping clients find a deeper understanding of themselves, cultivate personal growth, and improve relationships.

What sets me apart from others and what I am proud of is my diverse training and experience. I have worked with a wide variety of populations in different environments; from a locked psychiatric hospital, to inpatient and outpatient treatment centers for acute mental illness and substance abuse, to detox inpatient, to crisis hotlines, to various kinds of group therapy, and to individual and couples therapy in a private practice setting. This has enriched my practice and experience as a psychotherapist. Furthermore, I continue to attend advanced trainings in specified areas, such as couples counseling, as well as participate in a consultation group with other psychotherapists.

My education, training, and experience have helped me grow into the therapist I am today. I have two master’s degrees (MA in Psychology and MA in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy) from Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology (BA in Psychology) from California State University Dominguez Hills. I also have an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Santa Monica College.

I received extensive training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at The Maple Counseling Center working with individual adults, as well as training in working with couples using Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and an informed approach in Emotion-Focused Therapy.

My experience and training with individuals, couples, and groups also includes chronic mental illness and severe psychopathology at Exodus
Recovery Inc in a locked psychiatric facility as well as outpatient; acute mental illness at Resilience Treatment Center at levels of IOP, PHP, and residential; substance abuse at Forward Recovery at IOP, residential, and detox; supervising adolescents on a crisis hotline at Teen Line at Cedar Sinai Hospital; individual and couples
counseling in private practice under the
supervision of Margaret Hickman, LMFT 87976; suicide crisis counseling at the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center; and working with individual adults, teens, and couples at Meridian Counseling.

I have training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and I am informed in and have experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy, as well as mindfulness practices.

I served as president of the Maple Alumni Association, for which I organized and hosted events for psychotherapists featuring respected professionals in the field of mental health.

I have experience as a preschool teacher, an early interventionist, a social skills interventionist, and a behavior interventionist working with children with special needs using Applied Behavior Analysis.

I was featured on two podcasts discussing the topic “Managing Anxiety and Depression during the Pandemic” (Speaking Up for Mental Health podcast at The Maple Counseling Center and Guiding Compass podcast episode 43: Coping with COVID-19 at Meridian Counseling).

I got to where I am today in my career with persistence and determination. Rather than getting discouraged, I chose to view any kind of rejection as a form of pointing me in the right direction. Although I have the education, training, and experience to support what I do, I continue to grow and remain open to learning. I view my career as part of the journey, not the destination, in that evolving as a psychotherapist is an ongoing process.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I define success as doing what fulfills your soul and purpose. Knowing your truth and living in that truth. Becoming your authentic self. Doing and being what is true for you, even if that path is different from others.

To be successful in the mental health field, self-care is vital. As a therapist, I practice a lot of self-care. What I do for self-care has a very big impact on my effectiveness. I am in my own personal therapy, which allows me to be more present and aware of my emotional and psychological state. I think it’s important for therapists to be in their own personal therapy since this type of work can be very intense on a lot of levels. Connecting with nature is part of my self-care. Hiking, yoga, dancing, beach walks, or going to the park are some of the activities I enjoy. I have a daily meditation practice, which I have been doing since 2005. In addition, I engage in daily personal writing, like journaling, which allows me to work through and process whatever is coming up for me. Writing gives me a lot of clarity. Spending time with friends and having meaningful connections is also part of my self-care.

Additionally, part of self-care and succeeding can be through connection with the mental health community and networking. Networking can be helpful in building your business, learning, collaborating, and exchanging information. I am immensely grateful for networking with other psychotherapists and the supportive mental health community. Mentorship is also important. I have had many mentors, such as supervisors or other professionals in the mental health field, who have guided me and provided me with insight and knowledge to help me grow and expand.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

If I could go back, I would definitely choose the same profession. My work as a therapist is meaningful and purposeful. As a young child, I was able to listen and hold space for others. I had a deep capacity for empathy. When I began volunteering as a peer counselor at a crisis hotline when I was a teenager, counseling came very naturally to me. In my own personal experience, I have benefited tremendously when I have been met with empathy and given space to heal and explore difficult experiences and situations. It is very rewarding to be a part of someone’s journey of growth, healing, and exploration. My purpose is to not only continuously work on personal growth, but also to help others navigate through their relationship with themselves, others, and the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: jillianziesmertherapy.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jillianziesmertherapy @jillianziesmertherapy
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jillianziesmertherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-ziesmer