We were lucky to catch up with Lillian Molayem recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lillian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

From a really early age, my parents always stressed the importance of hard work. They didn’t only emphasize it subtly, but they drove it, militantly. I am a child of immigrants, who did not come into this country with much. They both worked really hard to give us more than they had, and it was never an option for me to slack off. While at times, I really wanted to be able to relax and, for example, not go to math tutoring courses on the weekend, I can now really appreciate the high standards they helped me set for myself.

Lillian, 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 currently on a variety of different paths! I’m practicing as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with my own private practice, working with children with learning and behavioral support needs. I’m in graduate school, pursuing licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am also pursuing music in a way different than I have in the past, releasing and performing under the name Lilli Joon. I just released my first EP (a very longstanding goal), entitled, ‘Dwelling’.

In terms of my Private Practice, I can say it was quite the learning curve! I am so grateful for the trust my clients have placed in me, and am so privileged for the opportunity to collaborate and work with families towards greater purpose and wellness.

Working while being in school has been tough to manage, however, I love school and I love being able to apply what I’m learning to my current case load. I am so inspired to be the best provider I can be.

My new music path, I’ll have to say, is the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. And it’s definitely been so rewarding! It feels like the first time I’m doing something that my parents maybe wouldn’t have approved of, and I’m doing it just for me. Similarly, I have been so dedicated to helping others achieve their personal goals over the years and in a way, I have been neglecting my own. My pursuits with my music reflect committed actions towards meeting myself in unfamiliar, sometimes scary, but ultimately, life affirming ways.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I really love meeting people, talking to them about their experiences, and building community. This inclination towards community building has been integral to building my clientele! It’s been such an exciting process to meet other professionals in my/related fields and build a community of support- for consultation and referral purposes.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

As I mentioned, my parents had many well-established values regarding hard work and practicality. An upside: I grew into a very strong, driven individual. A downside of this was that I really struggled with allowing myself to dream and do things that were fulfilling but not the most practical. Unlearning practical decisions were the only ones worth taking has allowed for me to pursue music, writing, and other creative pursuits (alongside all the practical professional ventures). I feel so fulfilled now that I’ve zoomed out enough to strike a balance here.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lillianmolayembcba.com (BCBA Private Practice), www.lillianmakesthings.com (Music/Writing/Creative)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillijoon_/ (Music Instagram), www.instagram.com/lillianmolayembcba (BCBA Instagram)

Image Credits
Corey Leiter Charlie Weinmann