Meet Jill Lees

We recently connected with Jill Lees and have shared our conversation below.

Jill, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome isn’t something we actually “get over.”
Like grief, it’s something we learn how to be with.

It often shows up during growth or transition—when we’re doing something meaningful or stretching beyond what’s familiar. Rather than trying to silence self-doubt, the work is about changing our relationship to it: noticing it with curiosity, understanding what it’s trying to protect, and not letting it drive our decisions.

Confidence isn’t the absence of doubt. It’s the ability to stay connected to yourself while doubt comes and goes.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of Meer Soul Counseling, where I work with millennial women navigating anxiety, trauma, and grief. Many of the people I work with are high-functioning on the outside but feel overwhelmed or disconnected on the inside.

My approach blends evidence-based trauma therapy, including EMDR and parts-based work, with a relational, human lens. Rather than focusing on fixing or optimizing, the work is about helping people build a more compassionate relationship with themselves during periods of change.

Alongside my clinical practice, I facilitate a growing therapist networking and referral community, creating spaces that emphasize connection, collaboration, and support for clinicians.

Currently, I’m expanding Meer Soul Counseling through multi-state telehealth and regular therapist networking events—all guided by the belief that healing happens best when people feel supported and connected.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First, learning to tolerate uncertainty. Growth rarely comes with clarity first. The ability to keep moving while things feel unfinished or uncomfortable has been essential.

Second, self-awareness. Understanding my own patterns—especially around perfectionism and self-doubt—has shaped both my clinical work and leadership. Investing in therapy, consultation, and honest feedback matters more than people realize.

Third, community. My work became more sustainable and meaningful when I stopped doing it alone. Collaboration and connection have been just as important as skill or knowledge.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is simple: don’t wait until you feel ready. Stay curious, build support early, and let yourself grow in real time.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

Honestly, I’m someone who tends to move quickly and pack a lot in, so this answer is more aspirational than perfect. But if I knew I only had a decade left, I’d want to spend it traveling and prioritizing time with the people I love—friends, family, and chosen community—even if I had to keep reminding myself to slow down.

I’d aim for more shared experiences and fewer rushed moments, knowing I might still move fast, but choosing connection on purpose. Presence, for me, would be a practice rather than a personality trait.

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