We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jillian Ziesmer . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jillian below.
Hi Jillian , so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
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.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
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 others find a deeper understanding of themselves, cultivate personal growth, and improve relationships.
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).
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?
Three areas that were, and still are, impactful on my journey are mentorship, networking, and continued education and training.
Training under or learning from highly skilled mentors has been important for me on my journey. Learning from their experience and knowledge has been very beneficial in my career. For example, when I was training as a therapist, I learned from a lot of different supervisors at my various internships. Continuing to seek mentorship and learn from those who have more experience is also important for me as a licensed therapist. I value growth, which means that I have to continue to be open to learning and expanding my knowledge, as well as experience. Mentorship helps me grow.
In addition to mentorship, networking with other therapists has deepened my connection to the work and to the community. Networking gives me a sense of support as well as greater access to knowledge and resources. I enjoy the exchange of information with others and learning from each other’s experiences and perspectives. Additionally, networking has opened up a lot of doors for job opportunities. I value community and I think networking is a great way to build community.
Lastly, continued education and training allows me to keep expanding and growing as a therapist. It’s important for me to not be stagnant. Through continued education and training, I deepen and enrich my practice as a therapist. In this field, as in many other fields or simply as a human being on this earth, there is always more to learn. I am fascinated by the human brain, by relationships, by psychological and emotional structures and processes, by family and environmental dynamics, by cultures, and by how all of these areas affect people and their interactions with the world. I continue to seek education and training as a therapist so that I am further evolving and providing my clients with the quality of care that they deserve.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I would choose to focus on my strengths rather than working on areas that are not as strong. By focusing on my strengths, I can amplify and grow my assets rather than my deficits. As a therapist, my strengths guide my decisions regarding advanced training and further education. For example, if I know one of my strengths is working with couples, then I take advanced training courses in the area of couples therapy. Currently, I am training in the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy Level One. Also, It’s important for therapists to know what their strengths are because that can help determine their niche or areas of specialty. Everyone has strengths as well as areas that may not be as strong. Knowing what your strengths are can help guide you in your career and your personal life. In addition, identifying and developing your strengths can help increase confidence, a sense of agency, and a feeling of achievement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jillianziesmertherapy.com
- Instagram: @jillianziesmertherapy https://instagram.com/jillianziesmertherapy
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jillianziesmertherapy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-ziesmer
