I asked Jill Johnson Young if she could share with my community her experiences working with various coaches, consultants and mentors in her career.   I really appreciate Jill’s candour about the idea that didn’t quite go the way she thought it would, but with perspective what she has been able to take away from that experience.  

Take it away Jill…

I sometimes have difficulty deciding how to introduce myself. Five years ago, I would’ve said I was an LCSW in private practice who was trying to move into a specialty and create some programs I could run as supplemental income. I was seeing more clients than anyone in our office, which was a weird point of pride. And I was beginning to feel burnout seeing children all afternoon and into the evening.  Now I introduce myself as a mental health clinician in a private practice that I co-own. I’m the public face of Central Counseling Services, because I absolutely love recess- and speaking is totally recess for me. In my office, and now online, I specialize in grief and loss, clients coping with chronic illness, and families being impacted by dementia, although I see a wide variety of clients dealing with multiple issues. When I’m out of the office I’m an international speaker on death and dying, grief, and dementia to clinicians, community groups, state associations of clinicians, and organizations serving hospices, dementia, and the funeral industry. I recently added officiating at services to my list- I love being able to help those attending begin their grief recovery.

So, what happened?

My backstory: I spent nearly twenty years in children’s services and adoptions and twelve as a hospice medical social worker. When we opened the practice, we focused entirely on children. We wanted to serve the kiddos in foster care and adoptions with therapy that worked, and to train clinicians in what that meant. And we did it- we “raised” post-master’s interns. We did trainings across the state. We built a practice I am immensely proud of. Somewhere in there, hospice and grief got lost for me. We opened the same year my first wife died, and three years later I was widowed again. When I remarried again, to the funeral director who I met making arrangements for my first wife, she reminded me that I needed to do my own grief. (Funeral directors are not ones to mince words at home). I did some intense self-work, and decided it was time to rededicate myself to what made me smile: helping grievers recover, teaching professionals how to do grief right, and dementia education and support as my bookend. It felt like finally I was at home in my own skin.

I was a busy business owner- how did I reshape my career?

You know   that “you need to invest in yourself?” My focus was making sure money came in and expansions went well. (I was not the one who envisioned them- credit goes to my business partner, Sherry Shockey-Pope, LMFT). I did not think we could afford conferences. I was wrong. I connected with Jo Muirhead instantly. She heard me telling my story and helped me shape the message and give my ideas a framework. More importantly, she could work with my quirks and hear what I wanted to do. That weekend energized me about our practice and each of us about diving deep into our passions. (If you want to build a practice from the ground up read Sherry’s book). Mine was bringing together dementia, end of life, and solution focused grief and teaching clinicians how to give clients the very best care, no tired conventional wisdom. That one connection is what moved me with support and guidance to see the patterns I’d created that were blocking me.

When I started my first product, “Your Path Through Grief” I initially pinned all my hopes on that.  It’s a great program, it just did not fly as I wanted it to. But it opened the doors. I joined organizations and I connected. I began presenting on grief and dementia and made a name for myself. I related to community groups through my own experience as a double widow after Jo called me out to be authentic and told me to tell. To share me. Nicola Moras encouraged me to be who I am (and wear a little glitter). I connected with grief and dementia peeps in my community and around the world. I added books to my repertoire and write regularly. I made space to become the me I needed to be. Burn out? Not a chance. Five years ago, I would never have thought I would be who and where I am now. The difference was a superb coach with great connections, and using them to remake my website, my focus, and my image.

What changed?

I met with Jo and joined her small group where I find energy, ideas, support, and now sanity. Stepping back, thinking beyond old plans I knew I could do better: I made my goal changing how clinicians do grief and making sure every clinician I touch will be dementia trained and get clients help. I’m going to make sure the Littles have books to teach them about death and grief and dementia they can relate to.

I paid for videos (thanks Ernesto Sigesmundo!), and  headshots that capture my personality (wow Nicole Anderson), and a new website that is just me- www.jilljohnsonyoung.com. I am paid to speak now at conferences, and I love a room of 100-200. I get recess!

What about now? Why do I think you should have someone helping you right now?

This pandemic means adapting and feeling positive about the other side. I’m ready. I have a VA managing media and websites. I have Jo helping me look at what’s needed, and what I am missing. I have group support and guidance. If I did not have my team, created though my coaching relationship with Jo, I would be in a panic right now. Instead, I am reaching out to clients and increasing income. I know I have skills to offer to people who are hurting. I will come out of this ready to go in 2021.  It costs money when it’s tight. It’s a spend. I get it. It makes the difference. I have the connections, clear media messaging, a group to give me feedback and my time is organized. If you don’t have that kind of support, if you are questioning yourself and where you want to be in five years a coach or mentor is invaluable.

If you need help with grief, I am available for consultation, and my website and social media have links for you. The Facebook for Central Counseling Services is now also packed with ideas for clients stuck at home.

Who is Jill Johnson Young…?

Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW is the CEO of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California. She specializes in grief and loss, dementia, and trauma and is a national speaker in those areas. Her career has included more than a decade with hospice as a medical social worker and as director of social workers, chaplains and grief staff. Jill has authored several books for children and adults on grief and is active in the Riverside, California Purple City Alliance. She also facilitates a monthly dementia support group in the community. Jill has been widowed twice, with children, and is married to a funeral director. She is known as an interactive, humorous, and real presenter who makes a difference in the approach to dementia for anyone who attends her presentations.