Meet Jill Baumgartner | Psychotherapist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Jill Baumgartner and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jill, what principle do you value most?
I am a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in San Diego and one of my favorite aspects of this profession is that I genuinely enjoy working with people. I chose social work because the systems approach to helping clients always resonated with me. Therapy is a compassionate, professional relationship, and there’s a standard in social work that promotes client empowerment. My role is to meet clients where they are at with empathy and understanding, while offering nudges to get them where they want to be. Regardless of what anyone has experienced, I enjoy focusing on the strengths of clients, especially the aspects of resiliency they may not give themselves credit for.
Working in mental health offers constant opportunities for learning clinical skills and different ways of relating to people. I am always learning ways to soften or shift approaches that may be helpful therapeutically. I enjoy providing a space for clients to identify what they want to work through and help them shift any issues that may feel like a bungee cord holding them back. Therapy is collaborative, with a basic understanding that we all grow through relationships. Just listening and witnessing someone’s experience can be incredibly powerful and have remarkable effects on regulating the nervous system.
What should our readers know about your business?
In my own experience, movement has been a consistent part of my life—I’ve always loved playing sports and different forms of dance. Movement helped me naturally develop a mind-body connection, and this connection informed a lot of what I was curious to learn about clinically and academically.
In my practice, I’ve taken what I’ve learned about the body and nervous system, and I provide clients with skills that may offer the simplest approach to finding some relief. Clients are often not feeling their best, so I share small steps that can provide a roadmap for their treatment. I’ve adapted my own therapeutic style with a trauma-informed approach to help clients stabilize symptoms, process experiences, and integrate changes.
My clinical approach respects client’s adaptations to certain life events and offers a framework for their healing process. Over the years, I’ve seen clients grasp nervous system concepts in ways that help them in their daily lives and with long-term challenges. I’ve seen many clients improve and begin to see positive changes within themselves as well.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When friends or family visit San Diego, we usually explore a good mix of relaxation and activity. I enjoy introducing people to things like acai bowls and chagaccinos, especially if they’ve never had either before. I’d want to take them to a local sporting event to see the San Diego Wave or the Padres–especially if they’re playing a team that I grew up rooting for.
When people visit, it’s fun to check off my never-ending bucket list of restaurants to try and new experiences to have. Eating in any outdoor setting with a great view of the city, the ocean, or the sun is one of my favorite things to do with others. We’d be in search of their favorite taco, enjoy hiking in a different landscape, visit a museum, and explore different beaches. Then we’d take a nap.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say that I have gratitude and appreciation for anyone who offered me professional and personal support over the years. This field offers continued opportunities for growth, and there are always so many ways to learn new information. When difficult or challenging situations present themselves, there have always been opportunities to access positive support and strengthen my clinical judgment.
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Image Credits
Xianna Trujillo
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