Sacramento Marriage Family Therapist's Education Enabled Her To Help Others

To say Jillian Taylor is well-trained in her area of expertise would be an understatement. With years of solid education and thousands of hours as an intern and California board certified as a MFT, Jillian is more than prepared to pursue her passions of helping others and making an impact in the Sacramento community.

What does your job entail?

"My license title of 'marriage family therapist' covers a broad area of practice. My focus and specialty is working with children and adolescents, more specifically, children's grief. I am one of the art therapists working at Sutter's Children's Bereavement Art Group in the Sacramento area. I also have a private practice where I meet with children and their families to help with issues including grief, anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavior problems, and life adjustments."

What parts of your job do you enjoy?

"I love working with children and teens. It is so rewarding to help a child through a difficult time in their life and see them overcome challenges. I incorporate play and art therapy into my practice as well. How can you not love your job when you get to play feelings Candyland at work?

What was your education history?

I received my Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Sacramento State and Master of Arts in counseling psychology from USF. I also had to complete a 3000-hour internship in the counseling field and pass two licensing exams. Overall about a 10-year process.

Has your education helped you?

"I really enjoyed my masters program at USF. The program was very hands on and the instructors were practicing therapists in the community. I think that the program prepared me well for my internship."

Any advice to people wanting to pursue a similar career?

"Don't be discouraged if you find it difficult to find a masters program or internship. Most places that offer internships will give you a lot of work, but it's a great way to gain experience and hours quickly. Once you get into the field, there are so many opportunities for a knowledgeable therapist, especially those that work with children."

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.