Jillian Johnstone, LCSW-R

Jillian Johnstone is a licensed clinical social worker with 17 years of experience based in New York. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and challenges with self-esteem and career direction. Jillian uses a compassionate, interactive style that centers the individual’s strengths and goals.

Her sessions are straightforward and goal-oriented. She listens first, then helps people identify practical steps they can try between appointments. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is one approach she uses to help people notice and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns.

Jillian also draws on solution-focused methods to set clear, attainable goals and build small wins. For clients with painful past experiences she incorporates trauma-focused strategies to address symptoms and improve day-to-day coping. She balances these tools with a human-centered attitude that respects each person's story.

In therapy Jillian aims to create a warm, respectful space where people feel heard. She works collaboratively to tailor a plan to each person’s needs and preferences. Progress often includes trying short experiments and tracking what helps between sessions.

Taking the first step can feel hard, and Jillian frames the work as a partnership. She supports people who want practical strategies, clearer direction, and steadier coping as they move through life changes.

How Jillian’s Approaches Work Online

Jillian uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thought patterns and test small behavior changes that can ease symptoms of anxiety and stress. CBT is practical and often focuses on skills you can use between sessions.

She also uses Trauma-Focused Therapy for people affected by past traumatic events, working to reduce distressing reactions and improve daily coping. This approach moves at a pace set by the client and focuses on safety and gradual processing.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Jillian will talk with each person about goals and preferences, then choose or blend methods that fit those needs. This is a collaborative decision and can change as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls let you work face to face when that helps, phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins, and messaging or live chat can fit brief updates or ongoing support between appointments. These options help people fit therapy into busy lives and keep continuity during life changes.