LPC, 8 years of experience
New to Grow
I'm Jillian Oetting, a Licensed Professional Counselor with over a decade of experience in the mental health field. My approach is grounded in positive psychology, self-compassion, and meaningful growth. I strive to make therapy an approachable and collaborative space that supports your ability to reconnect with your whole, authentic self. I’m a National Board Certified Counselor with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Kentucky University, and I’m a Certified Advanced Grief Counseling Specialist with specialized training in processing grief, loss, and bereavement. I have a deep understanding of psychopharmacology and the mind-body connection, and I bring this knowledge into my work when exploring mental health concerns. Therapy with me is an invitation to reconnect—with your emotions, your story, and your sense of self. It’s a space to be honest, curious, and real. Together, we’ll slow down and explore what’s shaped you, untangle patterns that no longer serve you, and help you feel more grounded in who you truly are—not just who you’ve had to be.
Clients can expect a supportive, nonjudgmental space where they feel seen, heard, and empowered. My goal is to help you better understand yourself, make sense of your emotions and behaviors, and build tools that actually work in your everyday life. Together, we’ll explore patterns, strengthen self-trust, and work toward growth that feels sustainable—not performative. I want clients to leave sessions feeling more grounded, more capable, and more connected to who they are.
I’m not the kind of therapist who sits in silence, nodding politely and asking, “How does that make you feel?” on repeat. I show up—fully present, curious, and human. One of my greatest strengths is helping clients feel seen. Not just listened to—but truly understood. I have a way of picking up on what’s not being said and holding space for it with care and honesty. Clients often tell me they feel like I “get it,” even when they’ve struggled to explain things to others before. I also bring a strong sense of clarity. Whether we’re untangling old beliefs, navigating grief, or working through stuck patterns, I help people connect the dots in a way that finally makes sense. I don’t rush the process, but I don’t let us spin in circles either. I’m trained in approaches like IFS, CBT, Compassionate Inquiry, grief therapy, and somatic work—but what matters more to me than theory is connection. Therapy with me is relational, warm, and sometimes even humorous. I believe healing happens in the presence of safety, truth, and a little bit of grit. If you’re looking for a therapist who will meet you where you are but won’t let you stay stuck—I might be the right fit.
I’m not looking for an "ideal” client—just someone who’s ready to look inward, even if they’re unsure of where to begin. The client's I work best with are often carrying something heavy: anxiety that won’t quiet down, grief that won’t be ignored, or a deep sense of disconnection from who they are or who they want to be. Many have spent years putting others first or pushing through on autopilot. Some are just now realizing how much they’ve been holding. Clients don't need to show up polished. You don’t need a diagnosis or a perfectly worded goal. You just need to be willing to get curious—with my help—about your story, your patterns, and what healing might look like for you. In our work together, we’ll explore emotions, beliefs, body responses, and the parts of you that developed for good reason but might not be serving you anymore. I pull from Internal Family Systems (IFS), CBT, Compassionate Inquiry, somatic work, and grief therapy. But more than anything, I offer a space where it’s safe to be fully human. If you’re tired of keeping it all together and ready to start making sense of it all—we might be a great fit. Let’s grow from wherever you are.
CBT helps us notice the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I use CBT to explore patterns in your thinking that may be contributing to distress—and together, we gently challenge and reframe those thoughts. This isn’t about forcing yourself to “think positive,” but about understanding your inner dialogue and learning tools to shift it in a more helpful direction.
Rooted in the work of Dr. Gabor Maté, Compassionate Inquiry is a way of exploring what’s underneath our behaviors, beliefs, and emotional responses. I use this approach to help you connect the dots between past experiences and current struggles—especially when those patterns are unconscious. The goal is to bring curiosity and compassion to the parts of you that may have been misunderstood, dismissed, or silenced.
IFS is based on the idea that we all have different “parts” within us—like internal roles or voices. Some parts try to protect us, others carry pain, and some help us function. I use IFS to help you get to know those parts without judgment, and to connect with your deeper Self—the calm, curious, wise place inside you. When parts feel seen and heard, healing can happen from the inside out.
Grief isn’t something we “get over”—it’s something we carry, reshape, and learn to live with. I offer a space to explore grief in all its forms, whether from a death, a life transition, or a loss that’s harder to name. In grief work, we honor what has been lost, tend to the pain, and make room for what needs to be felt—at your pace, in your way.
Our bodies can tell us what our minds can’t always explain. I use somatic techniques to help you notice where emotions live in the body, and to gently work with physical sensations as a path toward healing. This might look like grounding exercises, breath-work, or simply asking, “Where do you feel that?” Together, we listen to the body’s wisdom so that healing doesn’t just happen in your head—but your whole system.