Oh hi there! I’m Jillayna– said, Jill-anna, rhymes with banana. (I know, right? We blame my parents.) I am a Trauma Psychotherapist with a cross-cultural, Anthropological lens. I specialize in Maternal mental health, Adolescent mental health, and Refugee/Immigrant mental health. I have further focuses on Matrescence and Suicide.

That might seem like a WILD collection of specialties, but let me tell you, they are all oh-so-interrelated.

I have done a blog revamping, and you are invited to follow along!

This blog is for you if:

• You are into mental health practices, research, stories and findings for Moms/parents, Women, LGBTQ+ folx and Teens.

• Are interested in global and cross-cultural concepts to being a HUMAN! Including wellness, happiness, parenting and living (such as community, village-building, holistic focus).

• You are a parent/loved one of a kiddo/teen and appreciate brief connective tidbits and mental wellness facts related to them.

• You can embrace some whimsy and absolute silliness, but value evidence-based practice, constant further study and research development. (Sources cited, people.)

• You feel that being a human is fascinating, confusing, heartbreaking, beautiful, overwhelming, horrifying, hard….and you try to find the hope and art in it all. (That ‘try’ can be hard! Still Counts!)

• You value working against systems of oppression and the patriarchy.

• You struggle with some combination of anxiety, depression, identity and self-understanding, parenting, finding your phone, guilt, existential woes, relationships, unlearning some of the toxicity of the modern western world, or not being an asshole to yourself….?

• You could use some real life human connection. There is no perfect Insta-story here. I may be a clinician, but I am also a mum who drinks insane amounts of coffee and has a car full of snack wrappers and trash. I am currently living in the Midwestern U.S., clawing my way through the political and social climates attempting to stay sane AND raise confident, safe, empowered humans! (This feat was not in the life brochure and I absolutely was unprepared for the travesty that is The World right now.)

A little more about me:

I have a background studying Anthropology and Psychology and my focus has always held a wide global scope. It aims to de-center the western narratives of: hyper-independence, colonization, material wealth, productivity, and isolated living (Just to name a few!).

My work in both First Nations communities (Canada) and Haiti, in addition to my extensive work with refugees from across the globe, has deeply informed the way I human, and the way I practice as a clinician. Additionally, my own experiences with mental health struggles– suicide ideation as an adolescent and young adult– plays a huge factor in my work and continued studies. Outside the office, I am just a mama, a writer, photographer and storyteller. I love all things people and culture.

That brings us to Raising Radical. I am a mum to two, a human who still sometimes feels like an alien masquerading in a skin-suit, and a clinical therapist. I have learned from, studied and trained in an eclectic enough journey to know that healing sometimes takes radical approaches. Mental health concerns continue to skyrocket in this rapidly transforming world. Our healing– both personally and systemically– requires radical change, radical action, radical efforts. Let’s go!

Want to subscribe?