#BEYOUROWN MEETS JILLIAN LAUREN HOLGUIN

Jillian Lauren Holguin is the owner of Yourself First, LLC, a private practice outpatient facility located in downtown Jersey City, NJ. She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with a Bachelor of the Arts from Seton Hall University and a Masters of Social Work from Rutgers University. She completed her post graduate studies.

Yourself First LLC’s mission statement emphasises on self-care and self-love techniques to enrich the quality of her clients’ lives to promote balance, find the beauty and power within themselves to optimise the best results towards their therapeutic journey—while also neutralising the stigma associated with mental illness. 

Holguin’s passion began with her training through Rutgers University’s training program within a juvenile corrections setting. This is where she was able to find the most out about herself and how passionate she was about creating a change. After this venture ended she started as an in-home therapist for juvenile sex offenders in a treatment home setting—implementing sex specific treatment. 

She then moved on to work with the at risk youth in a treatment home setting. After that, Holguin was promoted to supervisor for the Second Chance Program that included overseeing 4 therapists, 16 treatment homes, facilitating sec specific treatment groups and collaborating with other treatment providers. 

Before starting her own business she worked part time in an outpatient clinic providing services to the at risk adult population. The goal being to keep gaining experience while putting together the key elements she wanted to incorporate into her very own business. 

Yourself First, LLC was launched in 2017 and since then has only prospered, with bigger plans for the future. Holguin’s business optimises on self-love and self-care and allows clients to see their well being as the priority. Holguin makes sure every client knows his or her therapeutic journey matters. 

Holguin plans to expand her business into a group practice, adding additional psychotherapists to their team—who stand for the same beliefs as her. “I see my group practice becoming a clinic and my clinic model being replicated throughout all programs to instil the best outcomes for change. I plan to revamp the 12-step program for addiction, targeting the opioid epidemic,” says Holguin. This new campaign is named ‘Holguin on the Hudson’ and we look forward to seeing the new developments it brings into the community and more! 

Hey Jillian, can you introduce yourself to us? 

My name is Jillian Lauren Holguin, I am 29 years old, a Licensed Clinical Social worker (LCSW) and the owner of Yourself First, LLC. Yourself First, LLC is a private practice outpatient setting located in downtown, Jersey City, NJ. 

Can you take us through your journey to where you are now as the founder of Put Yourself First? 

Absolutely! It wasn’t as easy as I make it look, trust me. I built my business from the ground up as well as my business model—which is also from scratch. I put my blood, sweat and tears into Yourself First, LLC and it’s my craft. Who would have known this was the perfect recipe for success? 

My vision began in the accelerated program at Rutgers University for my Graduate studies. I always knew I wanted to be a business owner, especially of a business that more importantly would impact change while implement my own clinical theologies using the knowledge I obtained at Rutgers University. 

I began my training in a juvenile corrections setting where I found the most out about myself. It was the best experience of my life, this is where my passion started blooming. After that venture ended, I started as an in-home therapist
for juvenile sex offenders in a treatment home setting–implementing sex specific treatment. 

I then moved on to work with the at risk youth in a treatment home setting. After that, I was promoted to clinical supervisor, for the Second Chance Program that included overseeing 4 therapists, 16 treatment homes, facilitating sex specific treatment groups and collaborating with other treatment providers. 

After pursuing that, I worked part time in an outpatient clinic providing services to the at risk adult population–while building my business. My goal was to keep gaining experience, while putting together the key elements I wanted to incorporate into my very own business. 

How is ‘Put Yourself First’ helping us to therapeutically accomplish our goals and become the best version of ourselves? 

I came up with Put yourself First because of the lack of self-care I saw throughout my clinical experience. I saw it was lacking and there was a need to optimise on self-love and self-care. Put yourself First allows clients to see their well-being as the priority. I make sure each client knows their therapeutic journey matters. 

Those whose struggles haven’t been seen or heard in their lives, they now have an opportunity to have that voice, build their confidence and find the power within 

themselves to overcome any obstacle life throws at them. There should be no stigma against seeking help for everyday problems, that is what we need to get rid of and I am here to help and create the awareness it deserves. 

Where can you see yourself within the next 5 years and what plans do you have in place to expand and further develop the growth of Put Yourself First?

Currently, I am expanding my business into a group practice—adding additional psychotherapists that stand for the same beliefs that I do. I see my group practice becoming a clinic and my clinical model being replicated throughout all programs to instill the best outcomes for change. 

It is my goal to revamp and redesign the 12-step program for addiction, targeting the opioid epidemic. I want to provide a program that seems feasible for everyone, while also reducing the stigma associated with battling addiction. I am also working on developing an intensive outpatient program called ‘Holguin on the Hudson’ that I am hopeful will be all throughout New Jersey within the next five years. 

What outlets do use to promote Put Yourself First?

I use Google, Zocdoc, Psychology today, National Association of Social Workers, 

NJ Chamber of Commerce, instagram, facebook and a 24 hour call line. 

What gives you ultimate career satisfaction? 

When a patient thanks me for the help I have offered them and when they notice progress within themselves from sessions with me. It’s the ultimate satisfaction to see their smile and notice in the way they carry themselves. When they win, I feel as though I win as well. I have received many referrals from my clients as well as heartfelt letters and to me these little things are true victory. 

What challenges have you seen to have been presented during the growth of Put Yourself First? 

When patients at first come in with a negative thought process and struggle with motivation to change. Using my self-love approach and after a few sessions, it’s a beautiful thing for patients to realize they are possible vs. impossible. Therapy is extremely powerful and can alter the minds way of thinking—towards positive change. 

Which other leading entrepreneurs and pioneering game changers do you also admire and why? 

I’ve always admired Princess Diana, Mother Theresa and Jenna Jameson. I could relate to what they stood for, their endless ambition for never giving up and their impact on the significant changes they made on the world. I was raised to never quit and these powerful women did the same thing—kept going until change was made regardless the trauma they endured. They are the heroines that keep me going day to day. They to me were unstoppable which encouraged me to do the same. 

How do you define your own success? 

Although I currently serve on a micro level, making an impact on a more macro level is what I strive for. My focus is within the community first then nation wide is something I continue to strive towards everyday to really be able to evaluate my full potential and success. 

What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you? 

#BEYOUROWN means to me #owning who you are which is something I implement in my practice. I implement this by taking a humanistic and self-love approach to my clinical work, not giving mental illness labels and overcoming stigma as best to my ability as I can make clients feel loved for who they are on the inside and outside. There are zero judgments made—just pure self love. 

Finally, what are you working on throughout 2019? 

I am working on opening up an intensive outpatient program called ‘Holguin on the Hudson’ in Downtown, Jersey City, NJ. Stay tuned for more information within the next five years! 

Instagram: @HolguinontheHudson @YourselfFirst_

Facebook: www.facebook.com/holguinonthehudson

Website: https://www.yourselffirst.org