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Julie Schillim
About
Hi, I'm Julie Schillim PhD LLP LPC LMHC, a counseling psychologist and mental health counselor in Michigan and Florida, based in Grand Rapids. I have worked in mental health for over twenty years. I started in community mental health, in outpatient therapy and I also completed autism and developmental evaluations. I also have my PhD in organizational psychology which provides an additional layer of expertise and support for those struggling in the workplace or in leadership roles.Many of the adults I work with have spent years wondering why some things feel so much harder for them than they seem to for others. Often, they have been given explanations that never quite fit. In therapy, we can look at this whole picture together, including your history, your strengths, what's been difficult for you, and build an approach that fits how you think and live. That might mean working through history of trauma, burnout, anxiety, relationships, or a range of other areas.
Neurodivergence is part of my own life through family and close friends. I have watched people I love work twice as hard to get through a school day, a job, or a social event, and then struggle significantly afterward. I have also seen the benefit of understanding self and finding beauty in our strengths.
I often start from the point that we are all our own individual people with our individual strengths and struggles. In a trauma-informed, strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach we will get curious about what drains you, what restores you, and what works well for you already.
Since we are all individuals with different needs, I will bring a variety of approaches to our work. I think therapy should look like what you need at the time and what matches your goals, you are the lead. This may look like learning tools to calm your nervous system or taking the time to notice what your body is telling you, maybe it is daily strategies, or maybe it is walking through a situation openly and safely so that you can process through it. I love good metaphors and imagery, and I appreciate honesty and humor. I want to create a space where individuals feel as though they can show up exactly as they are.
