Dr. Jillian Graves
Compassionate social worker for family concerns
- Credentials
- LMSW
- Experience
- 21 years
- Licensed in
- Michigan
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Jillian
Dr. Jillian Graves is a licensed clinical social worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan. She supports people facing stress, anxiety, parenting challenges, grief, anger, addictions, mood concerns including depression and bipolar, trauma and abuse, career issues, and self-esteem struggles.
She has 21 years of experience and works with adults, adolescents, and families in both group and individual settings. Jillian emphasizes clear communication and a collaborative approach to set practical goals and offer steady support.
Background and approach
Jillian earned a Master of Social Work at Smith College and a Ph.D. in social work from Bryn Mawr College. Her dissertation examined emerging adult siblings of people with schizophrenia, and that research informs her attention to family dynamics and young adult development.
She draws on a mix of clinical ideas rather than a single route, so sessions often include talking about how personal history shapes current patterns and relationships. In sessions she aims to build trust first, then focus on communication skills and making meaning from difficult experiences.
She uses narrative approaches to rewrite unhelpful stories, solution-focused work for concrete steps, and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy to address difficult thoughts that fuel distress. Psychodynamic ideas, including attachment perspectives, guide conversations about early relationships that still matter today. Therapy is treated as a team effort.
Jillian helps clients set manageable goals, practices new ways of relating, and offers insight when helpful. Her style is grounded, practical, and attentive to family and parenting concerns. She welcomes questions and supports people through the early, often hard, stages of beginning therapy.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Jillian commonly draws on psychodynamic ideas, narrative work, and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy. Psychodynamic and attachment perspectives look at how early relationships shape present patterns and help people understand recurring emotional reactions. Narrative approaches involve telling and reshaping the story people carry so they can try different ways of thinking and acting. Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful beliefs and testing more helpful, realistic thoughts to reduce distress.Finding the right mix of techniques is a collaborative process. Jillian will work with each person to choose which methods fit their goals, preferences, and life situation. She checks in regularly and adjusts the plan as progress is made or needs change.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules, follow up between meetings, or keep work and therapy times manageable. Licensed professionals can use these formats to provide ongoing support, skill practice, and problem solving without needing an in-person visit.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Experience
- 21 years
- Licensed
- Michigan
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Jillian
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point