Jill Thorngren

Life is both rewarding AND challenging!

I have had the experience and honor of working with numerous individual, couple, and family clients who have taught me a great deal about interpersonal relationships, communication styles, conflict resolution, and resilience. Most of all, they have taught me that life and relationships are filled with paradox, and that (almost) always, opportunities for growth lie in the very obstacles we are confronting. 

I have had similar experiences in my roles as an academic leader and executive coach. The key to effective organizational change is in understanding the context, the people, and most importantly, their relationships.

Whether you want to be happier in your personal life and your relationships or more successful in your professional roles, we can work together to find the sources and solutions to troubling problems.  

My goal is to help you meet yours. 

I look forward to sharing with you the 'BOTH/AND' approach that lets us turn obstacles into opportunities. 

Addressing the underlying interactions.

My background in systems theory informs my belief me that the whole is always greater than the sum of the individual parts. We navigate and interact within multiple systems every day. The beauty of systems work is that in changing one part of a system, the whole system can be changed.

My strength is helping others gain greater understanding of their experiences, and the impacts they make across their systems of interaction. I can help facilitate healthier communication and decision making skills to strengthen relationships at home, at school, and at work. Looking inside first and taking responsibility for the choices we can make within our systems of influence leads to lasting, second-order change.

I have had the opportunity to work in private practice with individuals, couples, and families; in university settings teaching and researching counseling theory and practice; and as an academic leader in higher education. 

My experiences have shaped and sharpened my systems perspective. I believe strongly in the importance of clear communication, of understanding ourselves in context and in relation to others, and in understanding the power of active choice on our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. These are what determine the impact we have on our lives and the lives of those we love or lead.