Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Pritchard.
Hi Jill, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love for working with people started nearly 30 years ago, when I was in my early 20’s. I was working for an agency that provided care for children who were in need of a temporary safe place to live. From there I spent the next 14 years working in various roles with victims of domestic violence. The compassion, commitment and wisdom of my colleagues, in addition to the incredible strength and resilience of our clients, inspired a career of service and passion for healing.
Following my own personal, life changing therapy experience, the next step in my career became clear and I enrolled in graduate school. As a mom of two young children and the unwavering support of my husband, I graduated with a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Following graduation I opened a private practice, offering talk therapy to teenagers, couples and adults. In 2015, I moved my practice to Lakeville Behavioral Health and after mentoring under our previous owner, purchased the clinic upon his retirement in 2020. For the past 5 years, I have had the great honor and privilege of leading our team as the Clinical Director.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a new business owner and entrepreneur, I expected to face some challenges. However, I never could have expected that a global pandemic would occur within weeks of my transition into ownership. There were many adjustments that had to be made, including having to send our entire staff home to conduct virtual visits for the very first time. Our administrative staff had to take home computers, printers and phones to address client needs as well. We learned how to communicate and function as a team, without being in each other’s presence. This time prepared us to handle just about anything.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we continued to see clients and learn how to operate within our new normal. We even grew our team in order to meet the demands of therapeutic services during this time. We also experienced a healthcare cyber security attack in March of 2024.
In times of uncertainty, we have stayed committed to providing support to our clients. Our team of amazing administrative staff and therapists have supported one another and allowed us to face these challenges head-on, with limited impact on our clinic and clients.
We’ve been impressed with Lakeville Behavioral Health, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Lakeville Behavioral Health offers outpatient mental health services to children, teens, adults, couples and families. We are a group of like-minded individuals with various backgrounds and a communal sense of passion. Our team shares a commitment to creating an environment that our clients can heal and grow in. What separates LBH is our commitment to advocating for our clients’ needs and wellness. Beyond providing various therapies and forms of care, we are rooted in cultivating self-advocacy skills, accountability, and collaboration in everything we do.
We have done-away with cold, clinical lighting, and have designed a warm, welcoming environment where we invite our clients to come as they are. We also allow our therapists to decorate their own offices, encouraging them to create a space in which they feel motivated, yet comfortable. Though we’ve incorporated a variety of technology into our practice, our administrative staff will still be there to greet you at the door and answer the phone.
Our incredible team is what I am most proud of. I often speak to the importance of living life outside of the office. When our team is doing well within their own lives, that is expressed onto others and in our work. The work we do is important, but it doesn’t need to be all-consuming. If we want to take a trip, watch a football game or attend a concert, we shouldn’t feel guilty leaving work behind. We strive to ensure our team feels encouraged to live life beyond the walls of LBH.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next several years, I see a continued increase in access to services. Since the pandemic, virtual visits have become more common. It has allowed individuals in rural areas, who may not have easy access to a clinic to still seek services online and has made accessing services more convenient. I hope that our culture continues to normalize the human experience and mental health issues as we grow accessibility to these services.
We are already seeing an expansion of other services such as integrative and holistic care in clinics like ours. I’m hopeful that these services will also continue to increase and teach clients about the importance of mind-body connection.
Pricing:
- None
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lakevillebehavioralhealth.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakevillebehavioralhealth/
