Jill Axel

I’m Jillian Axel, also known as Jill. I am an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, and I’m so excited to begin this new chapter with Teen Therapy Center. After graduating from the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University in May 2026, I feel incredibly grateful to continue my journey in a place that already feels like home. Having completed my traineeship at Teen Therapy Center’s nonprofit sibling organization, Child & Teen Counseling, I’m thrilled to begin what feels less like a brand-new book and more like an exciting new chapter in the same story.

Throughout my training, I’ve had the privilege of working with a wide range of clients, including children, pre-teens, teenagers, young adults, and families. My therapeutic style is collaborative, down-to-earth, and rooted in the belief that therapy doesn’t have to look like what you see in the movies. While emotions are important, you probably won’t hear that stereotypical therapist question-and-response, such as “So, tell me about your sadness.” Instead, I strive to create a space where clients can show up as their authentic selves, feel genuinely understood, and share a few laughs along the way.

My passion for this work is shaped by both professional training and personal experience. Growing up with dyslexia and ADHD, and spending much of my life in and out of therapy for anxiety, I know what it feels like to be defined by labels or to wonder whether certain challenges will always hold you back. Those experiences taught me that our diagnoses, struggles, and differences are a part of our chapters in life. Moreover, I aim to create opportunities for people to recognize that we control the narrative and to help clients embrace new possibilities.