About Jillian

Jillian Kelly-Wavering, MSSW, LCSW, RPT-S

Jillian is the founder of Asheville Child Therapy, and a psychotherapist for children since 2010. Prior to opening her practice in Asheville NC, she worked with children experiencing trauma and grief in hospitals and clinics in Dublin Ireland, Boston MA, and the Bronx NY. Jillian's education and advanced training includes a Master's degree from Columbia University, service with the National Health Service Corps, certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT), and completion of post-graduate training to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and Supervisor (RPT-S). She is a graduate of the Association for Play Therapy’s Leadership Academy and has served as a Board Director and Vice President of the New York Association for Play Therapy. 

Jillian has taught as an adjunct lecturer on the topics of Play Therapy, Trauma, and Resilience, and co-authored several publications including Dear Mr. Leprechaun: Nurturing Resilience in Children Facing Loss and Grief; Play Therapy with Children Facing Medical Challenges; The Use of Puppets in Psychodynamic Play Therapy, I Didn’t Get to Say Good-bye: A Story for Children Grieving During Coronavirus (ages 3-6 and ages 6-12) and My Grief is Like the Ocean: A story for children who lost a parent to suicide. She is a frequent presenter on the topic of Play Therapy - recently internationally! Jillian’s practice focuses on trauma, grief, and loss.

Jillian deeply respects her role in gently accompanying children in therapy. Described by clients as "a good listener, cares about me, remembers important stuff, playful, magical" and by caregivers as "warm, attuned, down to earth, helps me help my child, really cares about my kid." When she’s not in the office she’s probably gardening, eating pizza, listening to the On Being podcast, or playing “pirates treasure” in a sandbox with her family.

At many times throughout their lives, children will feel the world has turned topsy-turvy. It's not the ever-present smile that will help them feel secure. It's knowing that love can hold many feelings, including sadness, and that they can count on the people they love to be with them until the world turns right side up again." - Fred Rogers