Jill Stewart

Jill is a Registered Social Worker in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. She holds Bachelor of Social Work (BSW University of Manitoba) and Master of Social Work (MSW Dalhousie University) degrees, in addition to certificates in Management and Adult Education.

Jill has been a Registered Social Worker for more than 25 years.  She holds a continuing faculty position at Holland College since 2007. Prior to this, she worked with the provincial government of PEI for 10+ years (1996-2007) in front-line, training/research, and provincial coordination roles in social programming.

Throughout the years, in her faculty position Jill has taught courses on counselling skills, business communications, ethics and professionalism, mental illness and neurodevelopmental disorders, case-management, interpersonal communications, workplace communications, personal wellness, social issues, disability rights, methods and strategies for teaching individuals and groups, inclusionary practices, inclusive education, working with families, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, supporting health and personal care, human development, and behaviour management. She is enthusiastic, and enjoys helping others gain self-awareness, and reach optimal levels of personal well-being. In private practice, she provides services to helpers, caregivers, and busy professionals.

Jill is an engaging speaker, with positive energy. Throughout her career, she has given in-person workshops across Canada (NB, QC, SK, and NT), and has taught a course on inclusive education in China at Anyang Normal University. As a life-long learner herself, she believes in providing the best clinical services possible, and obtains private clinical supervision from a supervisory therapist in her private practice. Jill is diligent in her clinical practice to be using evidenced-based modalities including: Cognitive Behaviourial Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (ISF).

Jill is the creator of Your Life Design’s signature program: Help4Helpers and Care4Caregivers. She was inspired by her own work as a helper, as well as observing colleagues and former students working tirelessly to help others yet struggling to take care of themselves. She created this program to address burnout, empathic distress, and moral distress prevalent with helping professionals. 

Jill is also the recipient of the 2023 Ferne Stevenson Caregiver Award by PEI Alzheimer Society

Jill has helped hundreds of students become professional helpers during her work in post-secondary education for higher learning and provides ongoing workshops and training. During the pandemic she has spoken to thousands of people, (helpers, leaders and educators) providing tools and strategies for coping and resilience.

In her personal life, (2012 – present), Jill is a licensed Zumba instructor with specialized certification in teaching children, older adults, aqua Zumba, toning, as well as basic I and basic II certifications.

Jill lives with her husband in rural PEI with their two mini doodles, and their cat.  Jill grew up on a potato farm in western Prince Edward Island.