My Story
From fraud to fierce…
Growing up I never felt good enough. I was called ‘tubby,’ ‘little tubette,’ and ‘tubby tubby two by four.’ I tried to people-please my way to love and acceptance, being who I thought others wanted and needed me to be. I got good grades. Was the president of student council. Followed (most of) the rules and was nice and polite. It never occurred to me to look inside, to consider who I wanted to be and how I wanted live. If you’re here, you probably know the drill. Something made you feel less than and you’ve been working your whole life to compensate for it. Maybe you’re an overachiever trying to prove you’re not a fraud. Maybe you avoid challenge for fear of rejection, failure, or being found out. I used to do both. But in 2001 I was introduced to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and I’ve been building a bold and meaningful life ever since. Don’t get me wrong—it has not been easy or pain-free, quite the contrary. But I have the skills to create a life worth living even when things get hard. It is my mission to share those skills with others who want to live big—full size, not fun size!
““Dr. Jill Stoddard is an inspiration in so many ways. A wonderful author, a brilliant therapist, a captivating speaker and an extraordinary woman. She is one of the most authentic, brave and competent people I know. Her knowledge is huge and she simply is one of a kind. My warmest recommendations!”
Select Testimonials
“Experiential and engaging. I really appreciated connection and use of examples and processes to better understand ACT and helping myself and others increase comfort in the discomfort. Compassionate tone. Welcoming disposition. My imposter presence "Moe" showed his face and then stepped to the side and chilled out. -ER
“Jill’s use of stories and examples is engaging and relatable. She applies vulnerability and real-world challenges to offer opportunities for growth and new possibilities for the way you want to be.” -workshop attendee
“She presented on a conceptional and practical level using participation exercises to tie things together. Rarely have I seen a presentation with this type of practical application.” -JL
“Thank you for your sincerity, clarity, relatability. Very good explanation and pedagogy. Your presentation was inspiring, and actionable. Also bravo for your creativity!” -JT
“It was like an actionable pep talk. Thanks!” -JD
“Jill’s vulnerability in sharing her own personal experiences enhanced the strength of how her material was absorbed and integrated by this learner.” -TH
“Her personal experiences and honest emotional reactions lessen the distance between presenter and participant even in a virtual setting. Often presenters make an effort to do this with varying degrees of success. Jill does it with ease and sincerity.” -JL
“This was helpful information for myself as well as clients to be able to reframe completely normal human behaviors that cause us distress, while also acknowledging that it isn’t a magic wand but that we have to dig in to the discomfort.
“I like how forthright and honest she was, and I also like the way she took questions which I think is challenging when you have a lecture or an event to be shared with an audience” -AS
“You are a phenomenal presenter, open, and profoundly articulate. You are inspirational in your reflection of authenticity and vulnerability.” -TH
“I loved how open you were in sharing your personal story. I laughed and teared up during the session. I left feeling like I can put what you taught into practice. Thank you!” -attendee