Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Name: Jennifer Smith Hilton
Summers as a Camper:
- 6 years as a camper (1999 - 2004)
- 4 years as a family camper (1996-1998, 2004)
- 1 year - Sea Ventures in Central America (2007)
Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: 5 years (2008-2012)
- 2008: JC on Aquatics
- 2009, 2010: SIC on Aquatics
- 2011: Assistant Lake Chief
- 2012: Lake Chief
Current Profession and Title/Years in role: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- Six years as a K-8 school counselor
- Seven years as a psychotherapist in private practice
- Five years as owner of JH Therapy & Wellness, a group therapy practice in Columbia, Maryland (current position)
Can you provide a brief overview of your job responsibilities?
I currently own a group therapy practice and spend most of my time working directly with individual therapy clients, overseeing a team of six therapists, managing all administrative responsibilities for the practice (i.e. emails, phone calls, scheduling new clients, handling medical insurance, managing and maintaining our office space and systems, etc.) and handling all billing/financial responsibilities for the practice. Most of my therapy clients are young adults struggling with anxiety, depression, life adjustment challenges, ADHD and trauma. I typically work with clients on a long term basis to support them in their therapy goals and in maintaining progress in their overall wellbeing.
Do you have any career advice for members of our Camp community?
You can do anything you put your mind to with hard work! Many of the skills that have helped me become successful in my field were learned at Camp and have been transferable into my professional accomplishments, such as treating others with respect, being a good listener, maintaining high levels of professionalism and responsibility, and having FUN while working.
What do you believe have been some of your greatest personal and professional accomplishments? Is there a goal toward which you are currently working?
Some of my greatest personal accomplishments include getting married to my husband Tim, becoming a parent to my son Chase (and another on the way), and pet parent to my two pups Maggie and Winnie. Professionally, I am most proud of my ability to start my own small business that has become successful, maintain a high standard of care for the clients and community we serve and generally just being able to help people every day. I am working on expanding my business so we can serve more clients and support people in their personal and mental health goals.
How do the values or skills you learned at Camp show up in your everyday work and/or personal life?
My experience at camp has been directly influential in my decision to pursue my career as a counselor. After college, when I was trying to figure out what profession I wanted to enter, I was searching for a way to work at Camp or in a Camp-like setting for my career - which is what initially led me to pursue my Master’s and career in school counseling. I knew I wanted to work with children and help them be successful, knowing that I could do this after my years working at Camp and through my experiences of being a recipient of this support when I was a camper. The values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility that Camp taught me are directly applicable to my work as a counselor, as they align with the code of ethics counselors follow and are things I strive to employ in my day to day life both personally and professionally. I am now working to pass along these values and skills to my son and cannot wait for him to experience Camp firsthand when he is old enough!
Is there a person or a situation that had a huge influence on you while you were at Camp? How and why did they/it impact you?
I feel like everyone that I came across throughout my time at Camp had a huge influence on me, so it is hard to just pick one! One of the most impactful summers of my life was in 2011 when I was called on at the last minute (like a few days before arriving to Camp) to enter the Assistant Lake Chief position after some personnel changes were made (someone accepted a position outside of Camp). I was so nervous about the additional responsibility without time to prepare, but the confidence I felt by the director team, the Lake Chief (shoutout Katelyn Peret Blackman!) and all of the other friends I made that summer on the admin team and the aquatics staff helped me to build that confidence within myself, hone my leadership skills and helped me feel even closer to the Camp community. I have been able to build on that confidence ever since in my professional and personal life!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Believe in yourself, be okay with flexibility and uncertainty, as it can lead you places you may not expect, and be open to trying new things!
Favorite Camp meal: Grilled cheese and tomato soup (especially on the hottest day of the summer!)
All-time favorite skit memory: Harry Potter sorting hat skit during BKC when Aquatics won
Favorite special event at Camp: The band dance!
Devotion you best remember from Camp: The toothpaste devotion - always think before you speak or act, as you will never be able to take back harm you may have caused someone by your words or actions.
