Jill McMahon of Scottsdale on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Jill McMahon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Jill, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
On Thursdays the first 90 minutes of the day involves getting up at 4:10a, brushing my teeth, and putting on a sleepy smile. I drive to the gym, music blaring as I try to memorize specific changes in tempo that will signify a climb or sprint in my 5:30a spin class. Filled with energy or dragging my tail, it doesnt matter – I have to SHOW UP, fake a full tank and motivate the people that chose that ungodly hour to get up and allow me to kick their butts.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a grief and trauma specialist that spent 20 years of her career specializing in suicide bereavement. In other words, I sit with family that are trying to make sense of a world that has been turned upside down and inside out.

I train other communities, nation-wide, on suicide loss response. These are specific teams that report to the scene of suicides, or shortly there after, with the goal of connecting survivors with mental health support and resources as soon as possible. Research has shown that this prevents future suicides.

Recently I have pivoted my focus to supporting those impacted by gun violence. I have written a book titled Bulletproof: Healing After Gun Violence and Trauma. I am working to give gun violence survivors, and their caregivers a path to healing. Often this is a population that is lost in the political rhetoric that takes place after a gun violence event occurs.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Right out of college I worked for a district court judge. I sat in each court proceeding. That was a lot to soak in and process as a young woman whose life was fairly drama free and healthy. What I quickly came to realize was that I was intrigued about what brought someone to stand in front of the Judge. What had their childhood or home life been like, that brought them to this moment? How did they come to face assault charges or be the defendant in a manslaughter case?

These real-time experiences developed my critical thinking and gave me a perspective that very few people get to witness. I realized that humans can’t be lumped in to categories. It’s not that simple. Instead, we are all uniquely a product of our circumstance, and our support systems, combined.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I was a gun violence survivor at 6 years old. My mom and I were carjacked from a local mall. Even though we weren’t harmed, I wasn’t able to comprehend at that young age how this event would shape who I became as an adult. Ultimately, I believe that I am actually stronger because of this event.

Of course, it’s unfortunate that my mom and I were victims of gun violence. However, experiencing trauma at such a young age, I developed coping skills to survive early on. I learned to lean on these strengths, and each time I overcome something new, I was reminded of how strong I truly was. I think in many ways this trauma has given me the gift of perspective. I feel secure in my ability to overcome hardship AND I don’t sweat the small stuff. I guess thats making lemonade out of lemons, but it has truly shaped who I am.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is most definitely the real Jill Larsen McMahon. I have never hidden that I feel like a 14 year old in the 50 year olds body. I live with a youthful mindset, but feel with the wisdom of an elders heart. I am loud, and silly, yet powerfully passionate.

I detest perfectionism, and the people who come to hear me speak are warned straight out of the gate that Im just like them, and I more than likely will stumble over my words or behave in a way that can be viewed as unpolished.

As a mental health professional, I believe that showing these imperfections can be one of the biggest gifts you can give to others. If I model being human (imperfect and all) then it allows someone else to be the most genuine version of themselves as well, guards down.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
That life is a shade of grey. As in, ALL OF LIFE. So many others would initially agree, and even say that they understand that as well. But I think working in a field of death and dying for all of my professional career has helped me to understand that on a deeper level.

Almost nothing in life is truly black or white. There are too many varying factors to judge a person or a circumstance. We are all different, came from different households, and were raised differently. Even if you are siblings, raised with the same parents, I would argue that your childhood has been vastly different, due to many variables. If that is true, then how can we judge/lump certain behaviors and circumstances as the same? For example, a drug addict is not “just a loser” or “someone who makes bad decisions,” instead, they are a product of their circumstances, childhood experiences, and faulty coping skills.

This mindset can become lonely sometimes, because Im always the person saying “yea, but……”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jillmcmahoncounseling.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grievewithjill/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-mcmahon-4365286/
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Bulletproof-Healing-After-Gun-Violence-Trauma-ebook/dp/B0DDY7NMT9/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M4HUOyTUqrOyvzS1OjiXBkEBOrTnzs8xacCaIYkDDns.IjPq-LG-7YcuznTY0ri1q17apLbG8ufqK1CfRBCkHcM&dib_tag=se&keywords=bulletproof+book+jill+mcmahon&qid=1756410331&sr=8-1

  My book- Bulletproof: Healing After Gun Violence and Trauma.

Image Credits
Bekki Lawson Photography

Sunny Creator Co.