Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Hartman
Hi Julia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker running my own therapy and coaching practice in Los Angeles. If you had told my high school self that I would eventually earn a master’s degree, establish my own practice, and become an adjunct professor, I would have laughed and told you that is impossible. I struggled significantly in high school and was even told by the vice principal that I would never get into college, let alone be successful.
After high school, I took two years off to work full-time and attended evening classes at a local university to earn credits for college admission. I later attended La Salle University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and then went on to Monmouth University for my master’s in Social Work.
About a year after graduation, I began working in private practice under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). During one of our supervision sessions, my supervisor said that I seemed to have more of a “life coach style” in sessions rather than a traditional therapeutic approach. At that time, I wasn’t familiar with life coaching, but after learning more about it, I decided to adopt the title of life coach. It wasn’t until later in my career that I decided to put more focus on building up my practice and reaching more clients.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been anything but smooth! There was a time when I constantly questioned why I kept hitting roadblocks and facing challenges that seemed to arise endlessly. Now, I realize that these challenges were lessons (and continue to be) that have made me a better practitioner.
At 29, I moved across the country to Los Angeles but couldn’t find a job in my field. I kept seeing clients as a life coach (I wasn’t fully licensed in California yet to practice therapy) and because I wasn’t able to find a job in my field I worked little odd jobs to make extra cash and made a major pivot to fashion PR. During undergrad I would sometimes work as a club promoter in Philly to make money and that role helped give me insight into marketing and PR strategies, which came in handy while working in fashion PR. After a year in LA, I met my ex and moved to Tennessee with him. The relationship started like a fairytale but eventually turned into a nightmare. My ex was a successful NFL player and shortly after moving in together he became abusive, and I found myself stuck in a toxic relationship, isolated in a new city with no friends or family nearby. Eventually, I began working in a local hospital and built community through my work and using the app Bumble BFF to find friends. I knew I needed a community of friends around me, and I’m so thankful I worked hard to make friends because eventually they were my life line to get out of that relationship.
Despite the difficulty of the relationship and the numbness and brokenness I felt, a fire ignited within me to focus on my business so that I could earn more income and break free from the toxic cycle I was in. I started building my practice and online presence—creating a website, business cards, attending trainings, investing in a business coach, and constantly consuming books and podcasts. I would wake up every day at 5 a.m. to meditate and work on my business before clocking in for my 9-5 job, and then I’d work late into the evenings to create my brand. My entire focus was on building a business that would create more opportunities for myself.
Eventually, I escaped the relationship safely, but it knocked the wind out of me emotionally. For months, I felt like a shell of my former self. I lost many of my possessions because my ex threw a lot of my belongings in the trash, endured court battles, and found myself in a lot of legal debt. There were moments when I thought I’d never be able to rebuild my life. A year later, I decided to end the legal battles, walking away with nothing but legal debt and emotional exhaustion. But something amazing happened once I closed that chapter—I started getting job offers, contracts to teach at multiple universities, and my private practice began receiving a lot of press and media attention. I believe that when I finally ended that chapter with my ex, God opened the door to new and greater opportunities.
From there, I continued to build my practice and rebuild my life. I was able to afford new things for my new home, and that year, everything shifted. I earned more money in my career than I ever had before. I focused on my own healing journey, found an incredible therapist, and have since become a better practitioner and more confident and comfortable in my skin being my most authentic self.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Julia Hartman Coaching ?
I run my own therapy and life coaching practice, Julia Hartman Coaching, and recently expanded it into Glow Coaching and Consulting, LLC. At Julia Hartman Coaching, I specialize in therapy and coaching for clients navigating the complexities of dating, relationships, attachment disorders, and low self-esteem. My journey began with a broad focus on mental health, primarily working with individuals struggling with anxiety and depression. As I gained experience and confidence, I discovered my true passion: helping people build their confidence, embrace their authentic selves, and find inner peace.
One of the most exciting aspects of my work is my ongoing training in new therapeutic models specifically designed for healing trauma. I believe that much of human suffering stems from unresolved inner child wounds, and addressing these traumas is essential for achieving a fulfilling life. Healing these wounds empowers individuals to build confidence, achieve personal and professional fulfillment, and experience the joy of being fully themselves. To me, true freedom means being comfortable in your own skin, living authentically, and finding happiness and peace. It’s the deep, transformative freedom that comes from understanding and healing your past, and it’s what I strive to help every client achieve.
I always tell my clients that I’ve done the work myself (and I continue to do the work) to heal, so I understand the pain of feeling like you’re not good enough or struggling with negative emotions that don’t serve you. I know heartbreak, I know difficult life transitions, and I know what it feels like to be a young, insecure woman who tolerates less than she deserves. I also understand how challenging it is to face our own shadows and meet our core wounds. It’s definitely not easy to explore these things, but life on the other side of healing is beautiful! My professional training, years of experience, and personal journey have all strengthened my skills as a therapist and coach.
Glow Coaching and Consulting, LLC is the newest expansion of my business. Through Glow, my goal is to create products, offer retreats and workshops, and build a team of therapists and coaches. Together, we aim to reach more people and empower them Glow from the inside out.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe deeply in the power of manifestation and prayer, and I’ve witnessed their impact many times in my own life. While I wouldn’t attribute my personal or professional success to good luck, I can confidently say that I’ve seen my manifestations come to fruition. Every year, I create a vision board, and I love watching as the things I’ve envisioned gradually come into my life.
One common misconception about manifestation is that it’s like a magic genie that grants wishes instantly. I wish that was the case! In reality, manifestation works because you set a clear intention, truly believe that what you desire is already yours, and then take action to make it happen. For example, if you’re manifesting a new job but aren’t applying or networking, it’s unlikely to come your way. Manifestation requires both belief and effort.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliahartmancoaching.com
- Instagram: @jhartmancoaching
Image Credits
Lindsey Grace Whiddon
