Her Story
About Bethany
I have been in the mental health field for 3 years, and in my current role for less than a year. I work in an inpatient psychiatric hospital where I help patients who are receiving mental health emergency crisis care. I use my certified peer recovery specialist certification to help patients receive outpatient therapy once they have stabilized mentally, essentially helping them enroll in programs to continue group therapy and skills to promote their healthy recovery. Before this role, I worked at a nonprofit called Rise Community Solutions as a certified peer specialist, working with families of youth who experience mental health crisis. My biggest career achievement so far has been receiving my certification for a peer specialist in the state of Florida. I completed my associate degree in marketing and social media in 2022 from Seminole State College of Florida, followed by an AmeriCorps apprenticeship which utilized peer leadership skills training. I am currently working on my bachelor's in social work at Walden University with the hope of moving into a Masters of Social Work in the next 2 years. I am also a public notary, both remote and in person.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Bethany
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having positive role models and seeing successful women in my life who encouraged me not to give up and showed me that anything is possible. I had two very influential bosses, Anna Nascimento and Prita Chapabra, who made a big impact on me. And of course, my mother and my aunt were also very influential role models. Having these women around me really helped me believe in myself and keep going, even when things were tough as a single mom for many years.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is that you're worth it. Don't give up on yourself. You're absolutely 100% worth it. This advice has really stuck with me and helped me through challenging times in my career and personal life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to hold your head up, don't give up, and believe in yourself, and give yourself grace. It can be really, really tough and challenging, but you're worth it, and do what you want to do with your life. The mental health field can be difficult, but it's so important to remember your own worth and not give up on your goals.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my industry right now is breaking the stigma of mental health and letting people know that it's okay to get help. On the opportunity side, I see that we are in the process of our youth understanding and recognizing the importance of mental health, which is really encouraging. It's exciting to see the younger generation becoming more aware and open about mental health care.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work life and home life are trust, love, and respect. These three values guide everything I do, whether I'm working with patients in crisis or spending time with my family.
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