In my work and my personal life, I have known many people who have struggled with their mental health. These challenges often interfere with life goals, relationships, and daily tasks in ways that can differ from day to day, adding up over time into an obstacle that can seem insurmountable. I have struggled with my own mental health since childhood, including a period of crisis several years ago, so I have a lot of empathy for others when I see them going through a hard time. Recently, I supported my partner through their own mental health crisis when they were experiencing a very intense manic episode. My partner has bipolar disorder, a condition which causes periods of depression and periods of intense mania. What mania looks like can vary from person to person, but the experience can contain periods of euphoria, intense concentration on a single task or subject, delusion, and paranoia. These experiences can be extremely distressing and overwhelming, and it was even more so for my partner because they were in the middle of moving in with my roommates and I. Despite the progress that’s been made in treating and destigmatizing mental health in recent years, bipolar and other diagnoses that cause extreme states such as mania remain misunderstood. Symptoms such as mood swings and paranoia can be frightening for those who don’t understand what’s happening, and my partner was terrified they would be kicked out by my roommates for their behavior. During the move, I assisted my partner with moving their belongings and cleaning their apartment. It was helpful for their emotional regulation during the stress of moving , as well as their organization, to have a second person around they could rely on. After the move, I supported my partner during periods of more intense paranoia and anxiety by reassuring them, reality-checking, and communicating what was happening to my roommates in a destigmatizing way. “Reality-checking” is a method whereby one “checks” the reality perception of someone in an extreme state by providing a second perspective in a nonjudgemental way. For example, there were many times my partner thought my roommates were saying things under their breath that I did not hear. I provided the perspective that I did not hear these things, and maybe my partner was hearing things that weren’t there because they were in a heightened state in a new environment and anticipating threats. Fortunately, my partner’s mania ended after three weeks without the need for medical intervention. They are still living with myself and my roommates, who were very understanding of the situation and empathetic towards my partner during their distress. I know my partner is an intelligent and resourceful person, however, I’m not sure they would have gotten through such a challenging time so successfully on their own. I am very glad I was able to be there for them, and I’m hoping to use this scholarship to fund my education in mental health counseling so I can continue to show up for others.

I first came to the mental health field a few years ago through a residential treatment program for people experiencing psychosis. This work was often challenging, but it was also very rewarding and I made some truly wonderful connections with residents as they navigated difficult life circumstances, battled extensive trauma, and struggled with serious mental illness. Many residents had difficulty connecting with others or conveying what they were experiencing, but they were able to express themselves with art, music, or poetry. As someone who has struggled with my own mental health, and a lifelong creative, I found these expressions deeply compelling. I loved collaborating with people to find creative and unusual ways to express their emotions, or sharing music that was important to us at difficult times in our lives. I had considered going back to school for art therapy in the past, but this job finally convinced me to take the plunge and apply to Prescott College's MS Counseling program for Spring 2025. Since then, my understanding of counseling as a profession, the role of counselors, the practice of therapy, trauma, and mental health has greatly expanded. I’m so glad I finally made the decision to go back to school and become a counselor so I can make a difference in people’s lives while doing something I love. I’m also grateful to be working in a job I love as a peer support specialist at a mental health urgent care program. In this role, I’m able to put what I’m learning into practice every day and see how various theories play out in real conversations and real people’s lives. It’s an honor to hold space with people during such vulnerable moments. Crisis intervention can really make a difference in someone’s life, and I hope to carry this momentum forward into my future work. Currently, my goal is to complete my Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, as well as the post-graduate certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy so I can become a licensed expressive arts therapist. I want to use creative therapies involving visual art, music, poetry, writing, and play to engage with those who have serious trauma, or difficulty with traditional talk therapy. I am also interested in working with children, particularly those with autism. It is my hope to use expressive arts therapy to support people on their healing journey, helping them process their emotions and experiences in nonverbal, creative ways.

Mental health is extremely important to me in my personal life, my profession, and my education. I was inspired to become an expressive arts therapist after I found counseling and creative engagement to be effective in addressing my own trauma, and I'm now enrolled in the MS Counseling program at Prescott College. I also work as a mental health peer support specialist at a crisis intervention program, where I support people emotionally and help connect them to local resources in the community. As a peer, it is my responsibility to advocate for clients and point out the stigmatization of those we work with. Although much progress has been made in the past few decades, there is still a great deal of stigma surrounding mental health. I have seen clinicians refuse to work with certain clients without ever meeting them face to face because of certain symptoms listed in their charts. I have also seen people stigmatized and harmed by the hospital system while helping them access care at the emergency room, and I've had to advocate for their needs with hospital staff. Sometimes just having a third person in the room can be enough for a provider to treat someone differently. Prior to my current position, I worked at a residential mental health program for people experiencing psychosis. Psychosis, extreme states, hearing voices, and other unusual phenomena continue to be highly stigmatized, and our residents had to navigate this stigma constantly. While working for this program, I sometimes facilitated conversations between residents and their families, who were often trying to negotiate the balance between care and personal autonomy. While working at this program, I also helped facilitate a Hearing Voices group at the community center run by the same organization. This was a peer run group intended to foster community among people who hear voices or experience other unusual phenomena. People found it helpful to have a safe, judgement free space to tell their stories and talk about their experiences. It was amazing to watch people open up, feel comfortable, and make connections with each other. This space allowed people to overcome the alienation that accompanies mental health stigma, fostering growth and empowerment. Mental health is also important to me personally as someone with PTSD and OCD. My mental health affects me on a daily basis, symptoms can distort my cognition, interrupt my concentration, and make me lose hours to thought spirals and dissociation. I know from personal experience how important it is to address trauma, thought distortions, and anxiety because they can severely impact one’s quality of life. All of these experiences have contributed to my decision to enroll in Prescott College and become a licensed mental health counselor. I want to take the next steps in my career by furthering my education with the goal of helping others. Improving the mental health of individuals improves the health and resiliency of our entire community, and battling stigma helps the most vulnerable members of our community access care.

As someone who works in mental health, I know how important it is to take care of myself so I can continue showing up for others. This is especially important in a peer role, as I have to be aware of how my own trauma and mental health struggles are showing up in client relationships. It's important to be aware of boundaries not just with clients, but with myself, so I can continue acting in everyone's best interest rather than reacting or coming from a pace of fear. Last year, I worked with someone whose language and behavior was extremely activating for my PTSD. This was one of the most challenging situations of my career, and eventually I had to acknowledge that I just couldn't do good work with this person. It was not fair to either of us, because when I was activated I wasn't able to provide constructive mental health support, and they weren't learning or growing. I had to advocate for myself and ask my supervisor to not work with this client, which my supervisor said they weren't able to accommodate. I tried to continue working with this client, but it was extremely difficult for me. Eventually, their behavior started to escalate because they saw the effect they were having on me. The client started actively harassing me and touching themselves in front of me, after which I once again advocated that I not work with the client. I went over my supervisor to the program director and spoke with our union representative, but the intervention they offered me was minimal. I did my best to speak with my coworkers about what was happening and ask for help, and I’m grateful to those coworkers who were willing to hear me out when those in leadership were not. After almost six months of this, I had reached my limit. I was extremely stressed, not just from the harassment I was experiencing but also from feeling dismissed and invalidated by my workplace. It felt like they were telling me my mental health and wellbeing didn’t matter, even when we were working for the mental health of others. When the client only had a few weeks left in the program, I decided to prioritize my own mental health and take FMLA. The only way to really get away from the situation was to take time off from work, take care of myself, and focus on things that brought me joy. I chose my own health and wellbeing over the pressure from leadership to push through my discomfort and put up with harassment. It was a difficult decision to make because I love my job and was afraid taking FMLA would affect how I was treated at work, but I’m glad I made that decision and took care of my health.

I grew up with the life of the Buddha on my living room wall. My father would often show me documentaries about the Dalai Lama, Buddhist culture, and the occupation of Tibet. These stories inspired me to stop eating meat at the age of 12 and continue exploring Buddhist philosophy and faith, including traveling to Washington DC at age 14 to see the Dalai Lama deliver the World Peace talk and other teachings in person. Currently, Buddhist practice is a part of my everyday life, and a major inspiration behind my chosen path of service to others. I currently work in mental health crisis intervention and I'm in the process of earning my Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling. I plan to continue working in the mental health field as a counselor and expressive arts therapist, focusing on under served and vulnerable populations. I am particularly interested in working with children, those who have developmental disabilities, and those with severe mental illness. Expressive arts therapy is a field that is rapidly growing and innovating new ways to provide care for those who struggle with traditional talk therapy, and I'm very excited to join this field. In my practice, the deity I work with the most is Chenrezig, the bodhisattva of compassion. I was inspired by the story of his 1,000-armed and ten-faced form especially, and how he responded to the cries of suffering beings. I practice with Chenrezig in order to cultivate compassion, patience, and an open heart. I see becoming a counselor as part of this practice and my spiritual journey. I also practice yoga, and I see my work as a form of karma yoga. Karma yoga is the spiritual path of service, seeking union with the divine and expressing devotion through serving one’s fellow human beings. When I am sitting with someone in crisis, it is an honor to be with them during their most vulnerable moments. These moments of human connection are also a form of connection to the divine, and I try to see every person I work with through the eyes of compassion. I am not a perfect person, and I have a lot of learning to do. I still get angry and frustrated with people, and there are lots of things I don’t understand yet, but when I stay open to the divine in all things then everything becomes my teacher. I am a lifelong student, and I have already learned so much during my time as a graduate student. I look forward to learning and growing through both education and service, and becoming a counselor with my own practice.