I have a passion for compassion - so much so that, well into a career in California legislation and advocacy, I shifted into the world of Counseling. My current role as an Assessment Clinician allows me to harness both to provide high quality, accessible care to clients in Sacramento, and leave a positive impact on my community, by providing thorough, strengths-based assessments, linkages to community programs, and ongoing clinical mental health therapy. I am currently pursuing the Professional Clinical Counselor License (LPCC) with the State of California, and hope to eventually become involved in the training and supervision of future Counselors. Aside from providing direct mental health services, I utilize the knowledge, skills, and experience of working in California’s beautiful State Capitol, serving constituents, advocates, and leaders alike to create a world in which more people are connected with more Counselors and other mental health professionals. This includes advocating for specific policies that create requirements for the availability of mental health professionals on college campuses, through managed care plans, and embedded within the community, as well as advocating for improved working conditions for mental health professionals, the expansion and development of mental health care training programs, and increasing access to - while maintaining the integrity of - graduate programs in order to increase diversity. Why Clinical Counseling rather than Social Work? Through my Bachelors degree in Psychology, I gained an in-depth understanding of the brain. I sought classes in Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Biological Psychology to understand how the brain, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system work together to shape our experiences - as well as how they contribute to mental health conditions. With such a deep fascination with the brain, as well as the passion for social justice, I found my perfect career match in Counseling.