Folk wisdom tells us that we should find a passion and make it a career. For Jasmine Scott, clinical mental health counselor at Midwest Center for Youth and Families, it was a combination of a desire to help people and her own personal experiences that made her realize her passion for mental health.
“A lot of my getting into the field of clinical mental health has to do with what I've gone through in my life,” Scott said. “That led me to want to counsel other people, to advocate and support those who are struggling mentally.”
Scott attended Valparaiso University for her bachelor's and master's degrees, eventually discovering Midwest Center in 2017. Almost eight years later, the Chicago native is still making the commute because of how important the work is.
“I really appreciate the programs at Midwest Center,” she said. “As I finished up my undergrad career at Valparaiso, I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I can do more with this, right?’ Since beginning with Midwest Center in 2017, I’ve done utilization review, I’ve done intake, and I’ve had a lot of opportunities to do a lot of different things. Once I got my master’s, I jumped right into therapy, and I’ve been doing that ever since.”
As a therapist, Scott’s main responsibility is ensuring that her residents get the support they need to succeed. This often involves working with families, schools, and departments within Midwest Center to achieve the most success.
“As a therapist, a lot of what I do is advocacy for our residents. I validate the teens and their experiences while coaching them to practice mindfulness techniques and emotion regulation,” Scott said. “I’ve had a lot of really great run-ins with families who were really invested in their kids, which opens up a lot of opportunities to collaborate. I also work a lot with other departments in the building to continue growing our program and ensure that today’s adolescents get the best that we can offer them.”
Scott has had the opportunity to grow professionally and personally while working at Midwest Center thanks to a culture that promotes coaching and connection. Scott’s mentors didn’t just leave the door open for her to continue her career; they actively helped her step to the next level, leading to her being named Employee of the Year in 2022. It’s a practice Scott continues by offering that same support to those just getting into the industry.
“The people who were here when I started coached and helped me grow as they progressed in their careers, and I think my colleagues and I continue to do that in our roles,” Scott said. “Those of us who move into new positions are bringing up those who are just coming into the role. We’re really solidifying our program, and I think that’s beautiful. We continue to grow and change, facing new challenges every day at the residential facilities, and we continue to push boundaries and barriers.”
The satisfaction from both residents and their families continues to help Scott recognize the value of the work she does in the community, especially in a more rural area like Kouts that might lack the resources of more metropolitan locations.
“There are so many wonderful people here who dedicate themselves to helping the residents smile and grow,” Scott said. “I’ve had families who start this journey so frustrated, and now they’re at ease because of the work we’re doing at Midwest Center. Hearing those stories and connecting with those families has been very rewarding. That’s what keeps you coming back for more. I’m where I’m meant to be.”
Midwest Center for Youth and Families offers full-immersion residential dialectical behavior therapy to adolescents throughout the Region. For more information on its services, visit midwest-center.com or call 888-629-3471.
