Meet Stephanie (pictured left above with participant Kayvonnah), one of GOSO’s Participant Success Managers (PSMs), whose path here started as an intern and has grown into a full-time role, most recently marked by earning her Master’s degree. A lifelong passion for working with young people (she’s also the head youth leader at her church) brought her to GOSO, where she now brings a clinical, therapeutic lens to the support she offers our participants, meeting them in some of their hardest moments and helping them reconnect with their own strength.

As Stephanie puts it, being a PSM at GOSO means “extending a listening ear, a helping hand and a heart to heart.” That approach carries extra weight this month, as we recognize Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and the added barriers many of our participants and communities face in accessing support.

We asked Stephanie a few questions about her journey at GOSO and the work she does, here’s what she had to say:

How would you describe the clinical/mental health side of your role to someone unfamiliar with GOSO?

When clients come to us, many are in one of the worst points of their early life. Many are dealing with broken family ties, open cases, difficulty accessing basic needs or experiencing the grief of missing out on a “normal childhood”. In our clinical role we sit with clients in that feeling and point back to the strength they have within. Our role is to explore those feelings and the why behind them, encourage them and bring them back to their higher self.

Since this is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, how do you think about mental health stigma or access within the communities we serve?

I am no stranger to mental health stigma, being a Latina/Hispanic woman. I grew up in a culture where mental health struggles were perceived as weak by many adults, but I understand that’s because the culture at the time told them that. I believe my generation is becoming more and more educated on these struggles, and I can attest that they are seeking the help to better themselves and improve their way of living and thinking.

You started as an intern here, what made you want to stay and grow with GOSO rather than move on after your internship?

I grew to love the work that we all do and I was drawn to the mission of GOSO. I have seen what a participant can achieve when they immerse themselves into the program and knowing someone is choosing better is the most rewarding feeling as a PSM. I grew to also love my team as all of the PSM’s are so supportive and the supervisors are phenomenal clinicians who have contributed to my growth (Crystal, Claudia and Yenia have never pushed me away when I have had a comment or a question so I have ALWAYS felt heard by them). In learning the in’s and outs of the program I knew this was a place I can grow professionally in and contribute positively to.

Finish this sentence: “Being a PSM at GOSO means…”

Extending a listening ear, a helping hand and a heart to heart. 💙