Why are you passionate about mental health care?

Question

Exploring the depths of mental health care, this article unveils expert perspectives on why it's a vital part of human wellbeing. It delves into the transformative power of treatment and the impact of mental health on all aspects of life. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of the universal need for mental health support and the passionate individuals driving change in the field.

Ashley Hudson · Answer

As a teen therapist and mental health professional with over 12 years of experience, my passion for this work has only grown stronger. Helping others understand, manage, and cope with their mental health is deeply meaningful to me. Growing up, I was always curious about the emotional challenges and struggles people and myself faced. I remember feeling lonely and being acutely aware of my own emotional needs, often wishing I had someone who was nonjudgmental, compassionate, and truly saw me for who I was. 
This personal experience fuels my passion for what I do. I find immense fulfillment in fostering connection, witnessing clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves, and helping them build stronger relationships with others. Seeing someone go from feeling isolated to feeling understood, and helping them discover a newfound appreciation for their mental health, is incredibly rewarding. Providing others with the support I wish I had is not just a job—it's a privilege.

Jeannie Campbell · Answer

I'm passionate about mental health care because mental health is something everyone has, whether they spend much time bettering it or not. At its core, mental health is about how we feel, think, and act, and those are things that every human does. We can always benefit from increased understanding about why we feel a fluttering in our chest, or keep thinking things that aren't helpful, or act in ways that end up harming us in the long run. 
Accessing a mental health professional should be on par with seeing a dentist or doctor, chiropractor or OB-GYN, health care professionals we see for regular check-ups to make sure that various systems are running smoothly and the way they should. The brain is no different. I count it a privilege to walk alongside someone on their journey toward better functioning, be it within their relationships, job satisfaction, spirituality, or emotional well-being. We're all on the same road together, and strength in numbers is a real thing. Continuing to de-stigmatize mental health struggles is crucial for our well-being as a populace.

Nigeria McHellon · Answer

My passion for mental health care comes from my belief in the transformative power of healing and self-discovery. I've seen how understanding and addressing mental health can unlock resilience, foster meaningful connections, and help people reclaim their lives.
Mental health is the foundation of everything—how we think, feel, and interact with the world. I'm passionate about being a guide and a safe space for people to explore their stories, overcome challenges, and build lives that align with their values and goals. It's deeply fulfilling to witness the strength and growth that emerge when someone takes steps toward their well-being. Everyone deserves that journey, and I'm here to walk it with them.

Christina Canuto · Answer

I am passionate about mental health care because I recognize the ultimate healing vessel of relationships. As a systems theory thinker, I see problems and solutions in the context of relationships. Loneliness, rejection, or interpersonal trauma can create such deep wounds for people. By providing a relational lens to my therapy, I encourage people to explore the healing capacity found in relationships with others. Especially when a person has suffered interpersonal wounds, healing in relationships happens through empathy and validation. 
I am passionate about mental health care because I have witnessed the healing that happens when the words "I hear you" are said authentically to another person. Whether that healing occurs by encouraging an individual to have deep conversations with their support system, or by myself helping structure conversations inside the therapy room with couples and families, I can't ever imagine a time when my passion for providing mental health care will come to an end. We are hard-wired to seek connection with one another, and I am humbled every day by the privilege to help spark that connection.

Morgan Gardner · Answer

Mental health care is something I deeply care about, both because of my own experiences and the impact I see it have on others. Therapy has played a huge role in helping me handle some of life's hardest moments, and it's this personal connection that drives my passion to help others through mental health care. From my own struggles with family changes to dealing with anxiety and depression, therapy has been my source of support. Seeing my clients make progress as their therapist is also incredibly rewarding.
Seeing my clients improve is one of the most rewarding parts of being a therapist. I've watched people make real progress, whether it's by overcoming fear, facing past trauma, or simply learning how to live with anxiety. Each small step they take toward feeling better is incredibly inspiring. Being part of that journey is why I love doing this work. It reminds me that healing is possible, and the effort made in therapy can lead to real, lasting change.
For me, mental health care is a calling. It helped me through tough times in my life, and now I want to help others do the same. Watching people grow, find strength, and overcome obstacles gives me purpose. I hope to make a difference in the lives of my clients, just as therapy has made a difference in mine.

Kirsten Hartz · Answer

As a trauma-informed somatic therapist, I'm deeply passionate about mental health care because I've witnessed how our bodies hold the wisdom of both our wounds and our healing. Every day, I'm moved by the profound moments when clients begin to sense their own embodied strength—whether it's noticing their breath deepen for the first time in years or feeling their shoulders soften after carrying tension for decades. The human nervous system's capacity for repair and regulation continues to amaze me, especially when we create spaces where people feel truly safe enough to explore their experiences. 
Working with clients has taught me that trauma isn't just stored in our memories or thoughts, but in the very tissues of our bodies, and supporting someone as they gently reconnect with their physical experience can catalyze healing in ways that words alone cannot reach. I'm particularly drawn to this field because it honors the inherent intelligence of each person's nervous system and recognizes that even difficult symptoms often begin as creative adaptations for survival. Most importantly, this work repeatedly shows me the incredible resilience of the human spirit, as I witness people reclaim their sense of safety, agency, and connection—not just in their minds, but in the fabric of their being.

Kristie Tse · Answer

Mental health care holds an intensely personal significance for me, interwoven with my identity as a first-generation Asian American woman. Growing up, I stood on the edges of a cultural tightrope, watching the heavy weight of stigma around mental health silence voices that desperately needed to be heard. This silence wasn't just quiet—it was deafening, a void filled with unspoken struggles and unacknowledged pain. It shaped my perception of the daunting barriers faced by marginalized communities, where seeking help often feels like navigating a maze of judgment and misunderstanding.
That ache—the one born of isolation and cultural expectation—stirred something unshakable inside me. I felt an undeniable pull to create a sanctuary, a space where people could shed the armor they've been forced to wear, step into their vulnerability, and know they're not alone. Becoming a psychotherapist gave me the tools to walk alongside others as they sift through the tangled mess of their pain, unearthing strength they didn't know they had.
There's an indescribable power in watching a person dismantle the chains of societal and cultural pressures, reclaiming their right to live freely and authentically. Witnessing that transformation—the raw, messy beauty of growth and healing—fills me with a profound sense of purpose. It's not just a career; it's a calling, a fire that keeps burning brightly within me.

Delia McCabe · Answer

Mental health is essential to living a good life, and thriving, because it underpins our decision-making, our choices, our behavior, and our relationships. When our mental health is stable we think clearly, we engage well with others, we work towards our goals, we can focus and learn, and we make good lifestyle choices, like getting enough exercise and sleep, and eating well. Conversely, when our mental health isn't stable, we do the opposite, and end up in a vicious, downward cycle. 
Unfortunately, today we live in a complex world—one in which many people feel a sense of overwhelm and uncertainty. These emotions lead to chronic stress, which leads to the brain battling to modulate emotion, which makes it easier for people to succumb to anxiety and depression. I teach people how to ensure their brain is as healthy as possible, so it's easier for them to make behavior changes to support ongoing mental health, and to develop new habits of mind so they stop feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. 
When people check these two boxes they have a significantly better chance of thriving because they have both the foundation and the tools to ensure their mental health stays optimal. An optimally functioning brain, that also thinks optimally, is the best foundation for optimal mental health.

Dr. Erica Wollerman · Answer

As a child psychologist who works primarily with parents, I am passionate about mental health because I believe that improving parental mental health will have outcomes incredibly far-reaching. Children who are raised by parents who are more empathetic, mindful of their reactions, compassionate, and strong in their own identities and boundaries will have increased resilience, grit, and capability in the world as adults. 
I am concerned that when children and teens cite "mental health," they are expressing the opposite of these values and indicating that they are not interested in doing challenging things outside of their comfort zone. I think this is the flip side of past decades of parenting—where in the past we were not compassionate enough to children and now at times, we are overly compassionate and willing to rescue them from everything. 
It is key to focus on taking action even when we are struggling; setting boundaries that are kind but often unpopular with your children; and learning how to cope through challenging situations instead of avoiding them. These are the reasons why I am passionate about my work and about improving mental health. Not through escaping hard things but by persevering and learning from them.

Julie Goldberg · Answer

I view my role as a therapist as part of a larger collective effort to help people wake up. When individuals become more aware, kind, and compassionate toward themselves, they naturally extend that kindness and compassion to the world around them.
One scene that stuck with me from the film "A Real Pain" captures this beautifully. The characters are discussing how society has become numb to the overwhelming suffering in the world. Jesse Eisenberg's character says something like, "If we cried at every horrific thing happening, we'd never get anything done." Kieran Culkin's character responds poignantly: "Nah, I don't think so. We'd have much less to cry about if we all paused and wept."
Mental health care gives people permission to do exactly that: to pause, reflect, and connect with themselves and their emotions. It helps normalize the suffering and pain we all experience while guiding us inward to discover who we truly are. In this process, we can heal individually and collectively. It's not just about personal growth—it's about creating a path forward for a more peaceful, compassionate world.

Dr. Tatijana Busic · Answer

I'm passionate about mental health care because it's everywhere—it's not just about treating symptoms, but about how we learn, lead, make decisions, and navigate relationships. In a world that moves at lightning speed, where high performance and constant demands are the norm, understanding how our brains and nervous systems work is no longer optional—it's essential.
In my work as an organizational and clinical psychologist, I've seen how mental health impacts everything—from how leaders show up, to how teams function, to how individuals manage stress, resilience, and personal growth. Prioritizing mental well-being isn't just about survival; it's about unlocking our full potential, making better decisions, and leading with clarity and confidence. Now more than ever, we need to integrate mental health into every aspect of life, not just as a reactive measure, but as a proactive strategy for thriving in a world that doesn't slow down. That's what drives me every day.

Christopher Jones · Answer

Growing up with family members struggling with mental health issues and co-occurring substance use disorders was a challenging journey. However, witnessing their remarkable recovery and thriving, largely due to the transformative power of professional treatment, ignited my interest in psychology and psychotherapy. This experience led me to pursue my bachelor's degree in psychology in my hometown of Las Vegas and subsequently, a master's degree in counseling/marriage and family therapy. I've had the privilege of working in diverse settings, from hospitals to correctional centers, schools, and community mental health agencies. Today, I am grateful to be in private practice, where I continue to witness the transformative power of mental health treatment.

Benjy Sherer · Answer

There are 2 elements of my work in mental health that really light me up.
The first is about the level of authentic self-expression involved. I got into this field because of my own personal struggles. I experienced anxiety and depression for years, and there were several periods where things got really dark. When I work with clients, it's all about sharing the unique wisdom, experience, and skills that I gained through my own struggles.
It makes every challenge that I went through worthwhile. I get to pull on everything I went through in my own life—the good and the bad—in order to help other people and change their lives. For this reason, the impact I make on my clients makes me feel as though I've truly found my calling. It's what I was meant to do, and my whole life was a journey leading me to this work.
The second is the ripple effect that this has. Our mental health impacts every element of our lives and every interaction we have. When we are struggling, we take out our pain on other people. But when we are truly in charge of our own emotions and capable of navigating our own inner worlds, we show up with more patience, more grace, more acceptance, and understanding. 
So, I know that for every single person I help, it has a ripple effect. The reach of my work is far beyond what I will ever see. Parents will raise their children with more love. Employers will treat their employees with more respect. Everyone who does this inner work will treat everyone they ever interact with a little bit better because of the skills, tools, and wisdom I have given them.
Bit by bit, I truly believe that this is how we change the world. I can't personally dismantle the problematic systems in this world. But I truly believe that people who love themselves are incapable of being knowingly cruel to others. So, with every person that I help, we move a little bit closer to a world with less malice and more kindness.

Lena Hardy · Answer

Mental health struggles often leave people feeling hopeless, helpless, and lost. Unlike seeking medical care, pursuing mental health support is far more challenging and stigmatized. These realities fuel my deep passion for mental health care.
If society placed greater emphasis on addressing mental health concerns, the world could be a profoundly different place. For example, 44% of incarcerated individuals suffer from mental illness, and 54% of prisoners have a diagnosed mental health disorder. Beyond the justice system, more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year—a sobering statistic that underscores the urgent need for change.
I truly believe that expanding access to mental health care can make the world a better, safer, and more compassionate place. My life's purpose is to help people find the care they deserve because no one should feel alone in their struggles.

Why Are You Passionate About Mental Health Care?