Essence

Health Guide Associate
Youngstown, OH

Essence embarked on her healthcare career journey over fourteen years ago. It began with experiences in traditional nursing facilities, followed by her serving as the Director of Nursing for a dementia and Alzheimer's assisted living community. She has also worked within drug and alcohol rehabilitation and residential facilities for children living with mental health challenges. She now works as a Health Guide Associate at firsthand.

Parallel to her professional endeavors, Essence navigated the personal challenges of securing appropriate mental health care for her daughter, who faced bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression. Essence struggled for 4 long years seeking a diagnosis to make sense of what her daughter was going through. This personal journey was a pivotal aspect of Essence’s understanding of mental health care, illuminating the obstacles many families encounter in the healthcare system, such as securing timely support, accurate diagnoses and effective treatments.

With the high demands of her career and personal life as a single mom of five children, Essence champions the practice of self-care. This involves regular counseling, setting clear boundaries, engaging in activities that promote relaxation and rejuvenation, and creating personal spaces for reflection. She has also learned not to worry about the things that she has no control over. From her cherished vacations to simple acts of self-kindness, Essence believes that caring for oneself is essential to sustaining the strength needed to care for others.

Essence loves working in the mental health field, and feels fulfilled in her role because has time to focus on each of the individuals that she serves in order to give them the level of support they need.