Speaker: Julia Wessel, LCSW-C, Assistant Director, Parent-Child Clinical Services Program
How is The Lourie Center Clinic unique in the field of education?
Julia Wessel, LCSW-C: The Lourie Center is unique in the field of mental health because we focus on infant and early childhood mental health here. We are one of the only organizations in the area that serves young, young children. And we believe that the first years of a child's life make the most impact on their development. So providing high quality trauma informed equity, advancing, team based care early in a child's life, sets them up for success.
What is your favorite thing about working with The Lourie Center Clinic?
Julia Wessel, LCSW-C: My favorite thing about working at the Lourie Center is getting to meet all sorts of children and families who come through our doors. We meet them in a moment of distress and struggle and we see them through a journey of healing, growth and hopefully positive change. And we get to work in rooms like this and, and play all day for a living. So that's pretty fun.
What is your "why"?
Julia Wessel, LCSW-C: I believe that all children, regardless of income and socio-economic status, deserve the highest quality mental health treatment when they need it, which is part of why I work here at the Lourie Center. I also believe that we need to train future generations of mental health providers in early childhood specific work. And we have the opportunity to do that here at the Lourie Center through our training program.
We know what you do for The Lourie Center Clinic. What has the center done for you?
Julia Wessel, LCSW-C: The Lourie Center has provided me invaluable training. From when I started as a really early career social worker to the position that I hold now and has also afforded me leadership opportunities so that I can help make a difference, not only here at the center, but in our county and our state in advocating for young children and their needs.
