Jason Kugel LMHC

Mutual respect and honesty need to flow both ways in the therapeutic relationship. I can't help someone who isn't being straight with me.

Think of therapy as a bandage, or a procedure to help/cure a physical condition. Issues with mental health are as real as any disease. You can't fix many physical issues yourself when it comes to chronic conditions and disease and you cant just will your mental health issues away. Reaching out takes strength and courage and is the total opposite of weakness.

I retired from the Navy in 2011. When I decided to go back to school 3 years later it was mainly because of the veterans I'd met after retiring. There's such a stigma attached to "needing help", especially in the military. There's this misperception that if you have mental health issues, it's because you're weaker than your buddy. Add to that the notion many people have that you can "decide to be happy" or "will yourself out of depression. Experiencing and witnessing traumatic events take a toll. Sometimes, it's huge and all at once. Others issues develop over time. The human mind is resilient, but at some point most of us experience something we aren't naturally inclined to handle. Or we experience the same sorts of things until they become a problem. If you are cut, you bleed. Witness or experience enough abnormal events (physical abuse, war time events (death, destruction and mayhem daily) and you will develop a problem. One is physical and one is mental, but you wouldn't dream of telling someone who just got beat up to "stop bleeding and feel better" or someone with cancer to "stop having cancer". While my passion is definitely helping people, the passion that drives me is my desire to spread awareness and de-stigmatize mental health issues.

• Florida, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, MH19084

I have worked with families and children who have experienced sexual trauma, domestic violence, drug abuse and neglect at home. I found working within the foster care system very fulfilling. Most of the children I've seen enter into foster care need someone to listen to them and help them accept their feelings about the situation. Being a veteran, working with vets has been special to me. That work provided insight into the minds and behaviors of every type of client I've seen. I've been in an office environment, done home and school visits and also telehealth.