At Ascend, we want you to connect with our team on every level before entering into our care. Whether you’re the teen in treatment or you’re part of the family, our blog is here to provide guidance and insight into what happens in our treatment programs. From residential to outpatient support, there are a ton of people on our team who ensure our programs are running smoothly.
With our Day in the Life series, we introduce you to various positions within our organization so you can learn more about how we do what we do and what you can expect when you enter a treatment program with us. This month, we’re following Selene (who you already met when she was a regular mentor) in her role as Mentor 2 at the Empress House. Learn more about what she does in her new role to ensure our clients thrive!
What Is A Mentor 2?
Mentors at Ascend are those staff members who interact with clients on a daily basis, making sure they stay on schedule and supporting them throughout the day. As a Mentor 2, Selene works with clients, but she also supports her fellow mentors, acting as a mentor to them as well. In addition to ensuring client safety, building healthy relationships, and modeling healthy boundaries, Selene guides all the mentors around her, providing them with tips and advice to help them improve their performance.
Why We Have This Role
Many of our mentors are just entering the mental health field, and while they have a ton of passion and enthusiasm, they don’t always know what to do in every situation. Having a more experienced mentor at their side ensures they have someone more immediate to turn to with questions and concerns. Overall, the Mentor 2 role provides a clearer hierarchy and support system that streamlines facility operations.
How Selene Got Her Start
Growing up, mental health topics were taboo. Culturally, it just wasn’t talked about. After she turned 18, Selene discovered that she had been struggling unknowingly with her own mental health challenges. She had no information or resources about mental health. Fortunately, she was able to connect with a sibling who was in the field as a therapist — someone who served as an inspiration for her to learn more about mental health.
Selene started out as a behavioral technician at an adult residential facility in Malibu. After some time there, she moved on to a teen residential program. In this second role, Selene realized how much she loved working with teens. Eventually, Selene found her way to Ascend, where she thrived in our supportive environment.
Why Selene Loves Ascend
Selene is extremely passionate about helping younger generations grow and succeed, especially when it comes to clients who don’t believe they can ever change. The privilege of being part of their journey of self-discovery motivates her every day. Each time she watches the transformation in a client, she feels a sense of victory.
From the moment she started her work with us, Selene has felt supported. As a mentee, she experienced the care we put into training new staff members. She loves how we train our team to be the best they can be, both for their own personal development and for the betterment of our programs.
Why We Love Selene
Having Selene on our team has been a major boon to the Empress facility. She’s grown so much since starting that it just made sense to encourage her leadership abilities with the Mentor 2 role. From small tasks around the house to guiding major emotional growth among peers and clients, Selene plays a critical role, being there for everyone who walks through our doors.
A Day in Her Life
Most days for Selene start with greeting our clients. She checks if they’ve completed their daily intentions and gets them ready for the first group of the day. Once the kids are set up, she assigns the day’s tasks out to herself and the other mentors, ensuring that clients stay on schedule, participate in groups, and that they have everything they need for school.
Some days, Selene may have to support our educators, checking schoolwork and providing an extra set of eyes in case someone needs to use a skill or take a break. When she has time, Selene will also review the house inventory, clean, and organize to make sure everything is presentable. If any inventory is running low, Selene communicates the need for restock.
But Selene can’t handle everything alone! She frequently collaborates with our overnight mentors, like Manny, to ensure every part of household management and client support is communicated for streamlined care. Selene has also been working closely with David, our Clinical Director, to encourage open communication about the needs of our clients.
Our Team Is Our Heart
As a challenging, dynamic, yet rewarding place to work, Ascend believes that having a strong, passionate team is the lifeblood of our organization. We constantly encourage growth and improvement among our staff through continuing education and opportunities for advancement. Learn more about how other staff members find their place at Ascend when you follow our blog for monthly spotlights!
