Tanja L. Jones Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and have 30 years of experience in the social services field. I have a strong background in child welfare, social services and family advocacy which includes but is not limited to family preservation, life coach, linkage to mental wellness service, parenting instruction and service delivery to diverse populations. I have also worked extensively with community services in various areas of educational programs and the judicial court systems.  I hold a BA from Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio and am currently a graduate student at Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio pursuing at master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

 

I am passionate and have the drive to be a change agent in mental wellness.  A disparity I see most consistently is unaddressed mental health in the black and brown communities.  I believe this is due to the stigma regarding counseling in general with the added layer of there being very few counselors who are black or brown.  I personally as a professional working to maintain mental wellness have struggled with finding a licensed counselor that looks like me that I believe can identify with the foundational challenges people of color experience daily.  In the black and brown communities’ pastors, teachers, grandparents, community leaders and elders are used for instruction to address behaviors which has some effectiveness due of the relationship formed; however, with the support of the family, community and professional counseling greater strides can be made in improving the mental wellness in an individual which will strengthen family ultimately lending to stronger communities.  I need to be and will be a change agent in my community.  I have always tried and will continue to promote mental wellness in all communities especially black and brown communities.  Having served in many roles and capacities such as a case manager, social worker and currently a family achievement coach, I know that I have been affective in each and will continue to make great strides in the role as a licensed therapist.