Jocelyn, who has provided mental health services for Lake County for many years, has expanded to provide support countywide due to the growing need for accessible mental health services.
Community Mental Health Center CEO and Director Susan Lesko said the clinic regularly serves 8,000 clients and receives more than 1,000 calls each month.
“While the pandemic has subsided, the need for mental health hasn't really subsided yet,” Lesko said.
Jocelyn recently added additional locations, making care easier for people in areas such as Waukegan, Grayslake, and Highland Park.
“Our expansion is something we are very proud of,” said Clinical Coordinator Camilo Morales. “I’m very happy to be able to reach so many people that I couldn’t reach before.”
Morales explained that Jocelyn's website has a Spanish option, and that bilingual therapists like him primarily support Spanish-speaking people.
“They don't have to explain what they're going through, because we've been there and we know what it's like,” he said. .
Robert Robbins, a Jocelyn client, said he was living on the streets, bouncing from state to state, until one day he went online to seek help and found the Jocelyn Center.
“I turned to hard drugs for years, about 10 years, because I didn't know there was a place to get help,” he said.
Robbins credits Jocelyn's thoughtful service with helping him stay sober for 11 years while studying to become a certified recovery specialist.
Chloe Brodner, assistant director of clinic services, explained that Jocelyn has more than 100 therapists and offers traditional therapies as well as expressive arts programs such as art, dance and music. .
“So there are different ways of looking at our services,” she said.
