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Hello! I'm Franco Bejarano and I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker I obtained my Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia in 2016 where I focused in community mental health. I have over 10 years of experience in private and community-based settings working with a variety of mental health challenges and life barriers. My career and personal journey has taken me to the frontlines of emergency rooms, psychiatric wards and community clinics; in the streets working with houseless populations in abandoned houses, bustops and under bridges; HIV support groups; addiction recovery programs; small dark living rooms supporting grieving families; deathbeds; spiritual rituals with tribal leaders; the grounds of human rights activism; meetings with city official addressing systematic issues; the trenches of immigration advocacy; behind the scenes of the affordable housing crisis; speaking in legistavie forums on welfare and criminal system reformation; supporting parents with children with disabilities; international social work; afterschool art programs; academia; and collaborating with artists and creatives working to better communities. And I am happy to say, all my experiences have always validated the reason why I became a psychotherapist - I know firsthand that emotional health is the most important protective factor against the harsh realities of the world. I know, with concrete evidence, that every person has infinite and unmeasurable potential to create a life that brings forth happiness and it is my passion to help people see this within themselves. Aside from my academic training, my psychotherapy approach is also informed by my own queer identity, my multicultural background, my own upbringing as an undocumented immigrant and a caregiver, holistic spirituality, social justice, and the realities of people of working class and low socio-economic experiences. También hablo Español. I am also a life-long artist who aims for their work to build upon the fields of social justice and mental health, an avid gardener and traveler. To see my full training, experience and projects please visit my Curriculum Vitae here. |
