Sarah Soroken is a licensed mental health clinician in the Department of Health & Social Services in Solano County.
What inspired you to pursue a career in behavioral health?
I’ve always cared deeply about the well-being of people, animals, and the environment, so a “helping” profession would be a natural fit. My own therapy opened my eyes to the life-changing power of mental health treatment, and from there I wanted to help others as I have been helped.
How has being in NUHW helped you in your profession?
Being a member of NUHW, and now BHAM, has helped me immensely in my profession. The realities of working in the public mental health sphere, and at Kaiser, has been extremely stressful. The most stressful part of my jobs have been seeing patients suffer because they can’t get the care that they need. Through NUHW, I’ve been armed with the knowledge and tools to educate, empower, and advocate for patients. NUHW also introduced me to the importance of collective action in my field. I had never previously been a part of a union that encouraged its members to play an active role in lobbying and other activities to fight to make changes to our dysfunctional mental health system. I now know the importance of the professionals in my field speaking up about the conditions on the ground, to help pass important mental health parity laws and push regulatory agencies to enforce them. It gives me hope that we can make a difference and create a mental health system that actually benefits patients and our communities.
