KATHY HERBST

Kathy has a very hectic, very rewarding position at HTC’s Mental Health Connections division. Overseeing ten therapists, making sure records are kept precisely and seeing clients herself makes for a very busy day, but it really is her calling. “I finally fell into the right path,” she shares. After being a secretary for 25 years, she knew there was more for her to do for the greater good – she wanted to help people.

At Mental Health Connections, she found a population of people that need a myriad of assistance. Her office offers services including case management, individual and group counseling, family involvement and medication management to over 3,000 Oneida County residents each year.

Her favorite thing to hear? That the clients are sleeping correctly, eating well, talking to their families again, walking and getting out of the house. Things we take for granted in our everyday lives are enormous successes to these patients. “We are their support system,” she explains, “They depend on us to be there for them.” Sometimes, people come into the office and are just completely overwhelmed and need someone to talk to right away. An excellent clinical team (both the front end staff and the therapists) make sure to get each person just the assistance they need.

Being at the company for 11 years, Kathy is humbled by the work and motivated by what she witnesses. “I listen to other’s problems and realize that mine aren’t that bad at all.” She sees people who want to work, want to get better and want to contribute and it’s a joy for her to be able to help make that happen.