Symbiosis is a close, mutually beneficial relationship between two organisms. Think of flowers and bees: the bee gets food and rest, and the flower gets pollinated so it can thrive. In my experience, the most impactful mentoring relationships work in the same way.
Mentorship is one of the most powerful tools we have to strengthen and sustain the behavioral health workforce while shaping the next generation of clinicians, peers and other professionals. While not unique to behavioral health, mentorship is a practical response to ongoing workforce shortages, rising service needs and the demand for a strong pipeline of professionals who enter, advance and stay in the field.
I firmly believe that without the mentors in my life, I may not have had the stamina to navigate the behavioral health field. As an undergraduate unsure whether to major in sociology or psychology, I sought guidance from a professor who understood my background, and whose insight led me to choose psychology.
We continued our mentor-mentee relationship, even though they were a sociology professor, as I sought input and guidance while navigating my undergraduate degree. Their willingness to share their own experiences – both successes and challenges – and listen with patience and empathy encouraged me to explore what could be possible.
After graduating with a bachelor’s in psychology, I found myself at another crossroads. What do I do now? My degree didn’t prepare me for a direct service role, even though that felt like my next step. The positions I qualified for paid less than those in the service industry, so I bartended while I figured out my next step.
Once again, I needed guidance.
During the last two years of my undergraduate program, I had built a strong connection with my research lab advisor, who was also the department chair. I found him incredibly brilliant, yet more accessible than others I had encountered in similar positions. I reached out, explained where I felt stuck, and asked if he would help me determine how to use my degree, skills and interests.
Though our communication was brief, his message has stayed with me: There is a place for you in this field.
Through those conversations, I realized that if I wanted to work in clinical service delivery, I needed additional skills, credentials and education. I applied to a rehabilitation counseling graduate program where I developed skills to support individuals with a wide range of abilities, including psychiatric disabilities.
Once again, I found connection with a professor who needed a research assistant.
Our relationship was truly symbiotic: I received her support and guidance as I shaped my professional identity, and she found renewed connection to direct service through my practicum experiences. She shared examples of working in different states, and even different countries, and helped me understand how my curiosity and drive might be better suited to certain environments.
Our meetings were energizing. It felt as though we were discovering something new about ourselves and the field together.
My practicum supervisors and professional connections became mentors as well, helping me find a community where I belonged. They connected me to a trade association, where I developed relationships with even more experienced professionals.
I knew I had found my place when I was asked to mentor someone else — someone who simply needed reassurance that while the waves can be big, the horizon still holds possibility.
In my current role at the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center, I see how critical early-career engagement is for attracting, developing and retaining the behavioral health workforce. Too often, newly hired staff are left to navigate complex roles and identify mentors on their own after initial onboarding. Not every school or organization offers structured support for professionals in the early stages of their careers.
Don’t underestimate the impact you can have on a bee searching for their next flower. Mentorship benefits mentors, mentees, organizations and the field by improving retention, building confidence and competence, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning and inclusion.
Like any meaningful relationship, strong mentorship is grounded in clear communication, defined roles and mutual respect. I continue to rely on a handful of mentors for guidance, for myself and for the worker bees I now support as they find their place in the field of flowers.
The BHWC is developing mentoring training resources for agencies interested in implementing a staff mentoring model within their organizations. To be among the first to know when these resources launch in summer 2026, sign up for the BHWC newsletter. In the meantime, explore current BHWC training opportunities and check back regularly as new offerings are added.
Written by Nicole J. Pashka, MS, CRC, CPRP, LCPC
Nicole serves as the Initiative Coordinator at the BHWC and brings more than a decade of leadership experience in behavioral health. In addition to providing direct clinical services, she has helped develop, implement and evaluate innovative, evidence-informed models and workforce development initiatives. Nicole is a passionate advocate for knowledge translation through training, dissemination and technical assistance, and has presented at national forums including the National Council for Wellbeing and the Veterans Health Administration. She currently serves as an appointed Board Member for the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Foundation.
To increase access to effective behavioral health services through coordinated initiatives to recruit, educate, and retain professionals in behavioral health.
