Jonathan Harrell, MSW, LCSW is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. Jonathan earned his bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Alabama in 2015 and his master’s in Social Work degree in 2017.  Since then he has worked in both outpatient and inpatient mental health and psychiatric facilities with adults. These settings have allowed him to provide group therapy and provide counseling in one on one sessions.  Jonathan is dually licensed in both Alabama and Louisiana as a clinically licensed social worker.

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While obtaining his degrees, Jonathan earned an honor as a CDC CUPS Public Health Scholar in 2015. This opportunity afforded the opportunity to complete a summer program with the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Also, it allowed him to hone in on further interests in public health. Jonathan sees mental health as a public health issue and his efforts focus on breaking stigma against it. Jonathan uses techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help those with anxiety and depression build new thinking patterns and habits. He understands the links between poverty, racism, and discrimination on mental health. This informs his mission is to bring about awareness and education about these disparities.

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In September 2020, Jonathan relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana to join his wife Rachel. Currently, he works at the Ochsner-Lafayette General Behavioral Health Unit as the Social Services Supervisor. Aside from private counseling and case management, he enjoys listening to various genres of music and watching films/documentaries in his free time. One would say he is a lover of the Arts. For he is a frequent visitor of art museums and student of photography. He is one-third of the “What it Look Like” podcast that speaks on the modern-day Christian life perspective. This is another platform that he uses to educate young adults on the significance of their mental health. Working with people of various races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and creeds has afforded him the opportunity to be a well-rounded therapist that is culturally competent. Jonathan truly believes that it is never too late for an individual to make a positive change to better one’s life and to better the lives of those around us. Jonathan remains passionate about the clients he encounters and developing innovative ways to help every individual reach their next level in life.