Allow me to introduce to you February 2024’s promotional spotlight employee, Kendra Wilson.
Kendra is new in her Penny Lane career, starting in February 2023 as an Outpatient Therapist/MAT Assessor at our Antelope Valley location. Since that time, she has worked extremely hard and has learned so much about her role and more, which led to her being recently promoted to Intensive Services, Quality Improvement Clinical Supervisor as of December 2023! Her uncanny ability to connect with our clients and other staff members, and love for helping others in the mental health field make her perfect for the role.
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of California and holds a master’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UMass Global.
Help me in congratulating Kendra on her success!
-Lori Reid, Penny Lane Centers
I was raised in Antelope Valley, and I attended high school and college there as well. I attended Palmdale High School and Brandman University, which is now known as UMASS global. With over 8 years of experience in the mental health field, I started in 2012 working for the school district as an aide and at a mental health agency as a CFS/ Facilitator. I went to school while working both jobs and obtained my master’s degree in psychology and became a therapist in 2018. I continued to support my community in the mental health field until I arrived at Penny Lane in 2023 working as a MAT assessor.
Penny Lane’s mission statement to empower hopes and dreams engaged me. I have always had a commitment to the community and to helping people find joy in places that are dark. Penny Lane’s ability to welcome all clients regardless of gender, race, age, religion, disability, marital status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression truly shows and aligns with who I am.
My favorite aspect is how Penny Lane leads with a heart centered culture and it is truly present in the interactions with families, community, and staff.
The path to promotion was very supportive. I feel as though there was a lot of encouragement and support from management to be successful in finding the right position for me based on my skills and abilities.
The team was there to answer any questions I needed and supported me with making the transition.
Penny Lane offers an array of support for furthering education/ career. I took advantage of the sign-on bonus, license renewal, also I had a week off to study for my test when I was studying for licensure! I felt supported, relaxed, and relieved going into the testing center! I was relieved to know that I passed and quickly thought about how I was supported by the work environment to pass the test. I was grateful for the paid week off to be able to regroup and focus.
I think the most difficult part is the learning curve and getting used to there being a whole different aspect of the mental health world. I can say it is beautiful to be on the other side, encouraging and supporting others to be successful. No matter what role you play in the mental health field, it is the team’s goal to embrace, empower, and protect those in need.
I have passion for football, and I am a San Francisco 49ers fan. I love to do acrylic nails and hair. I have a passion for and interest in beauty products.
I think what shaped me significantly in my life is being raised by my grandparents and not having a lot of interactions with my biological parents. I grew up struggling with abandonment issues and being able to overcome the trauma experienced with that has helped me grow tremendously.
Knowledge is power and it is something no one can ever take away from you. Having and sharing knowledge is the cornerstone of reputation and influence, and therefore power; all achievements emanate from this.
I appreciate Penny Lane’s ability to support and provide a connected environment for the clients and the staff to succeed. I feel it is culturally inclusive on all levels and feel people can freely express who they are, their own opinions and points of view without judgement.
Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. I am grateful for everything that happens in my life and all its experiences (good or bad) because they have made me who I am, and I would not want to change that at all.
