Handel Behavioral Health has always prioritized hiring compassionate, knowledgeable and well-rounded clinicians and leadership. As a family-owned and orientated company, we surround ourselves with those who not only have the skills to be incredible therapists, but to be the kind of coworkers we enjoy having at our holiday parties, summer cookouts, and casual happy hours.

We were pleased to promote Kaitlin Corson, LMHC from clinician to supervisor this year. I was able to sit down with Kaitlin this week to talk about this exciting transition and what it’s like to work here at HBH.

Building Upon the Foundation Laid Before

Kaitlin joined HBH in 2022, first working under our supervisors Alexandra Malin and Kelly Corrao-Fisher, both of whom have shaped how she approaches her new role.

Alexandra set the tone early by being consistently available and supportive, especially when it came to navigating tough conversations. Kelly brought a calm, approachable presence to case discussions that made even challenging cases feel manageable. 

Kaitlin also learned leadership skills from Greg Handel, who models how being approachable and reliable can create a supportive environment for everyone.

Their styles helped Kaitlin develop her own approach, one that prioritizes clear, consistent, and compassionate communication.

Flexibility Without Bending Over Backwards

Kaitlin describes her supervision style as “eclectic” and flexible, an approach she carried over from her therapeutic work. She strives to provide a personalized approach that takes into account an individual’s needs and communication styles.

She emphasized the impact that respecting differences in learning styles, personalities, and stress levels can make someone’s work feel much more manageable.

Kaitlin focuses on being mindful of her tone and clarity, and making sure feedback comes across in a way the person can understand and use. She acknowledges when the situation calls for listening, problem-solving, or constructive criticism.

Transitioning From One Hat to Many

In Kaitlin’s transition, she went from seeing 40 clients a week to 12. With the clients she “terminated” with (which is a technical term for ethically and successfully ending therapy), it was a bit emotional. While rewarding to see the progress made, it was still hard to say goodbye to those she had spent so much time with. 

Kaitlin is also committed to continuing her work with her remaining clients. She finds it important to remain in the field she loves to keep sharp on those skills so she can help her supervisees. 

It is quite an exciting but challenging change of pace, she mentioned, to go from such a consistent workload of seeing clients all day to now having a mix of administrative work and supervision added in. To manage this, she relies on detailed organization – folders, spreadsheets, and notes to track procedures and materials.

The biggest challenge Kaitlin realized was the shift in relationships from being a peer to being a supervisor. She has had to learn to navigate familiar friendships in a new way and how to give feedback to people she was “just on the same level as just two weeks ago”.

Working at Handel Behavioral Health

Kaitlin emphasized that HBH’s family-owned structure is a major reason for her smooth transition. She mentioned being able to go to anyone, even Greg, for questions and support.  She appreciates the independence of being able to structure her own workload and create her own schedule, which isn’t always the norm in larger or corporate therapy settings.

Kaitlin described our events like the holiday parties, summer gatherings, and casual happy hours as “grounding”. Having these regular meet-ups made her feel like a part of a community that was there to support each other and grow with each other.

A company that cares about their employees will innately create a better environment for their clients. As Kaitlin put it, HBH is “not a machine” – we’re quite literally a family.

Interested in working at HBH?

We are always hiring licensed mental health counselors and therapist here at Handel Behavioral Health.

Working at Handel Behavioral Health means being part of a family-owned behavioral health practice that is committed to creating a supportive work environment where both our clients and employees can thrive. We believe the success of Handel Behavioral Health depends on engaged clinicians and staff who find meaning in their work while maintaining their own mental health and well-being.

At HBH, employees are encouraged to grow professionally, take on new challenges, and feel genuinely supported by leadership and peers. Our goal is to foster fulfilling, sustainable careers in behavioral health—because when our team feels supported, our clients receive the best care.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career in a collaborative, compassionate setting, apply today to work at Handel Behavioral Health.

And if you’re looking to find a therapist like Kaitlin, see our other incredible therapists here and request an appointment today online.

About The Author