Mental Health Awareness Spotlight
Erin Tishman, Clinical Director
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to reflect on the importance of emotional well-being and the need to reduce stigma around mental health care. At JFS, we’re proud to offer accessible, compassionate mental health services to individuals and families throughout our community. This week, we’re spotlighting Erin Tishman, Clinical Director at JFS, whose leadership and deep commitment to trauma-informed care help guide our agency’s behavioral health work. We spoke with Erin about her path to the field, her hopes for the future of mental health care, and why reaching out for support is an act of strength.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in mental health?
A: I was a psychology major, and during my practicum, I worked at a residential treatment facility in Vermont for children ages 5–12. All of the children were involved with DCF and had experienced complex trauma. That experience inspired me to return to school and become a therapist so I could support people in processing trauma on a deeper level.
Q: How did you come to work with JFS, and what drew you to the organization?
A: Kimberly Lisack! Kim and I had worked together before and developed a great working relationship and friendship. Once I joined JFS of Greenwich and met the rest of the team, I realized it was unlike anywhere I had ever worked. The culture at JFS-G is incredible—everyone has a positive attitude and is passionate about their work and the mission. It makes the work we do feel even more meaningful.
Q: As Clinical Director, what does your day-to-day look like?
A: No two days are the same, which is part of what I love about the role. I might be doing community outreach, supervising clinicians, developing new programs, or responding to urgent behavioral health needs. The variety keeps the work dynamic and fulfilling.
Q: How do you support both clients and your clinical team?
A: Supporting the clinical team is key to ensuring high-quality care for our clients. We offer weekly group and peer supervision, individual supervision, and share ongoing training opportunities in the community. While I’m not currently seeing clients myself, I make myself fully available to clinicians and their clients whenever they need clinical support.
Q: What does Mental Health Awareness Month mean to you—personally and professionally?
A: To me, it means the same in both areas of life. Mental health impacts all of us—it’s not something we can or should compartmentalize. If we embraced this idea more fully as a society, we’d reduce the stigma and create space for more people to seek support. We’d see improvements in the overall well-being of our families, coworkers, and communities.
Q: What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about mental health today?
A: That it doesn’t impact everyone. The truth is, mental health—both feeling well and unwell—touches all of us. Recognizing this would reduce stigma and help more people seek the support they need. It’s a strength to know when to reach out.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who’s hesitant to seek help?
A: Humans aren’t built to handle everything life throws at them on their own. Fortunately, we live in a time where support is accessible, and we should take advantage of that. Going to therapy means you care about your well-being. Asking for help isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength.
Q: What makes JFS’s approach to mental health unique?
A: JFS-G’s mission is to make mental health care as accessible as possible. We bring services into schools, community centers, churches, synagogues—you name it—and we accept all major insurances. Our team is made up of highly trained, multilingual clinicians with diverse expertise. We work hard to break down barriers to treatment so we can reach as many people as possible.
Q: Are there any new initiatives or programs you're excited about?
A: I’m really excited about our partnerships with schools in Stamford, Greenwich, and Norwalk. I’m also proud of our office and collaboration with the Greenwich YMCA. We’re hoping to expand into more community-based locations to make services even more convenient and accessible.
Q: What are your hopes for the future of mental health care at JFS?
A: I want to see the Bennett Center for Behavioral Health expand into more schools, community organizations, and public spaces. My goal is to make accessing mental health care as easy and stigma-free as possible. By embedding services in everyday places, we normalize seeking support and make it easier to get help.
Q: What’s one thing you do to take care of your own mental health?
A: I talk about how I’m feeling. When something’s on my mind, I share it. Talking about our emotions helps us feel less alone and builds stronger connections with others. It’s one of the best ways I maintain a healthy mindset.