For Sasha Rodriguez, LPC, CCHP, a career in mental health has always been about helping people navigate difficult circumstances while recognizing the strengths they possess within themselves. Today, as a Mental Health Provider at the Garfield County Jail, Sasha brings that passion to work every day, supporting patients through challenges, promoting recovery, and helping create positive outcomes within the correctional environment.

Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize not only the importance of mental and behavioral health care, but also the professionals who dedicate their lives to supporting others through some of life’s most difficult moments. In this article, Dr. Rush and Manuela share their personal journeys into Mental Health and Behavioral Health, the experiences that shaped them, and the perspectives that continue to guide their work today.

At CorrHealth, supporting our team members goes beyond the workplace. It means encouraging the passions, causes, and missions that matter deeply to them, especially when those efforts are focused on serving others and making a meaningful impact in communities around the world.

What we’ve built is far more than a company. We are a family, a team of passionate, dedicated professionals who lead and serve with integrity, compassion, and accountability. Our culture is grounded in a simple but powerful principle: to always “Do Right”, even when it’s harder, even if it’s unpopular, and even when it costs more.

Anxiety in jail is not only common, it is often predictable. Incarceration introduces multiple stressors at once, including loss of autonomy, concerns about personal safety, disrupted sleep, isolation, and separation from family and support systems. Individuals may also face legal uncertainty and fear of losing employment or relationships.