Nacogdoches

This article discusses the personal experiences the author regarding the place, Nacogdoches. The author's first job was at the Burke Center, a community mental health authority serving several rural counties in East Texas. The Burke Center was part of the public behavioral health safety net in Nacogdoches, where behavioral health resources were scarce and often difficult for people in the community to access. It was the kind of place that filled gaps, providing care where there were few other options. The work ranged from crisis intervention to long-term case management, often with limited resources and overwhelming demand. It was also a place where new clinicians learn quickly or leave quickly. The author was hired to work with adults but soon found my home on the pediatric side of the clinic, working with children and families. Being a young clinician among parents and families was initially intimidating, but the work became deeply meaningful. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).