Our promotional spotlight employee for June 2025 is Benjamin Robbins, Outpatient Therapist.
This June, we’re thrilled to highlight Benjamin Robbins as our Promotional Spotlight Employee! Benjamin’s journey to Penny Lane Centers began with a passion for helping others navigate life’s challenges beyond academics. After working in college admissions consulting, he pursued his MFT at CSUN and interned at Strength United, where he gained hands-on experience in trauma-focused care. Inspired after attending the EDGY Conference, Benjamin knew PLC was where he wanted to grow his career—and he’s done just that. Today, he’s not only a licensed therapist but also an EDGY presenter and planning committee member.
Benjamin brings authenticity, heart, and purpose to everything he does at Penny Lane. He deeply values the agency’s alignment with his personal principles of inclusion, acceptance, and support. From taking advantage of career advancement opportunities and loan repayment support to envisioning a future in the TAY programs and supervision, Benjamin continues to grow within the organization. His presence is a celebration of resilience, queer joy, and the power of finding your path.
I worked in college admissions consulting after college and realized I wanted to be able to help the students I saw with their bigger life issues, including mental health. I attended the CSUN MFT program and interned with Strength United, a Trauma Recovery Center, where I received excellent training in crisis management and acute trauma therapy.
I attended the EDGY Conference before I’d ever heard of Penny Lane! I was so impressed, I decided right then that I would apply after I graduated. Now I’m on the planning committee and presenting!
I love that I feel aligned with the agency on all my values and have the opportunity to share that acceptance and openness with our clients.
I took the LMFT exam after studying for a few months and collecting 3,000 hours of experience.
I’ve received high-level supervision and support from across the departments and the executive level (thanks Bernie!), and the pre-licensed study group provided lots of encouragement as I prepared.
I was able to get all my licensure fees (AMFT renewal, LMFT Application and Exam fee, LMFT registration, and study course) all reimbursed – around $1,200 altogether. I also was awarded a $25,000 HCAI Loan Repayment Grant through Penny Lane which significantly reduces my grad school loans.
I’m thinking about where I want to go next within Penny Lane and the opportunities have expanded significantly since getting licensed! I am interested in the TAY programs and supervising someday.
I was both a child model at the local mall and voted MVP of my middle school football team as a tight end.
Leaving home to attend Yale for college, far away from Nebraska (geographically, culturally, politically), helped me grow in my independence and find my own path.
It’s not going to get better if you wait! (I still hear my mom saying this when I procrastinate)
I consider myself fortunate that Penny Lane backs up its stated commitment to support its staff in a heart-centered way, both in material ways and professional development. I frequently share with peers and friends about how much I appreciate my place of work.
I’m grateful for queer joy and the ways I get to encourage and celebrate that for staff and clients alike.
Congratulations Benjamin!
