This month, we are proud to feature Mireya Badillo-Vasquez, whose journey into mental health is rooted in empathy, resilience, and an unwavering desire to support others. Mireya began her career as a Developmental Play Therapist and Behavior Specialist, working with children and families through a Regional Center-contracted agency. Those eight years taught her patience, compassion, and the power of hope in even the smallest steps forward. Her deep curiosity and drive to close the gaps in care, particularly for siblings and parents of children with special needs, led her to pursue graduate studies and become a therapist, setting the stage for a meaningful career in mental health.
Since joining Penny Lane Centers, Mireya has found a place where authenticity, compassion, and growth are celebrated. Now a Clinical Manager, she continues to build on the lessons learned from her mentors, guiding others with the same heart-centered approach that shaped her own path. Known for her warmth and openness, Mireya brings balance and perspective to her work, always reminding those around her to notice the everyday beauty that inspires gratitude and renewal.
Prior to coming on board with Penny Lane as a clinician, I worked for 8 years as a Development Play Therapist and Behavior Specialist with a Regional Center-contracted agency. This work was rewarding and foundational to my career. Here, I learned how to show up with care, patience, and hope every single day when working with families. I got to see struggles, but most importantly, I got to see their strength, resilience, and the undying hope that every little step will take their children to a better future. Then the gaps in services started to appear increasingly as time progressed. “What about the sibling of a child living with Autism? Who is showing up for them? What about the parents, who is showing up for them when their grief percolates to the surface?” With a desire to do more for others and a vague understanding of how to do so, I returned to grad school to become a therapist.
I would want to say that what brought me to Penny Lane was its reputation for community service, but no, I got to learn that along the way. It was a friend who, with uncharacteristic excitement, told me Penny Lane was a great place to work. Not going to lie, working directly with DMH looked like a good option at the time. At the end, I trusted a friend's experience more than what a website would ever tell me. As a newly minted therapist, starting at Penny Lane proved to be the best choice for me.
One of my favorite things about working at Penny Lane is the acceptance of being who I am and being supported when challenges arise. Life happens, and when it has, I've felt the support from peers, supervisors, and mentors.
As a new Clinical Manager, the road to promotion started when I became a therapist. There was a wide range of skills and experiences that shaped me professionally. From the path to licensure, to struggles with burnout, to developing new insights into myself and my purpose in this field. It's not easy, but it's doable.
I've had the fortune of finding mentors and guides along the way. The road to promotion was paved by each person who helped me learn new skills, elicited new perspectives, and challenged unhelpful patterns.
There are natural growing pains from doing something new. In this role, the most unexpected challenge is juggling multiple needs and expectations while maintaining the big picture.
I think people would be surprised by how friendly I can be.
There is no single event. There are many little and big moments that shaped me, from my school-age years in Los Angeles to being raised by my grandparents to being the first person in my family to graduate from college in the US, each unique in how it shaped my perspective on the world and possibilities.
A golden gem of insight came from being asked, "Are you ready to do this?" Sometimes the obvious is right in front of you, but if you're not ready for the next steps, being told what to do will do nothing. Being ready meant making sure I was willing to do the hard work by looking into myself, digging up old fears, and finding courage wherever I could find it.
Heart-centered culture. I appreciate that Penny Lane strives to make space for its employees. Shifting to a heart-centered culture gives people the opportunity to grow while working in community mental health, rather than just surviving it.
I am grateful for having the opportunity to awe at everyday beauty, from the golden reflection of a bird's wings to seeing a double rainbow on my way to work.
Congratulations Mireya!
