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Share Your Service: Meet Katie!

Katie HeadshotKatie started with Horizon in 2011 as an Administrative Assistant after graduating from Canisius College with her BA in Psychology and a minor in Clinicial/Counseling Psychology, and from Medaille College with her MA in Psychology. Now as a Practice Manager at our Orchard Park location, Katie helps manage the operational components for the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health programs. She also manages and works with the Administrative Staff to oversee and assist with processes, as well as provide supervision and career development for staff. Keep reading to learn more about Katie’s experiences at Horizon!

FAQ with Katie

First off, why did you choose Horizon?
I chose Horizon because I wanted to get into the behavioral health field, gain experience, and put myself in a position to best use my education.

What does a typical day at Horizon look like for you?
It’s difficult to sum up a typical day because a majority of my days are different. On the administrative side, I work closely with my staff to oversee processes, help assist, and provide supervision. On the operational side, I work with the clinical directors to help manage counselor schedules, patient access, efficiencies, and productivity. My time is often spent in meetings on site with my staff and also with the clinical team for operational support. Some other tasks that I am involved in is the hiring and training of employees, committee involvement for new initiatives, and assisting with trainings for staff.

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What is one piece of advice you learned during your time at college that you still use today?
A professor once said, “Find something you’re passionate about and you will never work a day in your life.” As cliché as it sounds, it’s true. If you like what you do, feel a mutual respect for the company you work for, and are passionate about the mission of your company, going to work every day really is easy and enjoyable.

What is your favorite Horizon benefit/perk?
It’s hard for me to narrow it down to one! The thing I love about Horizon is that they continue to evolve and really listen to what employees are asking for. They consistently ask employees, “What do you want?” or, “What is important to you that we can provide?” Over my time here, there have been various perks added to our benefits including additional days off, helping pay off school loan debt, providing self-care funds, and much more. They continue to genuinely listen to employees and strive to meet our wants and needs.

How have you grown throughout your time at Horizon?
When I started at Horizon, my initial goal was to transition to a counselor position. I quickly realized that wasn’t the path I wanted to take. Horizon gave me a variety of opportunities to explore which allowed me to use my skills and education to align myself with what I am passionate about. Over the years, I realized my desired focus was more operational. I had a drive to understand the business aspect of behavioral health. I focused on training staff to provide the best patient experience, and ultimately become a supervisor. I never thought I would take on a supervisor or manager role, however, with the opportunities Horizon presented, I really found my passion. Just because the clinical door shut for me when I realized I didn’t want to be a counselor, it didn’t mean Horizon wasn’t where I needed to be.

Want to work for a company where you’re encouraged to grow? Apply today and join the Horizon team! See why we’ve been named a Best Place to Work in NYS for 13 consecutive years!