02/13/2026
Today as I landed in Raleigh, North Carolina, a lot of ideas came to my mind and this is what truly spoke to me and this is my "Why."
As a mental health advocate and as a Social Worker, I often reflect on the deeper “why” behind the work I do. It’s easy for people to assume that advocacy, leadership roles, or participation in mental health programs are about visibility, titles, recognition, or accolades. But the truth is far more personal and far more sacred than that.
I do not do this work for awards. I do not do it for applause, public acknowledgment, or to have my name attached to initiatives. Recognition is fleeting. Titles change. Applause fades. What remains, what truly matters, are the lives touched, the burdens lightened, the silent battles witnessed, and the hope restored in moments when someone feels like giving up.
I do this work because I am genuinely, deeply passionate about people.
I do this work because I understand what it means for someone to feel unseen, unheard, or misunderstood. I do it because mental health is not just a profession to me, it is a calling. It is the quiet conversation after everyone else has left the room. It is the follow up text to check in. It is sitting with someone in their pain without trying to rush their healing. It is advocating when systems feel overwhelming and impersonal. It is believing in someone’s wholeness even when they cannot yet see it themselves.
Being a Social Worker means choosing compassion daily. It means holding space for trauma, resilience, grief, growth, and transformation all at once. It means recognizing that every person carries a story that deserves dignity and respect. Advocacy, for me, is not performative. It is purposeful. It is rooted in empathy, integrity, and a relentless commitment to helping others reclaim their strength.
The work can be heavy. It can be emotionally demanding. It can stretch you beyond your comfort zone. But it is also profoundly meaningful. When someone begins to heal, when they find their voice, when they realize they are not broken but becoming, that is the reward. That is the recognition that matters.
I do this work because I care. I care about equity. I care about access. I care about breaking stigma. I care about creating safe spaces where vulnerability is not judged but honored. My passion is not fueled by applause, it is fueled by purpose.
At the end of the day, I am here because I believe in people. I believe in their capacity to rise, to rebuild, and to rediscover hope. And if my role in their journey can be one of support, guidance, and unwavering compassion, then that is more than enough for me.
Kimberly Ward, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, RPT
Owner & Therapist
KimCares Wellness Services, LLC
Send a message to learn more
