Updated: May 21, 2026

Growing the Northwest’s mental health care workforce

Our Mental Health Career Accelerator program tackles the urgent need to grow and diversify Oregon and Southwest Washington’s mental health care workforce.

Karen Torres recently earned her master’s degree with a focus in mental health care and is working toward her therapist license with support from Kaiser Permanente in the Northwest.

Karen Torres is working to become a licensed mental health therapist. She is already making a difference in her community.

In 2025, Kaiser Permanente’s Mental Health Career Accelerator started in the Northwest. Torres was the first person to join the program. It’s funded by $1.66 million in community health grants from Kaiser Permanente. Its goal is to grow the mental health workforce.

An urgent need

“We know that addressing mental health is an urgent need, as shown in our recent Community Health Needs Assessments,” said Stephanie Lizza, Kaiser Permanente’s senior director for community health in the Northwest.

1 in 3

people live in areas with a shortage of mental health providers.

More than 1 in 3 people live in areas without enough mental health providers. In Oregon, there are 1.15 providers per 1,000 people. The shortage is worse in rural and underserved communities.

“We are facing higher rates of depression, anxiety, and addiction,” said Pavan Somusetty, MD, chief of service for mental health for Kaiser Permanente in the Northwest. “At the same time, there are not enough trained professionals to meet the need.”

Kaiser Permanente created the Mental Health Career Accelerator to respond to this need.

Bridging gaps for aspiring providers

For many graduates, becoming a licensed therapist can be hard. It requires hundreds of supervised hours (up to 1,900 in Oregon), plus expensive tests and training. Many graduates do not go on to get their license.

The Mental Health Career Accelerator helps make it easier through stipends, supervision, and career support, so new professionals can stay on track to get licensed.

“One of the great things about the program is that it follows us,” Torres said. “The program team helps us handle challenges and do well in the field.”

Growth through connection

Torres said she has learned to focus on building connection. “We are human, just like our clients. Real change happens when we build trust with our clients.”

Over the past year, she has worked with dozens of clients and families, leading sessions like Spanish-speaking parent groups and a youth self-regulation group.

The work can be demanding.

“It can feel too much at times. We’re not superheroes,” she said. “This work is hard, but it matters.”

Supervision has been very important. A supervisor emphasized self-compassion and helped Torres build habits to avoid burnout.

“It’s easy to forget to take care of yourself,” she said. “My supervisor helped me understand that self-compassion is essential.”

Looking ahead

Kaiser Permanente in the Northwest plans to support more than 100 people through getting their license and finding a job. Nationally, Kaiser Permanente aims to help 1,000 people who have finished their master’s degree get licensed by 2028.

I feel lucky and want to give back. I wouldn’t be here doing this work without programs like this. Karen Torres

Torres graduated in October 2024 with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and is now working at a local pediatric community agency in the Portland area. She specializes in play therapy and trauma-informed care.

“For many clients, managing school, life, and mental health is a challenge. I can relate,” she said.

She has been approved to take the National Counselor Examination, which is the last step to getting her license. With support from the program, she is using study tools, joining study groups, and taking practice tests. She has also completed more than half of her required training hours.

Torres says she is grateful for Kaiser Permanente’s community support.

“Coming from an adverse background, I received support through community groups and scholarships,” she said. “I feel lucky and want to give back. I wouldn’t be here doing this work without programs like this.”