The path to becoming a mental health professional is often shaped by formative student experiences. Research opportunities, practicum placements, and mentorship help students discover their passions and refine their purpose. For Kaitlin Poock, LMSW—now a full-time social worker at the University of Iowa’s Scanlan Center for School Mental Health (SCSMH)—these experiences helped her grow from a student into a professional committed to making a meaningful impact.
That journey began after graduating from Mid-Prairie High School in Wellman, Iowa. Poock enrolled at Luther College as a psychology major, but a single elective in social work changed her entire perspective. “That class opened my eyes to and deepened my understanding of the person-in-environment theory, the notion that individuals do not act alone—they are influenced by their environment — who they interact with, what they do, and the broader system,” she says. “Social work’s commitment to service, building strong human relationships, and acting with integrity matched my personal values and what I cared most about.”
Those values were seeded early on. Raised by two educators—her mother, a Title I teacher, and her father, a former classroom teacher now serving as director of teaching and learning at Grant Wood Area Education Agency—Poock spent much of her childhood inside school buildings. “I was in the school building before the bell rang, stayed after with my parents, and spent weekends at school helping with events, projects, or decorating,” she recalls. While she never saw herself as a classroom teacher, the school environment always felt like home. Then, it all clicked when she learned her passion for social work could be used to support K–12 students. “Working in school mental health just made sense,” she says.
"I believe mental health care should be accessible to all students and educators, and I’m proud to contribute to a team working to make that vision a reality across Iowa.” - Kaitlin Poock
That sense of clarity deepened while she pursued her Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Iowa. In 2022, the practicum program director introduced Poock to the SCSMH clinic. At the time, the clinic was getting off the ground, in the early stages of building a staff and services. After talking with Taylor Ford, MSW, LISW, SCSMH assistant director of clinical services and crisis response, Poock was enthused by the opportunity to complete her student practicum in a clinic that would serve the entire state and be part of building something from the ground up.
Poock’s familiarity with the rhythms and realities of school life became an instant asset in her work at the SCSMH clinic. She took on various projects, including creating resource and referral documentation and lists, and assisting with a literature review for the CARES project, a pilot study that helped local high school students transition back to school after psychiatric hospitalization for suicidality. Poock also split time observing, shadowing, and learning from the clinic’s full-time social workers: Ford, Ryan Kidder, MSW, LISW, and Liz Gleason, MSW, LISW. Additionally, she had an opportunity to sharpen her hands-on social work skills by seeing K-12 students and school staff clients under Ford’s supervision and attending post-crisis school visits. In fact, Poock helped coin the term “Donuts and Debriefing” – a key relationship-building initiative the clinicians integrate into post-crisis visits.
Since SCSMH launched in June 2021, it has committed to expanding and nurturing the school mental health workforce. One of the ways the center does this is by providing practicum training opportunities to University of Iowa doctoral and master’s-level students in mental health training programs. “It’s not enough to simply provide mental health services—we must also help grow the next generation of providers,” said Alissa Doobay, SCSMH director of clinical services. “That’s why we’ve made student training a key part of our mission. So far, we’ve had the privilege of training 21 future mental health professionals.”
Making the Transition from Student to Staff
As Poock neared her MSW graduation, a full-time position opened at the SCSMH clinic. She eagerly applied. “During my time as a practicum student, I experienced firsthand how supportive, knowledgeable, and genuinely compassionate the staff is,” she said. “I felt aligned with the clinic’s mission to expand access to mental health care for K–12 students and staff—and I knew this was where I wanted to begin my career.”
“I am so impressed by Kaitlin's smooth transition from practicum student to staff,” said Ford. “Kaitlin has grown immensely as a clinician, teacher, and leader. From overseeing initial consultations to developing staff training materials, her attention to detail, empathy, and commitment to quality care have made a lasting impact on our clinic. Even when the work is hard, which it often is, Kaitlin consistently brings a positive and ‘can-do’ attitude.”
Now, almost two years into her full-time role, Poock’s daily responsibilities have grown, just like her confidence and clinical skills. In addition to providing individual and group counseling sessions to K-12 students and school staff, Poock delivers LivingWorks safeTALK suicide prevention trainings, supports post-crisis school visits, and develops workflows for enhanced clinic efficiencies, all while working towards her independent clinical licensure. Never short on creativity, Poock also crafted engaging activity pages for SCSMH’s signature coloring books and authored two of the center’s most-read blogs on mindfulness activities for K-12 classrooms and tips for transitioning back to teaching after winter break.
Poock has also been learning a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and strategies for supporting students with eating disorders. She emphasizes the importance of tailoring therapy to each client’s unique needs. "I’m especially drawn to using mindfulness practices with my clients,” she shares, “and exploring how we can become mindful of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to create long-lasting change.
Self-care is a core value in Poock’s personal and professional life. She knows that maintaining her own mental health is essential to supporting others. During the workday, she builds in short mental resets—stepping outside, taking a lap around the building, or chatting with colleagues. She’s also intentional about maintaining work-life boundaries and avoids bringing work home. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, crafting, thrifting, and spending time with friends, family, and her tuxedo cats Betty Lu and Bean. She’s currently channeling that energy into training for a half-marathon.
As for the future, Poock is interested in incorporating dance and movement into her practice someday. As a dance minor in college, she realizes the powerful mind-body connection and how modalities like dance and movement therapy could support emotional healing.
Whether as a practicum student or full-time staff member, Poock’s mindset has remained the same. “I want to be the type of clinician who is continuously learning and figuring out ways I can best support others," Poock says. “I believe mental health care should be accessible to all students and educators, and I’m proud to contribute to a team working to make that vision a reality across Iowa.”