Words by Nick Rizzo | Image by Al Blanton
Nicole Brackett has always had a heart for working with children. As Director of Children’s Services at the Adam Bishop Center, Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center’s Walker County office for Child and Adolescent Services, she loves the opportunity to give young people hope and the tools they need to succeed.
Born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in Hollywood, Florida, Brackett has worked with children since she was a teenager, giving her significant experience. That experience, combined with her own personal challenges, allows her to deeply empathize with the children she helps every day.
“Having dealt with trauma and family issues, the only thing that helped me get through all of that was finding the Lord and having people I could talk to who would speak wisdom into my life and give me guidance,” she says.
In the same way others poured into her life, she aspires to do the same for the youth in her community. In addition to her role at the Adam Bishop Center, she serves as a youth leader at her church, The Storehouse.
Brackett earned a bachelor’s degree in practical theology from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, and a Master of Arts in mental health counseling from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri. While in school, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in counseling. After graduating, she worked in an Employee Assistance Program in Daphne, Alabama, and later served as an acute therapist for the Female Adolescent Unit at BayPointe Children’s Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. While there, she appreciated the challenge of working with teenage girls facing psychiatric and mental health issues, something she says is not for the faint of heart.
Brackett acknowledges that when it comes to mental health, people often seek a quick fix.
“There are definitely times when mental health needs should be addressed quickly with medication and therapy, and sometimes those approaches work fast,” she says. “But many times, there are deeper things going on that take time to navigate, especially if trauma is involved. There isn’t always a ‘quick fix.’ Many times, mental health management and healing is a process. We need to lay down the stigma of mental health and realize that some children and families need extra time and support, and that’s okay.”
In her work with youth, Brackett finds the most rewarding part of her role is giving people hope.
“Despite the cards they have been dealt in life, whether it’s their family situation, a disability, or a mental health issue, it doesn’t have to dictate their future if they can learn the tools they need to be successful,” she says.
Through her work at the Adam Bishop Center, Brackett finds fulfillment in seeing young people grow. She especially loves witnessing what she calls the “aha” moment—when something clicks, and they not only understand what she’s been teaching but also apply it.
“You get to see their lives transformed,” she says.
For Brackett, it’s not about quick fixes or instant results. It’s about walking alongside kids and families, giving them the support, patience, and encouragement they need. She knows firsthand how much of a difference one caring person can make, and she’s committed to being that person for as many young people as she can. WL
