CuraLinc Career Journeys: From Care Advocates to Expanding Opportunities
At CuraLinc, Care Advocates play a vital role in guiding members toward the support they need—often during some of their most difficult moments. But the impact doesn’t end there. For many, the Care Advocate position is also a powerful starting point for a long-term career in mental health care. Below, four of our former Care Advocates share how they’ve grown their careers with CuraLinc—from early days on the front lines of mental health to new roles that continue shaping our programs, services, and culture. Their journeys highlight the exceptional talent on our team and how CuraLinc continues to evolve and innovate thanks to the people who believe in our mission.
Amanda Gualtieri
Director of Special Clinical Programming
Can you walk us through your career progression at CuraLinc—from Care Advocate to your current role?
I joined CuraLinc as a Care Advocate in 2015. I was promoted to Team Lead, and then to my current role as Director of Special Clinical Programming.
What initially drew you to the Care Advocate role?
I had some previous EAP experience, and when I left that company, I tried out a couple of other clinical roles that just didn’t really fit my speed. I missed the variety in my day-to-day with the different calls and side tasks. I’m someone who likes to do a lot of different things at the same time. I also saw how different CuraLinc was from the previous EAP I was at. I could see it was a growing company with a lot of ideas. It excited me to be a part of something like that.
Was career advancement something you had in mind when you started, or did those opportunities become clear as you grew in the role?
Actually, no. I was pretty comfortable in my role as a Care Advocate. I knew it well and was doing a great job with it. It wasn’t until we grew that I saw a need to use my experience to start taking on a bigger role in the company to help out with some of the growing pains that naturally come with rapid growth. I wanted the company to succeed and took on any responsibilities that could help with that. Once I became involved with the dedicated counseling program, I found myself really invested in its success.
How did your time as a Care Advocate help prepare you to become the Director of Special Clinical Programming?
As a Care Advocate, you become really familiar with members’ needs and also start learning a lot about the different cultures of our clients. This helps me now in developing customized programs for clients. You also gain a lot of confidence in your overall abilities to manage a department. As a Care Advocate, you have to manage some pretty heavy clinical calls while also managing the administrative aspect of the call. You learn how to multitask quickly!
What makes CuraLinc a great place to grow professionally?
Because we’re growing so much as a company, new opportunities pop up often, and it’s really exciting to be a part of it. The department I work in now didn’t exist when I started, and when it did develop, I was given a big role in how I wanted it to look. I can say that about many of our departments, actually. That’s only going to continue.
Farrell Hene
Clinical Team Leader
Can you walk us through your career progression at CuraLinc—from Care Advocate to your current role?
I started as a Care Advocate working in the call queue in 2019. From there, I transitioned onto the E-team and worked with our members, providing direct service as a Coach. I then became one of the original Clinical Team Leads before also taking on the role of Clinical Trainer, overseeing job training for all our new Care Advocates.
What has kept you at CuraLinc through these different roles?
The rest of the clinical staff. We have a great clinical leadership team who genuinely get along, like each other, and are invested in working collaboratively as a team.
How did CuraLinc support your growth?
Early on, as a Care Advocate, I was offered chances to take on more responsibilities, such as handling more sensitive cases where a member was upset or had complained, working on special tasks, and assisting in training new Care Advocates. Clinical leadership made it clear they saw me as a whole person and genuinely valued my individual strengths—something I wasn’t used to in my previous job. Knowing that others believe in you can be a powerful source of confidence. It’s often what encourages you to step up for bigger opportunities.
If you were a new Care Advocate starting on day one, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Trust yourself and be patient. Things will eventually fall into place with time and practice.
Mariana Hernández Arias
Mental Health Coach Team Leader
Can you walk us through your career progression at CuraLinc—from Care Advocate to your current role?
I started as a Care Advocate in 2018. I was promoted to Lead Counselor in 2022 and then promoted to Mental Health Coach Team Leader in 2023.
What first drew you to the Care Advocate role at CuraLinc?
When I came to CuraLinc, I had just moved from Puerto Rico to Illinois as a climate refugee after Hurricane Maria destroyed the island. My friend who was in a similar situation referred me and told me about the position. CuraLinc soon became a home and a family. I still remember my interview with our former Clinical Director and our now COO, Dave Pawlowski. I remember discussing my entrepreneurial spirit with him and him saying that this is something that would be encouraged even within the position. And he kept his word.
What skills or experiences from your time as a Care Advocate helped prepare you for the roles that came after?
Being a Care Advocate involves a lot of time management, people skills, and proactive and creative problem-solving. It also involves providing compassionate customer service to the people who call us on the phone, often amid a crisis. The role relies on effective teamwork with colleagues, providers, and organization managers. I use all these skills now in my current role.
What has kept you at CuraLinc through these different roles?
I’ve remained at the company because its vision and mission align with my own core values of excellence, growth, and doing all we can to eliminate the hurdles to mental health access. But, to bring it full circle, I’ve stayed because I found a home when I didn’t have one. Throughout the years, I’ve gained a family of people who have supported me through some dark and difficult moments, even at a distance. Most importantly, I feel a sense of responsibility and commitment to my team and the program that houses them. Together, we’ve been given the privilege to create an amazing, supportive space from which to serve.
If you were a new Care Advocate starting on day one, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Be curious and proactive in learning about CuraLinc. Focus on learning the technology and don’t worry too much about memorizing procedures—just get familiar with where you can find information and keep it in a place it’s easy to find. Connect with leaders, with your team, and across departments. Prioritize self-care and clarify your goals. Do your best, have patience, and know that things will unfold in their own time.
Cheyenne S.
Mental Health Coach
Can you walk us through your career progression at CuraLinc—from Care Advocate to your current role?
I was hired into the Care Advocate role in September 2024, and by December 2024, I had been promoted to Mental Health Coach, which is my current title. I really enjoyed starting as a Care Advocate before becoming a Mental Health Coach, as it gave me a solid background in all of the resources CuraLinc provides its members.
What first drew you to the Care Advocate role at CuraLinc?
I was drawn to the Care Advocate role because it essentially helps on the front lines of mental health, assisting members with their immediate concerns right in the moment. I really enjoy being able to help someone in their greatest moment of need, and the Care Advocate role does just that. It’s also a privilege to be able to help others navigate the mental health system a bit more easily, as it can be challenging trying to get access to care quickly.
What would you say to someone starting as a Care Advocate who hopes to grow their career in mental health?
You are going to learn A LOT in your role, and all of it will benefit you as you move forward in your career. Every shift that you work, you are providing in-the-moment support for a variety of presentations, which will allow you to build flexibility and creativity in your problem-solving skills. Eventually, you start to feel like you can handle pretty much anything that is thrown your way with finesse.
What makes CuraLinc a great place to grow professionally?
I’ve never had an employer so excited about my growth as a clinician until I met the people at CuraLinc. Leadership is really invested in helping you figure out which role you feel you are at your best in. Everyone is also genuinely happy for you, and they want the best for you, even if that means moving to a different team or into a different role.
If you were a new Care Advocate starting on day one, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Breathe deeply. Trust the process. CuraLinc has your back!
Interested in becoming a CuraLinc Care Advocate?
These stories are just a few examples of the passion, growth, and commitment that define the Care Advocate experience at CuraLinc. If you’re inspired by their journeys and want to be part of a team that’s making a real impact in mental health care—while growing your own career along the way—we’d love to meet you!