“My dad used to always say when you love what you do for a living, you never work a day in your life. And I truly believe that." Tiffany Jackson, Rural Clinic Administrator at Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare and a 2016 Gator graduate in Psychology, lives by her father’s words—that is to say, she doesn't work, but instead builds: her career, education, her private practice, even the flower LEGOs that adorn her home office. Building a life as full and successful as Jackson's, like assembling a LEGO flower, requires patience, intention, and dedication, and her story—from high school dropout who survived homelessness and domestic violence to administrator and private practice owner—testifies to the transformative power of education and grit, and how one can find and, eventually, live a life of purpose.
After a long period of difficulty due to dealing issues that would derail lesser women, Jackson graduated from UHD and then pursued a Master's in Counseling and Development from Lamar University. While in school, she secured an entry-level position as a case manager at Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare in Conroe, TX. This hands-on experience allowed her to understand the field and, after completing her master's in 2020, her record of high achievement on the job led to a promotion.
The next major hurdle was securing her full licensure as a therapist. This process required passing the National Counseling Exam (NCE) and completing 3,000 supervised clinical hours. After an initial setback where she failed the NCE, Jackson passed the exam on her second attempt, after which she worked long hours to meet the direct client-contact hours criteria
In her current role, Jackson oversees three mental health clinics with approximately 25 staff members. This administrative position requires her to operate on a strategic, high-level, and yet, she remains connected to direct care, since she feels that her own background—surviving a difficult childhood, dropping out of high school (later getting her GED), battling substance use issues, and experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and sexual assault—is a powerful tool for connection.
"I think that makes me relatable to clients...it's not just someone who's throwing a book at them, but somebody who actually has made it through some of the same struggles they have." This experience, alongside her recent launch of a private therapy practice, requires her to constantly switch between administrative and clinical roles. She credits her ability to manage this balance to her knack for thriving in fast-paced environments that demand critical thinking and problem-solving, all while helping people.
And despite this career success, Jackson doesn't consider herself a finished product: She begins a Doctor of Education program in Community Care and Counseling-Traumatology at Liberty University in January 2026. Her story—one of dedication to healing, both for herself and the vulnerable populations she serves—is inspiring to say the least, and proof that, when grit and vision combine, anything, as Kevin Garnett said, is possible.