Sophia Orcutt

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Appalachian State University, and I’m currently working on my Master’s in Clinical Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a certification in Trauma Treatment. At APMH, I’m serving as an intern while continuing to grow in the mental health field.

I was drawn to this work because I’ve always had a passion for helping people and letting others know that it’s okay to not be okay. My own life struggles showed me the importance of having support, and I want to be that person for others. I started in the field in fall 2024 and, so far, my experience has been with adults in addiction recovery, ranging from their 20s to 50s. While I don’t have a set specialty yet, I see myself working with adolescents in trauma treatment in the future.

My favorite part of this job is the chance to connect with people on a real, trustworthy level. I believe being let into someone’s story is an honor and something I don’t take lightly. Right now, I align with a strengths-based and positive psychology perspective, focusing on the resilience people already carry within them.

I was born and raised in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. When I’m not working or studying, I love going for walks, ordering takeout and watching documentaries, coaching cheer, and enjoying happy hours with friends. A fun fact about me is that even though I’m a beach girl, I absolutely love the mountains. Also, my favorite snack is Takis! If I wasn’t in this career, I could see myself doing sports announcements or something in the media.

One thing I’d love to see change in the mental health field is having social workers in all schools, starting in kindergarten. Growing up, my community didn’t have in-school social workers, and I always felt there was a big gap in the resources available. I believe filling that gap could make a huge difference for kids everywhere.

My favorite quote is, “This too shall pass.”
And if I could give one piece of advice to anyone entering this field, it would be: It’s okay to not know what you’re doing. What matters most is being open to learning and growing along the way.