Dr. Jasmine Cohen-Young
DSW, LCSW, LSCSW, CCATP, CTMH
Dr. Jasmine L. Cohen-Young, DSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, sport social worker, and mental health advocate with extensive experience working across healthcare, higher education, military behavioral health, and community-based settings. She currently serves as a Mental Health Clinician with a federally qualified health center, providing outpatient behavioral health services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Dr. Cohen-Young also serves as a faculty instructor and capstone mentor with the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, where she teaches doctoral-level courses and mentors emerging social work leaders.
A former NCAA student-athlete, Dr. Cohen-Young's clinical and scholarly work focuses on athlete mental health, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, chronic illness, identity development, and improving access to behavioral health services for underserved populations. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Mindz Matter, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, education, and support among youth and collegiate athletes.
Dr. Cohen-Young earned her Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Kentucky, where her capstone project examined interprofessional approaches to mental health screening and early intervention among collegiate student-athletes. Her research and presentations have explored topics including athlete mental health, healthcare disparities, chronic illness, grief, resilience, crisis response, and innovative approaches to behavioral health care.
Drawing from her diverse clinical, academic, and leadership experiences, Dr. Cohen-Young is passionate about helping practitioners recognize hidden distress, foster meaningful therapeutic connections, and improve outcomes for individuals who may appear to be functioning well while struggling internally. Her presentations combine evidence-informed practices with practical strategies that clinicians can immediately apply in their work with clients across a variety of settings.
The Hidden Client: Recognizing Distress Behind High Functioning
Many individuals experiencing significant emotional distress do not present as visibly struggling. High-functioning clients, including athletes, healthcare professionals, military personnel, caregivers, students, and other achievement-oriented individuals, often minimize symptoms, conceal vulnerability, and maintain outward success while privately experiencing anxiety, depression, burnout, grief, or suicidal thoughts. This presentation explores the psychological, cultural, and systemic factors that contribute to emotional masking and symptom minimization. Participants will learn how to identify subtle indicators of distress, conduct more effective assessments, strengthen therapeutic engagement, and implement evidence-informed interventions that promote emotional awareness and help-seeking. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, clinicians will gain tools to better recognize and support clients whose suffering often remains hidden behind the words, "I'm fine."