Lucy Appelman

Lucy Appelman began her work in the mental health field in 2016 while completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida. She volunteered for the Alachua County Crisis Center’s suicide hotline, where she discovered a deep passion for supporting others through their most difficult moments. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, Lucy served as a family advocate at Peaceful Paths, the local domestic violence shelter.
In 2018, Lucy returned to her hometown of Jacksonville and joined Child Guidance Center, where she has since worked across every major program. Her roles have included case manager, therapist, and currently, supervisor for the Rapid Response Team. Lucy became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in September 2023 and stepped into her supervisory role in January 2024. Her experience includes working with youth and families in crisis, providing school-based support through the Full Service Schools program, and collaborating with high-needs families in the CAT (Community Action Team) program.
Lucy is motivated by her belief that everyone carries stories worth hearing. She is passionate about working with young people and values their honesty, resilience, and creative problem-solving. She also takes pride in training and mentoring future clinicians and responders, drawing from the impactful guidance she received early in her own career.
Lucy holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University and is a member of Child Guidance Center’s Training Committee. She is excited to be part of the Youth Mental Health First Aid training initiative and believes strongly in its message: anyone can learn to help, and anyone can be a positive influence in a young person’s life.