Licensed Master Social Worker, Therapist, and Nonprofit Founder Combines Clinical Expertise, Advocacy, and Lived Experience to Support Individuals, Families, Veterans, and Neurodivergent Communities
(WorldFrontNews Editorial):- Surprise, Arizona May 5, 2026 (Issuewire.com) – Julie Kent-Partridge, LMSW, CSSW, is a Licensed Master Social Worker, disability advocate, and nonprofit leader dedicated to improving access to mental health care, disability services, and community support systems for individuals and families across Arizona. As the CEO and Founder of Bridging Our Gaps, a nonprofit organization she launched in 2024, Julie provides case management, disability advocacy, and systems navigation services for individuals, students, families, and Veterans facing complex challenges.
Known for her compassionate and solutions-oriented approach, Julie has built a career centered on empowering underserved and neurodivergent populations while helping clients navigate educational, medical, and social service systems with dignity and confidence. In addition to leading Bridging Our Gaps, she serves as a Mental Health Therapist with Gathered Connections Counseling, where she specializes in working with neurodivergent individuals, traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors, Parkinson’s patients, Veterans, and individuals managing complex cognitive and emotional needs.
Julie’s educational background reflects her deep commitment to policy, advocacy, and clinical excellence. She earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Social Work and Public Policy, as well as a Master of Social Work (MSW) with an emphasis in Policy, Administration & Community (PAC), from Arizona State University. Her graduate studies also included a minor in Domestic Violence Advocacy and certification in Human Services Management and Leadership.
Committed to remaining at the forefront of evidence-based and innovative care, Julie has completed 40 hours of EMDRIA-approved EMDR training and integrates a wide range of therapeutic approaches into her practice, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), play therapy, and sand tray therapy. She is also among the first therapists in Arizona to offer Minecraft Therapy to teens and adults seeking a creative, interactive therapeutic environment that supports emotional expression, communication, and social development.
Further strengthening her expertise in disability advocacy and education systems, Julie recently completed 180 hours of advanced professional development coursework in special education and disability advocacy through Northern Arizona University. This specialized training enhances her ability to guide families through IEP navigation, educational advocacy, and evolving disability laws and policies.
Beyond direct clinical care, Julie is deeply invested in mentorship, education, and public service. She serves as a BSW and MSW Field Instructor for multiple accredited colleges, helping prepare the next generation of social workers and advocates. She is also a frequent public speaker on adapting therapeutic techniques for individuals with special needs and cognitive impairments.
Prior to entering clinical practice, Julie spent more than two decades in leadership roles focused on program development, crisis management, burnout prevention, and team building. Her professional background includes serving as a School Social Worker within the Washington Elementary School District, where she supported students and families facing emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges.
Julie’s commitment to advocacy extends into numerous statewide leadership and advisory roles. She currently serves on the Arizona Veteran Administration Mental Health Advocacy Council, the Arizona Department of Education Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP), the State of Arizona District West Division of Developmental Disabilities Independent Oversight Committee (IOC), and the Arizona Veterans Leadership Council (AZVLC). She has also served as both Commissioner and Chair of the City of Surprise Veterans, Disabilities, and Human Services Commission.
For Julie, advocacy is not only professional–it is deeply personal. As a veteran spouse, a mother of a young adult with Autism, and an individual living with ADHD, she brings lived experience, empathy, and authenticity into every aspect of her work. Serving clients from ages 5 to 85, Julie remains dedicated to bridging gaps in care, promoting inclusion, and creating meaningful systems change that improves lives throughout her community.
Learn more about Julie Kent-Partridge:
Through her America’s Best in Medicine profile, https://americasbestinmedicine.com/providers/julie-kent-partridge or through her profile on Gathered Connections Counseling, https://gatheredconnectionscounseling.com/staff/julie-kent-partridge/
America’s Best in Medicine
America’s Best in Medicine is a specialist online platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of leading healthcare professionals across the United States. They bring together top healthcare providers from all specialties and cities to share expert-driven articles, research, commentary, and clinical insight. Their core purposes are to showcase excellence in healthcare, build trust between providers and the public, and ensure that expert voices are elevated and heard in shaping medicine. Through their platform, users can access a community of leaders, opportunities for providers to share expertise, and trusted guidance for patients and peers alike.
