Jessica (Friedman) Breton '00 on Mental Health of Young Adults

Upon graduation from Milken in 2000, Jessica attended graduate school and earned her master’s in psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy and soon after became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She eventually opened a small private practice in Woodland Hills, CA and later worked as a therapist for Optimum Performance Institute (OPI), a residential treatment program for young adults with various mental health issues. Jessica went on to became the Program Director at OPI and has served as Executive Director at OPI since 2016.

When asked about how Milken prepared her for the transition to university and beyond, Jessica noted, “Although college seems like it was eons ago, I can confidently say that I felt incredibly prepared for the academic load, social component, and overall responsibility of navigating the college experience based on my experiences and [the] support [I] received at Milken.” Jessica remembers that she and her classmates were aptly challenged to master new skills, to explore various disciplines, and to participate in vibrant school life. The community aspect of Milken taught Jessica patience, tolerance and compassion which all became incredibly important aspects of her college, graduate school, and career experiences.

Jessica has been married for ten years and has two beautiful boys with her husband: Jake (5 years) and Noah (1 ½ years).