Jermaine Bennett, LCSW
Jermaine Bennett, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and clinical therapist at Mariposa Community Counseling, an outpatient clinic for the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health in Ontario, California. With over a decade of experience in behavioral health, Jermaine specializes in working with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. In his role within the full-service partnership program, he provides comprehensive wraparound services, including clinical assessments, therapy, intensive case management, and care coordination for clients facing complex challenges such as multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, involvement with law enforcement, and homelessness.
Jermaine’s work is primarily field-based, with a significant portion of his time spent meeting clients in their homes and communities. This approach reflects his dedication to accessible, person-centered care and his belief that meaningful therapeutic relationships extend beyond the clinic walls. He is widely recognized for his compassionate, non-stigmatizing approach and his ability to create a safe, respectful environment where clients feel heard and understood.
His commitment to mental health care is deeply rooted in his personal background. Growing up in Pomona, California, Jermaine was immersed in a family that provided licensed room-and-board care for psychiatric patients displaced during the Reagan-era closure of state hospitals. This lifelong exposure to caring for individuals with severe mental illness, including the work of his grandmother, father, and uncle, shaped his understanding of the challenges and humanity of the populations he serves.
Jermaine earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and his Master’s in Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino, completing his supervised clinical hours at Mariposa Community Counseling. In addition to his clinical work, he mentors pre-licensed therapists and emerging social workers, offering guidance on case management, therapeutic strategies, and working with clients experiencing psychosis. His dedication to mentorship and patient-centered care continues to make a meaningful impact on both his clients and the next generation of social workers.
• Master of Social Work, California State University, San Bernardino
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Phoenix
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Mentorship for pre-licensed therapists and emerging social workers
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
- Schizophrenia
- Wraparound Services
- Intensive Case Management
- Care Coordination
- Community-Based Therapy
- Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders
- Field-based therapy and case management
- Wraparound services for high-need clients
- Care coordination for clients with complex social and psychiatric needs
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most is connecting with the people I serve and seeing them as individuals rather than their diagnoses. I’ve spent my entire life around individuals with severe or persistent mental illness, particularly those living with schizophrenia, and that experience has shaped the way I approach care. My goal is always to create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel understood and respected. Even when I need to be direct or firm, they know that my approach comes from a place of care and genuine concern, not condescension. That trust and rapport is what makes the work meaningful for me.