Meet the Freedom Institute Team: Jason Hasko, MA-RDT, CP, PAT, LCAT, Psychodramatist, Creative Arts Therapist
The individuals and collective clinical team at Freedom Institute are our greatest assets and a source of great pride. They are a dedicated group of highly trained and experienced professionals, passionate about helping people and committed to offering the highest quality programs possible to those in need.
We are thrilled that Jason Hasko, MA-RDT, CP, PAT, LCAT, Psychodramatist, and Creative Arts Therapist, has joined the FI team as a full-time therapist, having worked with us as a consultant for the past two years. Jason earned his Master’s degree from New York University in Drama-Therapy. He provides individual and group therapy as well as sociometry; and psychodrama. His focus specializes in relationships, healing trauma, health issues, LGBTQ, family, and addiction services. Jason brings incredible skill, compassion and insight to his work, the team and the FI community as a whole. Read on to meet Jason.
What brought you to this work?
I’ve always been drawn to the healing professions and the various modalities in which we find, express, and speak our truth to discover our own center of healing. One of my first positions was working on a Psychiatric Unit with patients suffering with both mental health issues and addiction. This group and the ways in which it could be a microcosm of our everyday lives was so compelling to me. It was profoundly healing especially in dealing with addiction. Before joining Freedom Institute, I worked for many years in the Department of Education supporting families. I discovered that addiction was an increasing problem among parents of kids within the system. I have always had a desire to be of support to others within the mental health field. I found Freedom Institute’s inclusivity with therapeutic interventions to be a fit with where I am at today, professionally, and the ongoing work I want to do.
What keeps you in this work?
Without doubt it is the supportive team atmosphere and collaboration as well as the clients themselves who keep me inspired and motivated to continue on in this work at Freedom Institute. Seeing people begin to thrive instead of just survive, while creating a life worth living moves me to continue to develop skills and work within this field.
Tell us about your area of expertise or passion?
My passion has always been helping others find their voice and uncover their own center of healing. As a psychodramatist, I have a strong belief in action-oriented approaches to psychotherapy. “The body remembers what the mind forgets.” This is so true especially when dealing with trauma and/or addiction. I have worked with various individuals and groups focusing on mental health issues, trauma, life transitions, and addiction. The transformative power of action methods really works with people no matter where they are in the recovery journey. In the work I do I encourage my clients to look at their strengths and not just focus on the diagnosis. Sometimes we don’t know or are not fully aware of the stories or experiences we hold on to. When we start with the feelings and senses this gives clients a way to explore the relationship to self and others.
What do you appreciate about working at Freedom Institute?
It is hard to sum up what I appreciate about Freedom Institute as there are so many aspects. All I can say is that I wouldn’t be able to do the work I do without the on-going support of my colleagues. It is an environment in which we actively practice what we preach and prioritize self-care as a model for our clients. We collaborate and share best practices to guarantee that all clients get the best care possible. I have found everyone to be welcoming and supportive which ensures that I am a well that is full and able to give to others. This has been especially evident during the pandemic and despite remote work.
What do you do in your spare time?
Given the recent state of things I would have to say that in my spare time I find ways to access my creativity whether it’s through writing, dance, painting, playing on my Uke, or learning and honing my skills in drama-therapy and psychodrama. I make it a point to connect with people as it is so easy to become isolated in these current times. I allow myself to explore a sense of wonder and playfulness to open up to different possibilities of staying connected.