The Final Quarter At this point, I’m hopeful that I have absorbed what I need from this part of the journey. At the same time, I’m aware that learning does not end with the completion of these two remaining courses.…

As I enter the final quarter of my counseling program, I wrote about what this experience has required and what it has offered along the way.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #GraduateSchool #CareerDevelopment #ClinicalTraining #Counseling #Internship

Approaching the Finish Line These questions point toward the beginning of a new stage, yet they are not completely new. Over the past three years, this program has asked much more of me than learning theories or practicing co…

I’m about to enter the final quarter of my counseling program. In this blog post, I share a few thoughts on reaching this milestone and preparing for what comes next.

#Counseling #CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #GraduateSchool #PaloAltoUniversity

Winter Quarter: The Final Stretch Begins One especially exciting aspect of this course is who will be teaching it. Research and Program Evaluation will be co-taught by two professors who taught us early in the program. Full-time faculty r…

I am sharing my first blog post of 2026, reflecting on coursework, Internship I, and being close enough to the end to see it clearly while still fully in the work.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealthProfessionals #ClinicalTraining #MentalHealth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Counseling

Interview: Lili Niclas I hope to become a counselor who embodies empathy and cultural humility while helping clients feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives and develop a stronger sense of self-awareness. …

Last summer, I took the Family Counseling course and was met a fellow student from Brazil. We quickly connected, and I am thrilled that Lili Niclas agreed to this interview. In it, you'll learn about her experience in the program.
#Counseling #CounselorInTraining #Interview #LiliNiclas #MentalHealth

Stepping Into the Therapy Room: What Practicum Taught Me Practicum taught me to trust the foundation I have built while remaining open to growth. Competence in the therapy room, I am learning, is about showing up with confidence, humility, and genuine pr…

Practicum marked a turning point in the ongoing process of becoming a counselor. Authenticity matters more than perfection, that real clients don’t fit neatly into textbook categories, and that supervision is a lifeline.
#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #Supervision #Counseling #Practicum

Learning to Learn Differently Learning isn’t static. It changes as we change. Earlier in the program, I needed structure and theory. Now, I need guidance that connects directly to the work I am doing in real time. I am also not…

As the Fall quarter ends, I’ve been reflecting on how much my learning has evolved. This quarter wasn’t the easiest, but it was one of the most defining. I’m navigating the space between student and emerging clinician.
#counseling #counselorintraining #therapy #counselingeducation #mentalhealth

Crossing the Threshold: Practicum Is Here! Now that it is here, I can feel just how important it is. It represents the official beginning of my work as a counselor, yet it is also a continuation of what I have been doing all along: learning…

This fall marks a turning point in my counseling education as I begin Practicum & Couples Counseling. In my latest blog post, I share reflections on this new stage of training and the challenges of balancing multiple roles.
#Counseling #MentalHealth #Practicum #CounselorInTraining #CouplesCounseling

Summer Quarter: Family Systems and Sexuality in Counseling These two courses will strengthen my readiness for the next phase of training. But more than a bridge to practicum, this quarter represents an opportunity to broaden my perspective and honor my com…

Summer quarter is here, and I’m starting my final two courses before Practicum: Family Systems Theory and Sexual Issues in Counseling. Both promise to challenge and shape me in new ways.

#CounselorInTraining #FamilyTherapy #SexualHealth #MentalHealth #PaloAltoUniversity #Counseling

Serving with Purpose: How I Chose My Practicum Sites The most important factor I looked for was alignment, particularly in the services provided and the populations served. I want to make sure that my practicum experience is shaped by purposeful serv…

m excited to share that I have secured my practicum placements for the upcoming year. In this post, I reflect on what guided my decisions and how I hope to grow through these experiences.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #ClinicalTraining #Practicum #BilingualTherapist #Counseling

Trauma, Responsibility, and the Work of Showing Up Domestic violence, for example, is not always overt. It can manifest in subtle yet damaging ways that erode a person’s sense of safety, agency, and worth. As we study these dynamics, I find myself …

#Counseling #TraumaInformedCare #MentalHealth #CrisisCounseling #DomesticViolenceAwareness #SuicidePrevention #CounselorInTraining

What Residency II Taught Me About Counseling and Community This was not part of the official schedule, and it was clear she was doing it simply because she cared. What followed was one of the most memorable experiences of the week. As I watched her work, I…

Just wrapped up Residency II in my counseling program, and it was a week filled with learning, connection, and meaningful growth. I reflected on it all in my latest blog post.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealthEducation #PaloAltoUniversity #ClinicalTraining

Looking Ahead to Residency II: Practice, Presence, and Peers I am excited to be in the same room again with my cohort. After so much time spent learning virtually, there is something powerful about gathering in person, sharing space, and building community. …

Excited to begin Residency II next week as part of my counseling program at PAU. I’ll be reconnecting with my cohort, practicing key clinical skills, and stepping further into my professional identity.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #ClinicalSkills #ResidencyWeek #PAU #Counseling

My Case for Representation in Counseling Textbooks These textbooks were designed to prepare counselors with privileged identities to work with clients like me. What they didn’t consider is that graduate students from diverse backgrounds would also …

Textbooks shape how we see ourselves in the counseling profession. When they fail to reflect our identities, they send a message about who belongs. I wrote about that.

#Counseling #DiversityInEducation #RepresentationMatters #CounselorEducation #CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #Textbooks

Spring Quarter Begins: Residency II, Crisis Counseling, and the Road to Internship The highlight of this quarter is Residency II, an immersive in-person experience designed to sharpen our counseling skills through intensive practice and direct feedback from faculty and peers. I a…

Spring quarter has begun at Palo Alto University. This term, I’m focusing on Residency II, Child & Adolescent Counseling, and Crisis a& Trauma Counseling while also applying for practicum/internship placement.
#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #CounselingSkills #PaloAltoUniversity #ClinicalTraining

Understanding Recovery and Medications One of the most impactful moments this quarter came from attending an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting for my Addiction Counseling class. It was my first time experiencing one, and I wasn’t sure w…

From attending an AA meeting to studying #Psychopharmacology, this quarter reinforced the value of meeting clients where they are. As I prepare for practicum, I’m reflecting on how these lessons will shape my approach as a #CounselorInTraining.
#MentalHealth #Counseling #AddictionRecovery

Just finished my 120 direct hours on to internship II #counselorintraining #blacktherapist
#gradstudent

From Beans to Buzz: A Look at Caffeine Intoxication While most of us enjoy caffeine without adverse effects, a significant portion of the population could be silently struggling with its impacts. According to the DSM-5-TR, about 85% of the U.S. popu…

This blog post offers insights into how #caffeine can affect our mental health, what the DSM-5-TR says about it, and why it is important for us to understand these impacts.
roqueneto.com/2024/05/14/f...
#Addiction
#MentalHealth
#Coffee
#HealthyLiving
#DSM5TR
#CounselorInTraining

From Beans to Buzz: A Look at Caffeine Intoxication While most of us enjoy caffeine without adverse effects, a significant portion of the population could be silently struggling with its impacts. According to the DSM-5-TR, about 85% of the U.S. popu…

This blog post offers insights into how #caffeine can affect our mental health, what the DSM-5-TR says about it, and why it is important for us to understand these impacts.

#Addiction #MentalHealth #Coffee #HealthyLiving #DSM5TR #CounselorInTraining