Student Ambassador, MA in Counseling, Marital and Family Therapy
- B.A. Psychology, San Diego State University
Pronouns
She/Her
Hometown
San Diego, CA
When did you begin your graduate program?
Fall 2023
Expected Graduation Date
Spring 2025
What is your educational and professional background?
My educational journey began in 2017. I studied psychology and paralegal studies at Southwestern Community College before transferring to San Diego State University (SDSU) and earning my bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2019. During undergrad, I worked as a legal assistant for two criminal defense attorneys. This position allowed me to see the need for therapeutic services for minority populations and helped me recognize a pattern of unhealthy family cycles which sparked my interest in family therapy. During my senior year at SDSU, I started working as a behavioral therapist for an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) company. I fell in love with the field and enjoyed working with multicultural families all over San Diego. In 2021, I earned a graduate certificate in ABA from California State University San Marcos which allowed me to become a Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). I have been working as a Clinical Supervisor in the field of ABA since then. As a clinical supervisor, I manage my own caseload and have clients from ages 4 to 15. I am also a parent trainer and work closely with my client’s families to maintain a healthy parent-child relationship. As a BCaBA, I also train new behavioral therapists to become Registered Behavior Technicians.
Why did you choose USD? What made USD stand out in comparison to other schools with a similar program?
When I began researching what schools I wanted to attend, USD stuck out. USD focused on a biopsychosocial systems approach to family therapy which aligned with my views. I also liked that USD has an international requirement that is designed to support future therapists’ cultural competency. With this requirement, you can study abroad which is something I wasn’t able to do during undergrad. USD also emphasized personal growth as part of their curriculum, which I thought was very special and important. USD also has amazing practicum sites that I am super excited about! I knew shortly after visiting campus that USD was for me -- not just based on the rigorous academics, but most importantly, how friendly and inviting the students, faculty, and staff were. Before I was even a student, everyone at SOLES made me feel heard, seen, and welcome.
What do you hope to do after grad school?
After grad school, I plan on working towards licensure as a family therapist for children and their families. I am also considering pursuing a doctorate degree.
Are you currently working? If so, do you work full-time or part-time, and what do you do?
I currently work part-time. I am a research assistant at USD and am also a clinical supervisor at an ABA company.
What are you most excited for as you begin your program?
I am mostly excited to continue to grow as a person. As I mentioned before, USD emphasizes personal growth as part of its academic curriculum. As a therapist, I think it is foundational to reflect and learn from yourself to be the best practitioner for our future clients. I also find it very rewarding to be in class with peers who are like-minded being from diverse backgrounds. We all get to learn from each other.
What advice can you share with prospective applicants?
My advice would be to believe in yourself, and like a friend once told me, “Remind yourself that you deserve a seat at the table.” I felt insecure when applying to different programs because I thought I would never go to graduate school. As a first-generation college student, graduate school can be super daunting and seems impossible. But those words empowered me throughout my application and admissions process. Remember, you got this!