\n“Marymount\u2019s CMHC program gave me the skills and confidence to lead both on and off the field.”
\n\u2014Nora Hanlon, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling<\/p>\n
“As a current Graduate Assistant for the women\u2019s lacrosse team, I had the incredible opportunity to coach and mentor student-athletes through both victories and challenges. What I\u2019m most proud of is finding a voice for athletes in the counseling space\u2014where their needs are often overlooked and their identities reduced to just their sport. Through the CMHC program at Marymount and the mentorship of my head coach, Kate Athing, I\u2019ve learned how to advocate for holistic support, both in the clinical world and in women\u2019s athletics.<\/p>\n
Helping the women\u2019s team make program history by winning the Atlantic East Conference
\n(AEC) was a huge accomplishment. Earning our first-ever NCAA appearance was a defining moment\u2014not just in my coaching journey, but in understanding the deep connection between mental health and performance! Our coaching staff was honored as the \u201cAEC Coaching Staff of the Year\u201d, and the draw team I specialize in coaching achieved a national ranking of 6th among all NCAA Division III programs. Marymount has for sure helped me grow into a counselor who leads with empathy, purpose, and a commitment to equity.”
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nora-Hanlon-240x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Teresa (Tessie) Schonder (she\/her):<\/strong> \u201cMarymount’s Pastoral CMHC concentration has challenged me to reflect upon how spirituality, religion, ritual, and community impact an individual’s mental wellbeing. The pastoral program has equipped me with therapeutic interventions I can use with clients, such as bibliotherapy assignments, mindfulness exercises, and grief processing activities. The program has also helped me become more self-aware.<\/p>\n As we explore different spiritualities, worldviews, and moral perspectives, I reflect on how my own experiences with these topics have shaped my journey to becoming who I am today. This self-reflection has helped me show up for clients in a more present and open way. I am grateful for the personal and professional edification I have received through the pastoral program.\u201d Joshua Dea (he\/him):<\/strong> “After completing my M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Marymount, moving on to the Ph.D. program felt like a natural next step to me. The transition so far has been seamless, thanks to the supportive faculty, rigorous academic preparation, and the strong sense of community I have already found within the doctoral class online, as well as the in-person M.A. environment offered at Marymount’s Ballston Campus.<\/p>\n I\u2019m now thrilled to be part of this new online doctoral cohort and even more excited to begin mentoring the next generation of counselors. It\u2019s an incredible feeling to give back to the profession that has given me so much.” Sophia Olguin (she\/her):<\/strong> “As a dual-degree student, I\u2019ve been able to blend clinical mental health training with a forensic insight\u2014preparing me to support diverse communities in both therapeutic and justice-oriented settings. Throughout Marymount, I\u2019ve served as an HRSA Fellow, presented at the 2024 Student Research Conference, and interned with both the FBI and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). I also participated in Marymount\u2019s Summer 2025 Research Initiative, conducting research on how U.S. immigration policies impact mental health in Latine communities. As well, I presented at Marymount\u2019s Student Research Conference with a fellow MA CMHC student, Jenna Kehoe, about trauma and psychopathy in juvenile perpetrators. I am now utilizing both graduate degrees by providing mental health services to all types of first responders, offering specialized counseling and support services that cater to the unique needs of the community.<\/p>\n The dual M.A.\/M.A. program at Marymount has equipped me with the tools to lead with cultural humility, clinical integrity, and a profound commitment to social change. I\u2019ve grown not only as a future clinician but as a scholar-advocate dedicated to uplifting marginalized voices.” Nicholas Monahan (he\/him):<\/strong> “During my time in the CMHC program, I\u2019ve been encouraged to explore the intersection of psychology, technology, and behavior, leading me to present at the 2025 American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference in Orlando, FL, and again at Marymount\u2019s 2025 Student Research Conference. I have also presented last year at the 2024 Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) Convention! My 2025 poster, “Impulsivity, Online Disinhibition, and Cyberbullying Among College Freshmen,” received the Best Graduate Research Poster Design award, which was a huge honor.<\/p>\n Marymount\u2019s emphasis on academic excellence, research, and professional development has equipped me with the skills necessary to make meaningful contributions to the counseling and mental health field. I\u2019ve developed as both a researcher and a future clinician, as I\u2019m eager to continue bridging research and practice to promote healthier digital and emotional well-being in our lives.” Edwin Hanna (he\/him):<\/strong> \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to find a place that would support me in so many ways\u2014academically, professionally, and personally. As a dual-degree student and Graduate Assistant, I\u2019ve been inspired by faculty who recognize my potential. I am currently interning at the Child Advocacy Center in Arlington, utilizing my clinical expertise in forensic assessments. Throughout the Summer 2025 Research Fellowship, in addition to my research hours, I have also had the opportunity to research deeper into the heart of psycholegal studies, trauma, and clinical counseling.<\/p>\n Community is key to many. In my role as Community Engagement Chair for Chi Sigma Iota, I\u2019ve formed authentic, lasting relationships, volunteered, and contributed to the DMV community alongside others who value social justice, equity, and compassion as much as I do.\u201d Liam Mullen (he\/him): “Being part of the inaugural group of interns at Marymount\u2019s Free Community Mental Health Clinic has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my graduate journey. Knowing that we\u2019re laying the foundation for future counselors\u2014and expanding free access to mental health care in our community\u2014is incredibly fulfilling.<\/p>\n As a Graduate Assistant for the School of Counseling and through my research with Dr. Chalk on ethical counseling with adolescents, I\u2019ve grown as both a student and a future counselor. Marymount has given me the chance to lead, serve, and make a real impact\u2014and that\u2019s something I\u2019ll carry with me long after graduation.” Hanan Qasem (she\/her):<\/strong> \u201cReceiving the NBCC Minority Fellowship has been a powerful reminder of why I chose this path. As a second-generation Middle Eastern woman, I\u2019ve grown up surrounded by stories of resilience, displacement, and the search for culturally competent care. This fellowship has provided me with the resources, access, and mentorship to develop into the kind of counselor I needed growing up\u2014someone who listens deeply, affirms multicultural identity, and advocates for systemic change.<\/p>\n Marymount\u2019s online program has supported me every step of the way, creating a space where I feel both challenged and seen. I\u2019m excited to continue uplifting underserved communities and making mental health care more accessible for all.” Claudia Flores Romero (she\/her\/ella):<\/strong> \u201cAs a bilingual first-generation counseling student at Marymount University, I\u2019ve always known I wanted to give back to my community. Marymount\u2019s dual-degree program allowed me to explore both clinical and forensic work in a way that felt aligned with my values and lived experience.<\/p>\n Currently, I\u2019m one of the inaugural interns at Marymount University\u2019s Free Community Mental Health Clinic, where I provide support in both English and Spanish at the Ballston Campus. It\u2019s been incredibly meaningful to walk alongside clients who often don\u2019t see themselves reflected in the systems meant to serve them. I\u2019ve also been able to dig deeper into advocacy and research that uplifts marginalized voices and challenges inequities in mental health and legal spaces.<\/p>\n Being at Marymount has helped me grow as both a clinician and an advocate. I\u2019m walking away with not just degrees, but the confidence and training to make a real impact in the world today.\u201d<\/p>\n Marielle Djamou (she\/her): \u201cAs a proud immigrant from C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa, I am a part-time online student in the CMHC program at Marymount University! My parents immigrated here in the 90s, and I grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, but I now live in Richmond, VA. I started this program feeling nervous that being fully online might feel isolating. However, after two years, I\u2019ve built strong connections with my peers, feel fully supported by my professors, and am continually impressed by how intentional the program is about keeping online students engaged and valued.<\/p>\n I was drawn to Marymount because of its close-knit cohort model, emphasis on service to high-need populations, and the program\u2019s intentional efforts to cultivate connections. Attending my interview and hearing from current graduate assistants was the final confirmation. I\u2019ve found that the smaller cohort size really allows professors to know you by name and support you as a whole person\u2014not just a student. The flexibility of evening classes has made it manageable to work full-time, and I appreciate how understanding and responsive the faculty are when life inevitably gets hectic. I\u2019ve especially benefited from the camera-on policy and interactive assignments, which make it easier to form meaningful relationships even in a virtual space.<\/p>\n My counseling interests center around adolescents and young adults navigating life transitions and identity development\u2014especially those balancing bicultural experiences or coming from immigrant families like mine. I want to be someone who walks with them through these challenges, providing the same kind of culturally sensitive support I once needed. To anyone considering the online track, I\u2019d say: stay organized, ask questions (even the ones you\u2019re nervous to ask!), and give yourself grace.\u201d Matthew Kirk (he\/him):<\/strong> \u201cI am an MD native, and graduate of Wake Forest University and Clemson University. I graduated as a Master’s student in the MA Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Marymount University.<\/p>\n I am passionate about eradicating the stigmas surrounding mental health and counseling in communities of color. Specifically, I explore the experiences of Black and Brown youth and young adults as they relate to the intersection of race\/ethnicity, religion\/spirituality\/faith, and Queer identities through advocacy, research, and practice. I plan to work with Black and Brown youth, adolescents, and adults. I am particularly interested in working with male adolescents and young adults who are homeless or unhoused and identify within the LGBTQ+ community. I also aim to partner with faith communities to provide psychoeducation and consultation on the reciprocal relationship between mental health and spirituality, as well as integrating religious and spiritual practices into therapy.<\/p>\n Earning the 2023 NBCCF Minority Fellowship Program, serving as a Graduate Assistant, and completing research enabled me to participate in meaningful professional development training and opportunities specifically designed for working with underserved communities, which I intend to impact.\u201d Alexandra (Alex) Arce Nacurena (she\/her):<\/strong> \u201cI was born in Lima, Peru, and raised in Northern Virginia\u2014mainly Fairfax County. Now I live in Prince William County and wear many hats: full-time professional, full-time mom, and full-time student. What drew me to Marymount\u2019s online CMHC program was the opportunity to grow professionally without putting my family life or career on hold. The fully online format, smaller class sizes, and meaningful relationships with peers and professors made it the perfect fit for this chapter of my life.<\/p>\n Before graduate school, I worked as a community health worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. I learned how to build rapport, actively listen, and extend empathy\u2014often over the phone\u2014when people were isolated, scared, or grieving. Later, I worked at an IVF clinic, where I supported clients navigating grief, fertility challenges, and end-of-life decisions. Both roles shaped my capacity to manage crises, hold space for complex emotions, and remain compassionate in high-stress situations.<\/p>\n As a first-generation Latina and bilingual speaker, I plan to work with the Hispanic\/Latinx community, especially young adults navigating bicultural identity. I know how hard it can be to straddle two worlds, and I want to create a space where people feel safe, seen, and understood.<\/p>\n To anyone considering Marymount University\u2019s fully online Counseling program: Go for it. Don\u2019t let the fear of failure stop you from trying. Time management is key, and yes\u2014it\u2019s a challenge\u2014but it\u2019s also worth it. You\u2019ll surprise yourself with how much growth is possible when you give yourself the chance.\u201d Aderonke (Ronke) Aderonmu (she\/her):<\/strong> \u201cI grew up in Nigeria and moved to Southern California over 20 years ago. Before entering the CMHC program, I\u2019ve worked in marketing, student success, and project management. I made the transition into Marymount\u2019s Counseling Program because I wanted to do work that truly matters\u2014work that is meaningful, in service of others, and better aligned with my personal values and work style.<\/p>\n In my previous roles, I frequently worked directly with clients from diverse backgrounds, managed complex projects, and collaborated to solve challenging problems. I developed strong organizational skills, learned to navigate difficult emotions, and grew from feedback\u2014all of which now support my journey as a counselor-in-training. As I\u2019m currently exploring which populations I\u2019m most suited to serve, I feel drawn to older adults, children of immigrants, and neurodivergent people of color. These groups are often underserved, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood due to cultural and systemic barriers, and I want to be part of changing that.<\/p>\n For anyone thinking about making a career shift or change into Clinical Counseling: it\u2019s okay to feel unsure. I was, too. But if this field lights you up, take the leap. Speak with current students, alums, and professionals in the field. Make a financial and emotional support plan\u2014and don\u2019t overthink it. If the desire is there, trust it. The journey is worth it.\u201d School Counseling \u201cAs a graduate student at Marymount, there were many\u00a0\u00a0 things that I enjoyed, however, I would say that I most enjoyed the relationships that I built with both classmates and professors alike. I feel blessed to have developed lifelong friendships and owe much of my success as a School Counselor to the wonderful […]<\/p>\n
\n\u201cExploring spirituality in counseling at Marymount has deepened both my self-awareness and my ability to support clients fully.\u201d
\n\u2014Tessie Schonder, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling\u2013Pastoral Concentration<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Tessie-Schonder-200x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n“Marymount shaped the counselor I am\u2014and now it\u2019s shaping the educator I\u2019m becoming.”
\n\u2014Joshua Dea, Ph.D. Counseling Education and Supervision Candidate & M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Joshua-Dea-300x300.png\")
<\/p>\n
\n“Marymount University has helped me turn my passion for multicultural advocacy and social justice, into action.”
\n\u2014Sophia Olguin, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling & M.A. Forensic and Legal Psychology<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Sophia-Olguin-300x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMarymount University gave me the platform to research the real-world impact of emerging technology and mental health.\u201d
\n\u2014Nicholas Monahan, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nicholas-Monahan-214x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCounseling goes beyond just being a profession; it is a way to serve others, create connections, build community, and uplift individuals.\u201d
\n\u2014Edwin Hanna, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling & M.A. Forensic and Legal Psychology<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Edwin-Hanna-300x196.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n“It\u2019s an honor to help shape a platform that will serve so many.”
\n\u2014Liam Mullen, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Liam-Mullen-266x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n“This fellowship and program affirmed that my voice\u2014and the voices of my community\u2014belong in this field.”
\n\u2014Hanan Qasem, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling\u2013Online<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Hanan-Qasem-244x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBridging gaps in mental health and justice\u2014one client at a time.\u201d
\n\u2014Claudia Flores Romero, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling & M.A. Forensic and Legal Psychology<\/p>\n
\n“Don\u2019t be afraid to reach out and connect\u2014you\u2019re not alone. Redefine self-care in a way that truly nourishes you. We owe it to ourselves and our future clients to show up whole.”
\n\u2014Marielle Djamou, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling\u2013Online<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Marielle-Djamou-200x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMarymount\u2019s Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling program\u2014and the support of the NBCCF Fellowship\u2014gave me the tools, mentorship, and confidence to turn advocacy into action.\u201d
\n\u2014Matthew Kirk, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling\u2013Pastoral Concentration<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Matthew-Kirk-244x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMarymount\u2019s online CMHC program gave me the flexibility to pursue a meaningful career in counseling while balancing full-time work and motherhood.\u201d
\n\u2014Alexandra Arce Nacurena, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling\u2013Online<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Alex-Arce-Nacurena-250x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMarymount\u2019s CMHC program gave me the courage and clarity to turn a lifelong interest into a purposeful new path.\u201d
\n\u2014Aderonke Aderonmu, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Ronke-Aderonmu-225x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"