Carlos Rojas, Master’s Degree Candidate, Intern
1. One of my favorite childhood memories is . . .
Spending Christmas with my mother’s family in Oaxaca, Mexico when I was 8 years old. I got to meet many relatives for the first time and was immersed in my cultural heritage for two weeks.
2. I love being a mental health counselor because . . .
I get to witness, first hand, the amazing power of the human spirit as clients begin their healing process and reach their personal goals.
3. A life lesson I’ve learned from my clients is . . .
To not take time with our loved ones for granted.
4. Three words that describe my counseling style are . . .
Creative, connected, and honest.
5. When I’m not in counseling sessions, you’ll find me . . .
Taking pictures of my family on a hike, at community events, during after school actives, or while visiting other cities
6. Three people who inspire me are…
Brent Brown, Johann Johannson, and Todd Hido
7. A quote that I live by is . . .
“Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.” – Mahatma Gandhi
8. One thing guaranteed to push me out of my comfort zone is . . .
Politics
9. My best self-care technique is . . .
putting on a good set of headphones and deeply listening to music.
10. This is how I found counseling and how counseling found me . . .
When I was in middle school, I found myself having deep conversations with many of my friends’ parents. In high school most of my friends shared their deepest fears and dreams with me. This wasn’t because of some inherent trait I possessed, it was because I was open and available to confide in others.
11. One thing I could not live without is . . .
Artistic expression, my own and those of others.
12. If I were to tell a friend about mental health counseling, I would say . . .
Counselors help to empower other people by helping them gain clarity about their situation and achieve new perspective.
13. The approaches I draw from in my counseling practice are . . .
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), person-centered, constructivist theory, existentialist theory, and positive psychology.
14. Clients that challenge me the most have this in common . . .
They often have a hard time differentiating between blame (finding fault) and responsibility (taking ownership in the recovery process), but once they do, they move towards positive action in their lives.