Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Aguirre.
Hi Laura, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Growing up, it felt natural to listen to others. I decided I wanted to make space for others and help them feel heard. As a first-generation student, I knew I had to pave the way for myself. Through hard work and determination, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2013 from Sam Houston State University. I was incredibly fortunate to have professors guide and mentor me, especially through the McNair program, designed to help first-generation students succeed in higher education. It continued to motivate me to work towards my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I graduated from Sam Houston State University again in 2016. Like in my bachelor’s program, I had supportive professors and peers. I met my supervisor while in my program, who guided me to be the counselor I wanted to be for clients, couples, and families. I achieved my provisional license after graduation, became a fully licensed counselor in 2018, and am now a state-approved supervisor. As a counselor, I’ve had experience working in hospital settings, residential treatment centers, and agencies. I noticed I wanted to work more with families and individuals experiencing grief and trauma. As a daughter of immigrants, I became trained in doing evaluations for immigration cases.
I have recently opened my own practice, Begin Again Counseling & Consulting, PLLC to better serve my community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As the eldest child of a low-income immigrant family, I always knew I was going to have to do more work to get where I wanted to be. One of the earliest challenges was looking for resources to help me obtain scholarships and financial aid. This was a large task at the time because I was not able to ask my parents for help. Since neither of them attended college, this process was new to all of us. They were learning to navigate it at the same time I was. This is something that not only first-generation students go through, but especially children of immigrants, where the language barrier adds to the struggle.
Another challenge was figuring out how to handle the isolation of college and stress. It was difficult to talk about the stress of school with certain family members. In the Hispanic community, some believe that if you are not outside working hard all day, you have no reason to be tired or worried. This not only led me to figure out how to handle the isolation but also led me to reflect on the stigma that the Hispanic culture has on mental health.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Begin Again Counseling & Consulting, PLLC, I provide counseling in English and Spanish to individuals, couples, and families. I tailor my approach to the client’s individual needs. I specialize in working with women going through all stages of life, men and women experiencing loss, grief, and trauma, and adjusting to life’s highs and lows. I work to provide not only the skills and tools to help clients get back to healthily managing life but also provide hope that they can begin again with joy. When working with couples, I help strengthen communication, intimacy, and help rebuild trust that may have been lost. I use several different approaches that cater to the couples’ story. When working with families, I help the family view the structure of the family, and we work towards rebuilding in a way that honors and respects each family member.
I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a modality used in treating trauma. I am trained in level 2 Gottman method for couples. I am Prepare/Enrich certified to help couples at any stage to help them view their areas of strength and growth.
I’m very proud to have received training in forensic evaluations for immigration cases, specifically for cancelation of removal, asylum, T-Visa, U-Visa, and VAWA. This helps me give back to immigrant communities to keep families together.
Part of my work history has led me to work with pastors of churches, especially Catholic/Christian communities. It has helped me also include faith in my counseling for those who wish to incorporate faith.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and foremost, I give a huge thank you to my husband and family. They have always supported my choice of going into the counseling field. When I was thinking about opening my practice, my husband helped me look at what I needed to start my own business, even while he was working on his degree.
My colleagues and friends in the mental health field have always been present for me as I was growing as a counselor. It was with their support that I felt ready to open my practice.
My professors in college have helped me learn to advocate for myself and pushed me to continue to work hard, even in the most difficult of times.
Lastly, my advisor in the McNair program, Dr. Cruz Fox, and my LPC supervisor, Dr. Walker, who are two amazing women who, with their own journeys, inspired me to keep going, taught me to fight for my place, and always find a way to keep growing. They have also been the women to inspire me to give back and help the next generation of counselors grow.
I cannot thank all these people enough.
Pricing:
- $150 for 45-minute session
- $300 for 90-minute session
- $700 for forensic evaluations
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beginagaincc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beginagaincounselingtx?igsh=a2tjMjMzNDFtZmZw
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/laura-aguirre-tomball-tx/1260640
