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?
I have been working in the mental health field for nearly ten years now. Much of what motivated me was how I grew up. Growing up, I was the eldest daughter of an immigrant family in a small town near Houston. I often found myself in the role of a listener. I saw firsthand how mental health impacts individuals and couples. I saw how generational pains impact families. I also saw how much people leaned on their faith when they needed healing. I wanted to create a space where people felt truly seen, heard, and respected.
I went to Sam Houston State University for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I had wonderful mentors who helped me navigate the world of higher education and even reminded me that I belong in those spaces. I have carried that lesson well into my professional career.
I have worked in various settings that haved helped me see the needs of communities I care about. I’ve spent time in acute psychiatric hospitals, residential care facilities, and community health agencies. One of the most transformative chapters of my career was working with clergy, pastors, and religious sisters. In many cultures, these are figures of high authority, and working with them taught me that no matter your position, we all struggle with human issues. That experience gave me the confidence to advocate for my clients and to eventually specialize in blending evidence-based therapy with Catholic-Christian teachings.
Begin Again Counseling & Consulting, PLLC was founded because I wanted to meet clients where they were and provide the space they needed for emotional healing. I have taken trainings to help people with their trauma and couples to break out of cycles.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As the eldest child of a low-income immigrant family, I always knew I would have to do more work to get where I wanted to be. One of the earliest challenges was finding resources to help me secure scholarships and financial aid. This was a large task at the time because I was not able to ask my parents for guidance. Neither of them attended college; this process was new to all of us. They were learning as I was and I was the person they leaned on when my sibling needed to go through the process. 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 some 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.
This also lead to some strong feelings of doubt of whether I belonged in these professional spaces. Again, I am thankful that I had supportive colleagues and mentors to remind me to take up my space.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Begin Again Counseling & Consulting, PLLC?
The name is the mission at Begin Again Counseling & Consulting, PLLC. I believe that no matter what situations you are going through, whether it’s trauma, loss, a difficult relationship, or feeling like you are lost, there is always a way to reclaim your identity and start over.
I provide a safe, compassionate space for individuals and couples to heal from past wounds, break cycles, and build a future with purpose. My work is grounded in evidence-based research but personalized to each client’s individual, unique season of life. I provide marital and pre-marital counseling using research-based modalities such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). This modality is helpful across all cultures. We identify cycles where couples get stuck and build new communication skills to help connect again. I am also trained in Gottman Method Level 2.
I used EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help clients process traumatic memories, reducing the emotional “distress” and helping the brain move closer to natural healing.
I’m well-known for my work with Spanish speakers, especially with evaluations for immigration cases. I provide the clinical documentation necessary to help keep families together.
What sets me apart is that I am culturally responsive, faith integrative, and bilingual. I offer a place where each individual or couple is seen and respected in the context of their culture and faith.
I am most proud of the authenticity of this practice. I don’t offer “band-aids” or promise miracles. I promise a working partnership towards your emotional healing. When people see Begin Again, I want it to keep providing a sense of relief. This is a place where “the untold story” is safe, and there is no stigma of mental health.
We provide the following services: counseling for trauma, grief, loss, relationships, and forensic evaluations for immigration cases.
What’s next?
Current plans are to continue to attend trainings that help me grow as a clinician. I want to keep supervising newly graduated counselors who need supervision for state requirements. I also want to hold speaking events to help those who may feel hesitant about therapy but still want to gain skills to navigate difficult times.
Pricing:
- $165 for 45-minute session
- $330 f0r 90-minute session
- $700 for forensic evaluations
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beginagaincc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beginagaincounselingtx
