Today we’d like to introduce you to Paola Gonzalez Fusilier.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a daughter of Mexican immigrants whose parents came to America pursuing opportunities and a better life. Our values and our faith were instrumental in our upbringing. At an early age, my mom began to instill values in me that continue to form many of my decisions.
Education has always been a top priority for my mother as she always taught us that education would open doors for us and improve our lives. My grandparents were ashamed of their illiteracy and my mother always dreamed of attending college. Even as a young girl, I was determined to go to college and make them proud. My mother taught me to pursue the best for myself and also for my community. Empathy, care, and concern for others were ingrained in me from the beginning. When high school rolled around, my mother ensured that I would have access to the best education. I attended DeBakey High School for Health Professions. Despite it being across town, she always ensured that I was at school and participating in extracurricular activities.
I attended the University of St. Thomas after high school. I worked throughout college and balanced full-time work with school full time. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Philosophy. My past life experiences led me to pursue a degree in biblical counseling with a particular interest in child therapy, as I wanted to provide services to children that may not normally have access to mental health care. Being a therapist and helping others fits perfectly with my personality and the way I was raised. Education and becoming a therapist has afforded me the opportunity to enter into people’s lives and become part of their healing journey. I also have the privilege of teaching and training other helpers and truly enjoy passing on the knowledge I have gained over the years.
I married my husband Johnny in March of 2010 and continued our graduate studies in Dallas. We have had the great privilege of growing our family through birth and adoption. We have two biological daughters, Bella and Abby. We have adopted our three sons, Josiah, Judah and Micah. We have open adoptions and relationships with all three of their birth families. I am thankful to know their birth mothers and extended families. I love and cherish them being part of my life and our child’s life. This is the sweetest and most unexpected blessing of adoption.
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?
It was not an easy road. At the age of 11, my parents divorced. This was a difficult time for my mother who had been a homemaker for some time and suddenly found herself working again and providing for her young children. I found myself with many new responsibilities. I learned to care for my siblings and help my mother with anything that was necessary. We had to work together as a family to get through many difficult moments.
My high school years were a balancing act between schoolwork, my job, and my responsibilities at home helping raise my siblings. There were so many times that I felt like giving up. My mother always reminded me of the privilege it is to achieve a higher education. While in college, a tragic event led me to find my calling and my life’s purpose. The pain of the loss of a loved one and grappling with my own pain and healing process stirred in my spirit to continue my studies and obtain a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling. My suffering opened my eyes to the need to help others heal and thrive in spite of the traumas, losses, and suffering.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist with a specialization in childhood trauma. I enjoy working and serving in the communities where we live. While living in Dallas, I worked in the West Dallas community providing mental health counseling to the underserved. Upon our return to the Houston area, I began working at The Bridge Over Troubled Waters as the only child therapist on staff. As a domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center and shelter, The Bridge serves all south Houston areas and is the 6th largest shelter and crisis center of its kind in the state.
Last year, I became a practitioner at the largest private practice in Pasadena, Clearhope Counseling and Wellness. I also speak at professional conferences, training events, women’s church conferences and schools.
I am also a recently elected school board member. I have the great honor and privilege of serving on the Pasadena ISD Board of Trustees.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Mentorship and networking is extremely important in my line of work. Being a therapist can be challenging and there are difficult days. You must have a mentor and a support system of colleagues to provide guidance, encouragement, and ideas. It is important to align myself with like-minded people and with those that will challenge me to grow. I actively seek out my mentors and ensure that I have quality time to learn from them. It has worked well to form collaborative partnerships with others in my community. These relationships are not only meaningful and impactful, they are necessary.
Contact Info:
- Email: paola@clearhopewellness.com
- Website: https://www.clearhopewellness.com/paola-fusilier
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PaolaForPISD/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paolaforpisd
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaolaForPISD
Image Credits
Andrea Luisa Photography Justin Dalferes, DalfyMedia LLC Used with full rights and permission
