Graduate Alumni Highlight | Laura Fernandez, M.S.'19

I am from Mexico, so I completed a psychology program back home. When I came to the U.S., all my credentials were not usable, so I had to do my master’s in counseling at Hood College. I started in 2017 and graduated in 2019. I wasn’t working as a counselor before I came to Hood – I worked as an interpreter. I figured out how to get back on my career path with the help of others in my field. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Certified Grief Professional (CGP).

Ever since I was in high school, I was very interested in human development, behavior and emotions. I also wanted to learn how to provide support to kids and teens, since that wasn’t seen a lot in my country at that time.

In Mexico, I was a school psychologist, and I also had my own private practice. After I graduated from Hood College and passed my licensure exam, I was hired as a therapist in the Partial Hospitalization Program for children and adolescents at Brook Lane. After that, I went to Laurel Hall to work as a school therapist.

I joined Frederick Health Hospice as a bereavement coordinator after the pandemic to help implement the Equal Access Bereavement Program, which offers grief counseling to everyone in the community at no cost. These services can be provided in the school setting or at Frederick Health Hospice. This program also allows Spanish-speaking individuals to receive these services. I am also part of the Equity and Inclusion Commission in Frederick County.

It’s been an honor to be able to serve members of my community regardless of their language or insurance status. We provide services at no cost, and we don’t ask for insurance. I appreciate the opportunity to be with my clients and their families during these very difficult times in their lives. Also, being able to provide grief support in English and Spanish to students in their schools has been a powerful experience for me, since I am able to connect and offer a safe space to kids and teens that need these services.

I was taking a school counseling class, and my professor, Laura Jones, Ph.D., nominated me for it. At the time, I was an intern at a local middle school and working with English-learners who had moved from Latin America. I helped give them space to process how they got here and how they would adjust to classes, since they had just arrived and didn’t always know the language. It could be very overwhelming for them at times.

I have done two alongside Professor Atiya Smith, but in total, I have presented at seven conferences from 2021 to 2023. Their topics ranged from “multicultural considerations for supporting diverse clients” to “grief, loss and hospice care.”

I would highly advise them to reach out to former students, current students and professors to learn more about it. You should explore your options for what you can do after graduation. Another thing would be to get involved with the community by volunteering in mental health agencies.

At Frederick Health Hospice, we have volunteers that help us with phone calls, day and overnight grief camps, reunions and grief retreats. Volunteers are so helpful for managing these events. You can do a lot of good by reaching out.

Right now, I’m in my “theatre mom” era. My kids are twins in eighth grade and have been participating in theatre events. Their next play is Beauty and the Beast, with one being Gaston and the other being Lumiere. I’m also a Hufflepuff and love Harry Potter.

Inspired by Laura’s career and work as a counselor? Interested in Hood’s school counseling program and ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s graduate programs by clicking here.