By Hola America News
Alicia Peña: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Alicia Peña, a licensed mental health counselor, also takes pride in using her Latina identity to help her patients feel welcomed. Her family has deep roots in the Quad Cities, but she put down roots in Central Iowa. That’s what inspired the name of her practice, Tree of Life Therapy and Counseling Services, LLC.
“Healing begins at the roots. It’s a native idea that healing starts from deep within. It takes into account the past, where you come from.” Peña was the daughter of a Mexican-American father and a German-American mother. Life at home was tough due to alcoholism, so she became independent at the age of sixteen. She had several low-paying jobs before taking classes to earn her GED and think more seriously about her future.
The Path to Higher Education
She moved to Colorado and became an assistant to a real estate agent. After having her son, she wanted to raise him closer to her family, so she moved to Des Moines, where several family members lived. With her family’s support, she returned to school, more focused than ever, and caught the attention of the founder of VOC Rehab, an agency that works with disabled individuals. “He challenged me and pushed me.”
Guided by his mentorship, Peña earned a scholarship to Drake University, where, at 37, she became the first college graduate in her family. “It was hard, but I did it for my son, so he wouldn’t become another statistic.”…. Click here to read the full feature on JEFAS Magazine
What are you waiting for? Your dose of inspiration is waiting for you in JEFAS Magazine. Don’t miss this read that will make you believe in the power of your own story!
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