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yourcounselor.bsky.social
I passed the California MFT Law and Ethics Exam! In my latest blog post, I share what the preparation process taught me about learning and ethical practice. I am grateful to Ben Caldwell and his team for the outstanding preparation course.

#AMFT #CounselorinTraining #HighPass #EthicalPractice
Passing the Law and Ethics Exam
The exam measures our knowledge at a particular moment, but becoming an ethical therapist requires continued learning and attention to the people who place their trust in us. For me, passing the ex…
roqueneto.com
October 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM
campquinebarge.bsky.social
Our CIT (Counselor in Training) program is where teens grow in confidence, learn leadership skills, have plenty of fun, and build friendships that last long after camp ends! 🌟

#CounselorInTraining #CITProgram #SummerCamp #CampLife #FriendshipsIsEverlasting #YouthLeadership
October 6, 2026 at 2:03 PM
shatoree.bsky.social
Just finished my 120 direct hours on to internship II #counselorintraining #blacktherapist
#gradstudent
November 25, 2024 at 5:24 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
In my latest blog post, I reflect on graduation from Palo Alto University, receiving a PAU Stars Award, and what I learned by fully engaging in the experience over the past three years.

#CounselorInTraining #Counseling #GraduateSchool #CounselingEducation #PaloAltoUniversity #MentalHealth
One More Gift from PAU
Last week, I wrote about some of the gifts that Palo Alto University (PAU) gave me during my three years as a student: community, advocacy, and confidence. However, there was one more gift waiting …
roqueneto.com
June 16, 2026 at 2:38 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
In a few days, I will graduate from Palo Alto University with a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. My latest blog post is about the 3 gifts PAU gave me beyond the diploma.
#Counseling #CounselorInTraining #GraduateSchool #MentalHealth #ProfessionalDevelopment #PaloAltoUniversity
What Palo Alto University Gave Me
The diploma I will receive in a few days is a symbol of everything I have accomplished over the past three years. I will frame it and hang it in my office. But the guidance and sense of connection …
roqueneto.com
June 9, 2026 at 2:15 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
Last week, I completed the 600 internship hours required for my counseling program while continuing to work full-time.
I wrote a post on what helped me get there. I hope it encourages other trainees.
#Counseling #CounselingStudent #CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #Internship #GraduateSchool
What Helped Me Complete 600 Internship Hours While Working Full-Time
The more you understand the rules, the easier it becomes to maximize opportunities for earning hours. In addition to reading all available resources, do not hesitate to ask questions of your intern…
roqueneto.com
June 2, 2026 at 2:14 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
A week ago, I walked into a testing center and took the NCE while still in my counseling program.

I passed.

In this post, I share what helped: roqueneto.com/2026/04/14/h...

#NCE #CounselingStudent #FutureCounselor #MentalHealth #CounselorinTraining #NBCC #ProfessionalDevelopment
How I Passed the NCE
I gave myself one month to prepare. Not six months. Not an open-ended plan that I would get to when I had time. I committed to a focused and intentional month of study. That decision shaped everyth…
roqueneto.com
April 14, 2026 at 2:27 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
As I enter the final quarter of my counseling program, I wrote about what this experience has required and what it has offered along the way.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #GraduateSchool #CareerDevelopment #ClinicalTraining #Counseling #Internship
The Final Quarter
At this point, I’m hopeful that I have absorbed what I need from this part of the journey. At the same time, I’m aware that learning does not end with the completion of these two remaining courses.…
roqueneto.com
March 31, 2026 at 3:09 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
I’m about to enter the final quarter of my counseling program. In this blog post, I share a few thoughts on reaching this milestone and preparing for what comes next.

#Counseling #CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #GraduateSchool #PaloAltoUniversity
Approaching the Finish Line
These questions point toward the beginning of a new stage, yet they are not completely new. Over the past three years, this program has asked much more of me than learning theories or practicing co…
roqueneto.com
March 17, 2026 at 2:42 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
I am sharing my first blog post of 2026, reflecting on coursework, Internship I, and being close enough to the end to see it clearly while still fully in the work.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealthProfessionals #ClinicalTraining #MentalHealth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Counseling
Winter Quarter: The Final Stretch Begins
One especially exciting aspect of this course is who will be teaching it. Research and Program Evaluation will be co-taught by two professors who taught us early in the program. Full-time faculty r…
roqueneto.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:46 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
Last summer, I took the Family Counseling course and was met a fellow student from Brazil. We quickly connected, and I am thrilled that Lili Niclas agreed to this interview. In it, you'll learn about her experience in the program.
#Counseling #CounselorInTraining #Interview #LiliNiclas #MentalHealth
Interview: Lili Niclas
I hope to become a counselor who embodies empathy and cultural humility while helping clients feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives and develop a stronger sense of self-awareness. …
roqueneto.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
Practicum marked a turning point in the ongoing process of becoming a counselor. Authenticity matters more than perfection, that real clients don’t fit neatly into textbook categories, and that supervision is a lifeline.
#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #Supervision #Counseling #Practicum
Stepping Into the Therapy Room: What Practicum Taught Me
Practicum taught me to trust the foundation I have built while remaining open to growth. Competence in the therapy room, I am learning, is about showing up with confidence, humility, and genuine pr…
roqueneto.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
As the Fall quarter ends, I’ve been reflecting on how much my learning has evolved. This quarter wasn’t the easiest, but it was one of the most defining. I’m navigating the space between student and emerging clinician.
#counseling #counselorintraining #therapy #counselingeducation #mentalhealth
Learning to Learn Differently
Learning isn’t static. It changes as we change. Earlier in the program, I needed structure and theory. Now, I need guidance that connects directly to the work I am doing in real time. I am also not…
roqueneto.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:54 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
This fall marks a turning point in my counseling education as I begin Practicum & Couples Counseling. In my latest blog post, I share reflections on this new stage of training and the challenges of balancing multiple roles.
#Counseling #MentalHealth #Practicum #CounselorInTraining #CouplesCounseling
Crossing the Threshold: Practicum Is Here!
Now that it is here, I can feel just how important it is. It represents the official beginning of my work as a counselor, yet it is also a continuation of what I have been doing all along: learning…
roqueneto.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:15 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
Summer quarter is here, and I’m starting my final two courses before Practicum: Family Systems Theory and Sexual Issues in Counseling. Both promise to challenge and shape me in new ways.

#CounselorInTraining #FamilyTherapy #SexualHealth #MentalHealth #PaloAltoUniversity #Counseling
Summer Quarter: Family Systems and Sexuality in Counseling
These two courses will strengthen my readiness for the next phase of training. But more than a bridge to practicum, this quarter represents an opportunity to broaden my perspective and honor my com…
roqueneto.com
July 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
m excited to share that I have secured my practicum placements for the upcoming year. In this post, I reflect on what guided my decisions and how I hope to grow through these experiences.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #ClinicalTraining #Practicum #BilingualTherapist #Counseling
Serving with Purpose: How I Chose My Practicum Sites
The most important factor I looked for was alignment, particularly in the services provided and the populations served. I want to make sure that my practicum experience is shaped by purposeful serv…
roqueneto.com
June 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
#Counseling #TraumaInformedCare #MentalHealth #CrisisCounseling #DomesticViolenceAwareness #SuicidePrevention #CounselorInTraining
Trauma, Responsibility, and the Work of Showing Up
Domestic violence, for example, is not always overt. It can manifest in subtle yet damaging ways that erode a person’s sense of safety, agency, and worth. As we study these dynamics, I find myself …
roqueneto.com
May 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
Just wrapped up Residency II in my counseling program, and it was a week filled with learning, connection, and meaningful growth. I reflected on it all in my latest blog post.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealthEducation #PaloAltoUniversity #ClinicalTraining
What Residency II Taught Me About Counseling and Community
This was not part of the official schedule, and it was clear she was doing it simply because she cared. What followed was one of the most memorable experiences of the week. As I watched her work, I…
roqueneto.com
May 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
Excited to begin Residency II next week as part of my counseling program at PAU. I’ll be reconnecting with my cohort, practicing key clinical skills, and stepping further into my professional identity.

#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #ClinicalSkills #ResidencyWeek #PAU #Counseling
Looking Ahead to Residency II: Practice, Presence, and Peers
I am excited to be in the same room again with my cohort. After so much time spent learning virtually, there is something powerful about gathering in person, sharing space, and building community. …
roqueneto.com
April 22, 2025 at 2:37 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
Textbooks shape how we see ourselves in the counseling profession. When they fail to reflect our identities, they send a message about who belongs. I wrote about that.

#Counseling #DiversityInEducation #RepresentationMatters #CounselorEducation #CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #Textbooks
My Case for Representation in Counseling Textbooks
These textbooks were designed to prepare counselors with privileged identities to work with clients like me. What they didn’t consider is that graduate students from diverse backgrounds would also …
roqueneto.com
April 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
Spring quarter has begun at Palo Alto University. This term, I’m focusing on Residency II, Child & Adolescent Counseling, and Crisis a& Trauma Counseling while also applying for practicum/internship placement.
#CounselorInTraining #MentalHealth #CounselingSkills #PaloAltoUniversity #ClinicalTraining
Spring Quarter Begins: Residency II, Crisis Counseling, and the Road to Internship
The highlight of this quarter is Residency II, an immersive in-person experience designed to sharpen our counseling skills through intensive practice and direct feedback from faculty and peers. I a…
roqueneto.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
From attending an AA meeting to studying #Psychopharmacology, this quarter reinforced the value of meeting clients where they are. As I prepare for practicum, I’m reflecting on how these lessons will shape my approach as a #CounselorInTraining.
#MentalHealth #Counseling #AddictionRecovery
Understanding Recovery and Medications
One of the most impactful moments this quarter came from attending an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting for my Addiction Counseling class. It was my first time experiencing one, and I wasn’t sure w…
roqueneto.com
March 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
This blog post offers insights into how #caffeine can affect our mental health, what the DSM-5-TR says about it, and why it is important for us to understand these impacts.
roqueneto.com/2024/05/14/f...
#Addiction
#MentalHealth
#Coffee
#HealthyLiving
#DSM5TR
#CounselorInTraining
From Beans to Buzz: A Look at Caffeine Intoxication
While most of us enjoy caffeine without adverse effects, a significant portion of the population could be silently struggling with its impacts. According to the DSM-5-TR, about 85% of the U.S. popu…
roqueneto.com
November 20, 2024 at 2:58 AM
yourcounselor.bsky.social
This blog post offers insights into how #caffeine can affect our mental health, what the DSM-5-TR says about it, and why it is important for us to understand these impacts.

#Addiction #MentalHealth #Coffee #HealthyLiving #DSM5TR #CounselorInTraining
From Beans to Buzz: A Look at Caffeine Intoxication
While most of us enjoy caffeine without adverse effects, a significant portion of the population could be silently struggling with its impacts. According to the DSM-5-TR, about 85% of the U.S. popu…
roqueneto.com
November 16, 2024 at 7:33 PM