Welcome to COCO 707 - Let's Meet Each Other by

Greetings!

kimberlychu — 2020-08-27 03:58:37 UTC

Hello all! I am Dr. Kimberly Chu and I am delighted to serve as your instructor for COCO 707. This fall will mark my 3rd year of teaching at Hunter College.

While teaching at Hunter, I currently also work at Baruch College where I serve as the Director of their Executives on Campus Mentoring program. I have 20 years work experience working for the City University of New York at a variety of institutions. During my time at CUNY, my experience has stemmed around career and rehabilitation counseling.

I am a proud graduate of Hunter College's Rehabilitation Counseling program so it brings me joy every semester to return to my alma mater and give back to the place that helped get my career started.

When I am not working, I love the outdoors and can be found hiking, camping, or running. I also love being in the kitchen and stirring up a good meal. I am also a proud mom of an almost 20 month old little girl who keeps me on my feet.

I look forward to reading and learning more about you. Here is a recent photo of me presenting at the University of New Mexico's Mentoring Institute.

2020-08-28 01:38:59 UTC

Hi everyone,

I'm Denis Yu (she/her), and I'm from NYC. I'm a part-time student now in my third semester in the MHC program, and I work full-time at an advocacy NGO managing an advocacy and leadership program for Asian Pacific American youth (so if I ever look exhausted entering class, this is probably why). Would love to blend private practice and nonprofit work with the communities I work with now.

Fun fact: I started a social justice podcast with two friends last year.

Also, here's a pic from the last trip I was able to take (Dec 2019).

2020-08-28 02:30:41 UTC

Hi Classmates and Professor,
My name is Quneetsha Minor, I am a part time student at Hunter in the MHC track.

I have a background in college and career counseling. My initial role at my organization was to help clients ages 18-61 secure training and employment opportunities. In the role I built partnership’s with employers, while preparing my clients with resumes, interview prep and clothing. I always had the passion to work with the youth population and took an opportunity to work as the College Access Program Manager at my Organization. I work with 9th to 12th-grade students, preparing them for SAT, College applications, resumes, college essays and more. I also host a series of workshops for parents/guardians throughout the years discussing FAFSA, college exploration and other resources such as employment, financial counseling and tax prep.

I received my undergraduate degree in 2011, BA in Management and Marketing. This education is helping growing Marketing Business, Quality over Quantity Marketing and Management LLC. Which supports young black owned entrepreneurs and artist.

I decided to get a graduate degree and my LMHC because my mother is diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar type one since I was a young girl. My goal is to support children who suffer with disorders and children who are directly affected by a parent/guardian who suffering. I plan to offer family counseling and support services to them.

When I am not working, in school or building my business. I love to spend time with my son and family. I also love to medicate and do yoga to maintain my own mental health. Mindfulness 😊

Hi Everyone,

2020-08-28 12:28:05 UTC

My name is Margo Miller and I am currently in my (fingers crossed) second to last semester at Hunter on the MHC track.

Prior to starting this program I did my undergraduate degree at NYU and majored in applied psychology. After, I continued to work at NYU doing Alzheimer's and dementia research. However, I had always known that I wanted to pursue being a therapist. I just wasn't exactly sure how I was going to get to that place. So after taking 2 years off I decided that I wanted to quit my job and pursue the mental health counseling masters at Hunter.

I hope to be licensed in the near future and work as a therapist and maybe teacher one day. I look forward to working with you all and learning from you all.

Greetings All!

ynunez5 — 2020-08-30 17:13:28 UTC

Hello Professor and Classmates,

My name is Yamelina Nunez and I'm from NYC. I am currently a full-time student at Hunter College and I am in my second to last semester on the Mental Health Counseling track.

I completed my Bachelor's degree at Nyack College and I majored in Psychology. I found out that I wanted to become a therapist in my last year of undergrad. I always knew that I wanted to do some kind of work that had to with me helping people and I spent a lot of time researching to see what that would be. I found out about becoming a Mental Health Counselor. My professors were also LMHCs, so I spent some time interviewing them as well and I fell more in love with the idea. After I graduated, I worked for a few years at a Therapy Staffing Agency in NYC in the Human Resources Department. My job was to interview and hire therapists to work at different schools, homes and nursing home facilities. After working closely with therapists and learning more about the career, I knew that it was all that I wanted to do.

I took a semester off after I did my bachelor's degree and then I started my Master's degree here at Hunter. I currently work at a High School in the Bronx as a counselor and I also intern at a clinic in Manhattan. After I graduate, I look forward to becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

When I'm not working or in school, I love to play with my dog and enjoy time out with family and loved ones. I also enjoy cooking, traveling, road trips and spending time outdoors. I look forward to learning about you all!

Hi everyone,

2020-08-31 01:28:15 UTC

My name is Dani Venditti, I'm in my third semester in the MHC program.

I completed my bachelors at the College of Staten Island. I majored in Sociology and minored in ASL (American Sign Language). I currently work there as an adjunct professor teaching ASL level 1 to undergrads.

Due to a very limited access to mental health services in my community, I decided to become a mental health counselor for the deaf and hard of hearing people. I'd love to work with teenagers, especially the LGBTQ population. I hope to become licensed in the future and open my own practice. I look forward to working with you all!

When I'm not working, I enjoy traveling, biking, and cooking. I also enjoy hanging out with friends. Netflix days are my self care :)

CIAO!

adrianaricci79 — 2020-08-31 20:42:59 UTC

Hello! My name is Adriana. I am in my 2nd year of Mental Health Counseling. I am a former MBA/Marketing Executive with many years working in the beauty industry. A few years ago, after a company restructure I had the fortune to re-explore new career options. I decided to transfer my management, coaching and counseling skills honed through years of experience into the field of psychotherapy. I am interested in helping people with stress, anxiety and depression with my solution-oriented approach mixed with mindful practice habits. I was born and raised in Rome, Italy and have been in the US since college. Italian was my first language and I also speak English (obvi!), French, Spanish and some Hebrew. I am looking forward to reconnecting and also meeting new classmates!

Hey everyone,

2020-08-31 23:04:17 UTC

Hope everyone is safe and well.
My name is Karina Abreu Brito. You can call me Kari or Karina. I'm from the Bronx (NYC). I am in my 3rd semester in the MHC program.

I completed my bachelors at Hunter College. I majored in Psychology and minored in English and German (very limited).
I'm not currently working in anything or doing anything.

I like to read, hang with my friends and sometimes my family. I enjoy learning new things. I look forward to working with you guys!

2020-09-01 02:57:57 UTC

Hi everyone!

My name is Yuriko Kyono, and I am on the MHC track. I started the program in 2018 and returned the following year after maternity leave. I am currently a part-time student while caring for my twenty-three month-old daughter full-time. I am also a part of a psychology research team at BMCC that focuses on sexuality development in young adults.

I was born and raised in Japan and came to the U.S. for the first time when I was sixteen. I studied politics and economics before working at an investment banking firm. After many years in finance, I started taking psychology classes after work, as I always had an interest in studying psychology. Eventually, I decided to take the leap and left my job to become a full-time student. While my immediate goal is to obtain the MHC degree and licensure, I would like to do a Ph.D. in clinical psychology or mental health counseling in the long run.

I enjoy the beach, traveling, music concerts, long walks with my family (including my two dogs)!

I am looking forward to working with all of you!

Hello Everyone

2020-09-01 13:26:47 UTC

My name is Anita Mercado and I am on a Mental Health track in our program. I am excited to be a part of this course together.

I have work at a High School for 10 years and I have, within the past year, began working at a residential home for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I enjoy my work and I have found our program enriching my professional life to date and I look forward to shaping a new trajectory as I come to the end of the program. I am a part time student.

I thrive for stimulating, deep conversations and I look forward to diving into those discussions as class progresses.

Have a beautiful day.

Hi!

2020-09-01 20:06:25 UTC

My name is Carly Rainey and I am on the Mental Health Counseling track. I am currently in my last year of the program and am completing my internship at Long Island University in their counseling center.

I completed my Bachelor's Degree at the University of Delaware with a major in Interpersonal Communications and minors in Advertisement, Organizational and Community Leadership and Human Development and Family Studies. After graduating in 2018 I took a semester off as I was unsure of which masters degree I wanted to pursue --Social Work or Mental Health Counseling. I knew my sole focus was to ultimately become a therapist which is why I decided to pursue a degree in Mental Health Counseling at Hunter.

I hope to be licensed in the near future and continue working with the adolescent population. Looking forward to learning from you all!

Hello everyone!

2020-09-01 20:46:53 UTC

My name is Julien Cheng and I am in my third semester of studying Mental Health Counseling. I am currently doing my internship at the Quad Preparatory School.

I studied Psychology as an undergraduate and after graduating, I interned at the Quad Preparatory School. Working with the students at Quad Prep inspired me to pursue Mental Health Counseling and I am so excited to return to the internship where it all started.

Additionally, I am excited to learn more about Multicultural Aspect of Counseling and how these aspects will influence my approach to counseling. As an Asian American, I grew up oblivious to mental health and its impact on my life. I hope to lessen the stigma of Mental Health in my community by advocating and normalizing it.

For fun, I enjoy playing games with my friends. Also I just began fostering my cousin's kitten and spent majority of my free time entertaining him!

I look forward to working with you all this semester!

Hi Everyone! My name is Kayla Diaz, this is my 2nd year on the Mental health counseling track. I chose Mental health counseling kinda by accident, I used to be a social work major in City Tech for my bachelor’s degree, but ended up in a psych class one day and fell in love with the whole field, I completed my bachelors at Hunter college 2019 in Psychology. I want to be a counselor to help people in ways I needed help in life that I never sought out before. I am still ndeciding how far I would like to take my education (ie; stop at masters, PHD, PYSD, etc.) I currently work as an office manager to a doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I am a very friendly and easy going person. I am 25 years old, Puerto Rican, have 2 siblings & a cat! I am engaged to the love of my life & recently we moved in together to Yonkers! I am looking forward to learning more about all of you and having a great semester!

2020-09-01 23:14:55 UTC

Hi Classmates & Dr.Chu,

2020-09-02 00:08:16 UTC

My name is Shanelia Rice and I am currently a part time student at Hunter in my third semester as a MHC track.

I completed my bachelors degree in psychology at Medgar Evers College in 2017. During my sophomore year as an undergrad, after I met my mentor for the first time I decided I wanted to be a therapist. After discussing my options with her about the kind of therapist I wanted to be. I decided I was interested in a Family, Marriage Therapy. To familiarize myself within the field, I mapped out my remaining coursework as well as joined clubs and organizations before I graduated. After graduating, I decided to take a gap year before starting grad school.

During my time off, I was still able to volunteer and interview different counselors in the field of Family therapy. I found it very exciting and anticipating my future as a therapist. Currently I work part time as the assistant to the Director of Student Life at Medgar Ever College and while volunteer at various therapy clinics.

I spend my spare time hanging out with family and friends and working to improve my talents as a make up artist. I am looking forward to gain the skills and knowledge to help me excel in the field as a therapist.

2020-09-02 16:09:19 UTC

Hello Everyone, My name is Rajan Shahi, I am a part time student at Hunter in MHC track. I was born and raised in Nepal and moved to US few years ago. Currently, I’m living in Queens with my wife and two children…I don’t have dogs or cats…. I did my UG at Nyack College majored in Pastoral Counseling. I have worked as sales executive in electronic business for long time and decided to change it to MHC. I’ve worked as a counselor in Church setting, which is more of spiritual guidance. I wanted to work out of the church boundry, which led me to come to Hunter for MHC degree. I want to serve my community and during pandemic, I felt my need and here in Elmhurst, Queens and how much more I can do. I’m planning for my practicum next semester and hope to graduate next year too. My free time, I spend most of my time with family. I like photography, cooking and making music.

Hello!

margaretdillon88 — 2020-09-02 21:28:21 UTC

My name is Margaret Dillon. I was born and raised in Queens New York, and and graduated from Hunter College with a B.A. in Dance.
After graduation, I began practicing Yoga, and eventually became a certified teacher. I currently work for myself teaching one on one lessons with a senior population.
After a series of personal losses, I began to truly see in myself, as well as in my clients how strong the connection between mental and physical health is. I returned to school to learn more about psychology, and also to try to work towards combining both practices to help others holistically.
I am so happy to be back at Hunter College, and feel very fortunate to again be studying something that I truly have a passion for, with such an impressive and inspiring group of classmates.
I am a part time student in the MHC track, and am very much looking forward to learning more about MCC.
During my free time, I enjoy anything outdoors, hiking running, swimming surfing and boxing.

Hi Everyone!

tajirihp — 2020-09-02 21:30:46 UTC

My name is Tajirih Pijuan (Taj for short) and I recently became a full time student at Hunter-Mental Health Counseling program. I am a Latina living in NYC. Most of my work experience is from case management. I decided to make the tough decision to quit my full time job in order to focus on my graduate studies. I completed my Bachelor's Degree at Buffalo State with a major in Sociology.

I thrive when I talk about important topics. I am passionate about mental health. I struggle with depression and anxiety and know how difficult it can be, which is why I applied to the program. I want to spread awareness on the importance of mental health and help break the stigma behind it, as well as help others through counseling. My ultimate goal is to become a licensed therapist providing CBT work.

I love to immerse myself in deep meaningful conversations that nourishes the soul.

Looking forward to learning about you all throughout this semester :)

Hola =)

2020-09-03 00:35:51 UTC

Hi everyone my name is Stephanie Maldonado but you can call me Steph. I'm in my second to last year in the Mental Health Counseling Program and I'm super eager to graduate in May whether it be in person or virtually. I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida (yes, going to school in Miami was super fun). After graduation I moved back to NYC to be closer to my family. After moving back to NY my main focus was securing a job. I worked many temp jobs in the healthcare setting and even did some HIV research at Rockefeller University. It was then I decided to pursue a medical degree (cuz yeah, super easy right =/). After taking Bio and Organic Chemistry I quickly realized that medical school was NOT for me. I then found myself doing some needed soul searching. After gaining some life experience and undergoing difficult times in my life, I ended seeking my own therapy. I can honestly say that therapy saved my life. It was then that I knew I wanted to make the same impact. Fast forward a few months later I decided to enroll in Hunter's Mental Health Counseling program. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made (the first is getting my puppy Leo). I've made so many amazing friends along the way. I've really enjoyed this program and can not wait to begin my career.

After so many career changes, I'm finally in a work environment that I enjoy. I'm currently working at the Services for the Underserved, an outpatient chemical dependency program. My role as a Housing Specialist is to aid homeless individuals secure permanent housing. Although, mentally and emotionally taxing at times, it's extremely rewarding. I can't wait to secure my degree to further enhance my role within the clinic.

During my time off you can catch me on my couch hanging with Leo attempting to be the first person ever to complete Netflix. Honestly, I think I'm close, I've watched everything on there (so any suggestions please comment below).

Although I love Leo to pieces I'm excited to finally engage with my fellow peers and learn new material. Looking forward to working with you all!

Hi everyone,

TAndrz — 2020-09-03 18:55:04 UTC

My name is Tytus Andrzejewski. I was born in Poland, which was (at the time...) the land of bread lines and martial law. During my trek to NYC, I lived for a while in some states which no longer exist (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia), and some which still do (Hungary, Spain).

My hobbies include collecting careers (playing the role of therapist would be #3), and degrees (MHC would be #3 as well). I'm also an aspiring cat lady, and I enjoy making cat food from scratch (https://catinfo.org/making-cat-food).

I have a close relative with a fairly serious, chronic mental illness, and much of the past decade has been spent putting together a plan to ensure that she (and her mother) will be cared for in perpetuity. That effort greatly informs my interest in psych healthcare, though I'm not oriented toward work with any population in particular.

Hi Professor and Everyone!

hzhang19f — 2020-09-04 00:52:57 UTC

My name is Hao Daniel Zhang. I am 23 years old, I'm Asian-American, I was born in Hungary and moved to New York City when I was 8 months old. I've grown up here and I'm very much so connected to the city.

I graduated from the University of Chicago in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Psychology and dabbled in the field of developmental psychology research. While the legwork for psychology research was really fun, the relationship between academia and the general public was too passive for my liking. With this introspection, I wound up trying to pursue a career in Mental Health Counseling. I'm in my third semester of the program here at Hunter now.

In my free time, I play lots of games and I really love reading and writing scifi & fantasy stories. I'm also an amateur ballroom dancer.

Nice to meet you all!

Lucy Brock

2020-09-04 00:55:11 UTC

Hi everyone,

I am in my second year for Mental Health Counseling. I had been for 8 years in a Corporate Human Resources role for a large financial services company and am very happy to be on the new track towards being a psychotherapist.

I am from the Rhode Island state originally and now live in Brooklyn with my husband Ryan and our cat Bertha (who would love to try some of Tytus' homemade cat food!)

Passionate about food, feminism, gift-giving, animals, and reducing mental health stigma.

Excited about this class and getting to know everyone <3

Hi

2020-09-04 03:57:37 UTC

My name is Jermaine (Jay) Clayton. I am currently in my second semester of the Mental Health track. I've learned a lot from my time in the program so far and look forward to gaining as much knowledge as I can from this course.

I received my Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2019 from Lehman College. While studying for my undergrad, I learned that what I really wanted to do was become a counselor, which made me fully prepared and ready to take my next step into this program.

My nephew Fredrick has a very elongated knee cap which makes walking for him very difficult. Whenever I have free time. I take him to the park and watch him hunt for "wildebeests" (squirrels). I can laugh spend all day laughing watching him chase those little critters all around the park.

Samantha Diaz

samanthadiaz37 — 2020-09-07 15:08:35 UTC

Hello. My name is Samantha. I am Dominican from uptown Manhattan. I am passionate about my family, life goals, and being happy - (whatever that means at that given point).

I am currently enrolled full-time in the Mental Health Counseling program at Hunter. I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. I decided to continue my studies in mental health due to personal reasons and because of positive experiences I've had working in the field. Mental health runs in my father's side of the family and I've always felt it was important to understand it a bit more, especially coming from a culture that doesn't practice awareness of mental health disorders, etc. I now have about 4 years of experience working in the field. I've been a youth development counselor and a case manager. I have decided I am interested in working with the adolescence population, as I find I can relate to them the most.

Overall I find myself to be a pretty laid back person who can have a conversation with just about anyone. I look forward to starting this new journey of virtual learning, with people in the same track as. :)

Magdelin Jimenez

jimenezsmagdelin — 2020-10-15 23:37:13 UTC

Hello, My name is Magdelin Jimenez. I am Dominican from Harlem. I was born in the Dominican Republic and arrived to New York when I was three years of age.

I am on my fourth semester at Hunter College. I really enjoy helping people and that is why I decided to enroll in the Mental Health Program.

My goal is to have my own private practice in the future while working at a hospital or school.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you!!! <3