Great schools and training programs offer learning opportunities that go far beyond the syllabus. We asked some amazing folks from the community to share stories from their educational journey with us.

Xandra Hawes

I loved studying at Naropa University and graduating with my degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy & Buddhist Psychology. It’s a very unique approach to mental health counseling that integrates traditional Western psychology with Buddhist psychology and contemplative practices. We studied the intersection of mindfulness, compassion, and psychology and I learned how to apply contemplative practices, such as meditation and mindfulness, to help my clients develop greater self-awareness and insight into their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Read more>>

Bianca Staudt

I had always been a lover of the arts; I remember asking my middle school art teacher if I could do something slightly outside of the box during a class project, and the pure state of flow & satisfaction I felt from following inspiration. As I grew older, I found myself in environments where the arts served as a vessel to touch into our emotive, inner experiences. I obtained my B.S. in expressive arts therapy, and developed a fuller relationship with the approach of “process over product” – in other words, forget the end result, and be with the journey of creating. Read more>>

Tamilore Odimayo

During my Master’s program in Counseling, I remember my Professor would always tell us, “Trust the process”. Initially, the statement was met with frustration because of all the work we had to do. Now, as a Doctoral level clinician, I truly trust the process. I understand that the process was less about academic knowledge and more about experiential knowledge. In my ten years a therapist, I have learned a lot about people, society and what needs to change as a result of trusting the process. I have also learned that a tree does not grow overnight. Read more>>

Tara Torres

I graduated with a B.S. in Nutrition Science from Kaplan University and an M.S. in Human Nutrition & Functional Medicine from the University of Western States, both of which were online degree programs. The online format allowed me the flexibility to continue to work full-time while juggling day-to-day tasks such as parenting. I prefer an online format because I am able to fit lectures, assignments, and other requirements into my schedule more feasibly than attending classes in person. Read more>>