Today we’d like to introduce you to Odalys Fuentes.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate, I embarked on a career in education, working for the Pomona Unified School District for ten years. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific University, I was encouraged to pursue a master’s degree and enter the field of my dreams, which at one point seemed unattainable due to financial constraints and limited resources. Coincidentally, I was in the midst of a divorce during the commencement of my graduate program. This situation made me feel like a fraud for pursuing marriage and family therapy while simultaneously navigating the challenges of divorce and a broken family.
Despite these obstacles, my faith in God has remained steadfast, guiding me with His forgiveness and grace. His promises and Word have consistently provided me with strength and encouragement. During this program, I was fortunate to receive extensive spiritual, emotional, and psychological healing. I was also blessed to be placed in a wonderful agency, Foothill Family, where I was assigned to exceptional supervisors and mentors. Initially, I desired to begin my practicum at Foothill Family in El Monte and Duarte, in order to give back to my Hispanic community.
Upon obtaining my state board license in January 2018, my primary aspiration was to build a faith-based private practice. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that I felt led to open my private practice.
It has been 11 years since I began practicum, and almost 5 years since I opened Serenity Christian Therapy. Each day, I am humbled by the opportunity to listen to people’s stories and be entrusted to be a part of their journey. I am deeply passionate about my work and genuinely appreciate every client with whom I have had the privilege to collaborate with. The satisfaction of witnessing individuals heal and restore their well-being is immeasurable. I pray that God continues to grant me the honor of offering this service to my community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In retrospect, I recall the day of my graduation, recognizing that I was living a completely different life from the one I had begun with when first entering the program. Since then, I have been continually challenged to confront and heal my own wounds, recognizing that new hurts are inevitable. However, as a first-generation Christian Mexican-American, I faced additional challenges in my faith. I had to trust in God’s guidance to fulfill my purpose, rather than being deterred by my lack of resources as I ventured into business, which I lacked any prior experience.
It has now been five years since I established Serenity Christian Therapy. Working virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic presented both challenges but also blessings, now allowing providers to virtually connect with patients throughout an entire state.
The lack of fair insurance reimbursements has probably been the most challenging and disappointing aspect of my career. My primary and authentic goal, has been to serve as an instrument for breakthrough and healing, but it is disappointing to witness insurances lack of value on mental health providers. Nonetheless, I have trusted God as Jehovah Jireh and given my all to serve those that are seeking support.
We’ve been impressed with Serenity Christian Therapy, Inc., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the owner, and at this point a solo virtual provider of Serenity Christian Therapy, a Christian virtual private practice serving patients in Idaho and California. I specialize in working with couples, incorporating scripture, prayer, the Gottman method, EMDR, Prepare and Enrich, Attachment Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma based theories. Besides marriages or couples, my primary focus is with women who struggle with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, relationships issues, spiritual issues, life transitions, significant life changes, and grief.
In addition to therapy, I embrace my passion for teaching by developing Christian based -one day or weekend- seminars. Most of these have been held in local community churches, and are typically regarding different marital or premarital topics. I’m passionate about supporting churches that confront the tough, often overlooked issues in family and marriage, offering resources and safe spaces for honest, Biblical-based transformative conversations.
I also provide psychoeducational groups within different topics, including self esteem, grief, depression, faith based marriage, and most recently, Gottman Singles. As well as immigration evaluations for different programs.
What distinguishes me from other clinicians is my faith in Christ. This faith fosters a deeper and more immediate connection between clients and I. We typically begin or conclude sessions in prayer, emphasizing Christian values and morals throughout treatment. Furthermore, I believe that my faith enables me to demonstrate greater empathy, understanding, and grace in addressing my clients’ life journeys.
I am most proud of sharing God’s love through all my work. Reminding patients of His love for them and the enduring hope for a healthier future, which He offers.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I often receive emails or messages from MFT graduate students seeking consultation, and I am always humbled by their requests. These interactions serve as a reminder of the enthusiasm, eagerness, and curiosity that drive individuals to learn and grow.
If there is one piece of advice I wish I had received during my program or at the beginning of my career, it would be to take the time to slow down and gain self-awareness of my own personal journey and healing process. Developing self-awareness significantly enhances one’s clinical abilities, as it fosters a deeper understanding of oneself and enables the clinician to address their own healing, forgiveness, or letting-go challenges.
Furthermore, I strongly emphasize the importance of maintaining presence with clients, cultivating curiosity, and consistently demonstrating empathy. While it is beneficial to have resources and guide clients into insight, it is equally crucial to focus on being fully present, actively listening, and reflecting empathy. Over time, each clinician develops a unique niche and identifies therapeutic modalities that align with their specialties. Through practice and experience, they can pinpoint their ideal client, population, and niche, enabling them to work with passion while avoiding burnout.
Lastly, I strongly encourage new clinicians to establish a strong foundation of healthy coping mechanisms, engage in enjoyable hobbies, and build a supportive network, including friends, family, and their own therapist when necessary. During the initial years of the field, therapists are learning and processing significant amounts of information, and it can be highly beneficial to have someone to share these experiences with and to provide a healthy outlet for emotional recharge.
In my life, cultivating faith in God and incorporating worship, prayer, and meditation into His Word has been the cornerstone of my strength and wisdom. Additionally, maintaining a balanced lifestyle that includes alone time, exercise, and social interactions has been instrumental. Furthermore, therapy has proven invaluable during challenging periods when I have required deeper exploration and healing of emotional wounds.
Pricing:
- $150.00 Per 50 min. Session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://serenitychristiantherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenity_christian_therapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16KhvsKBPR/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/odalys-fuentes-43500ab7/
Image Credits
Group picture: marital seminar
