I am Maria, your instructor for this course. Welcome to Counseling 107. I’m in my eighth year teaching at Santa Ana College counseling courses. I have many duties, but working with students is the most rewarding aspect of my career.

I have my Master’s in Social Work and also have my License as a Clinical Social Worker. I have worked in education for the last 13 years mostly with students with disabilities. I also have done other work in the area of probation/law enforcement, working with the elderly, as well as worked in out-patient mental health clinics. I am very passionate about education because I believe it empowers our communities and strengthens our minds.

On a personal note, I love to travel and learn of others cultures, traditions, and ways that they cope with the stressors of life. I have three little girls, and two of them are fraternal twins. I am a lifelong learner and enjoy taking classes, attending conferences to enrich intellectual, spiritual, and emotional being.

My greatest strengths are organization, communication, listening, and always wanting to learn new things. My greatest professional contributions are assisting students in “building bridges” to link all the pieces of college success.

I’m looking forward to working with you in this class.  If you have any questions or need assistance during the course, please let me know. Have a great semester!