We were lucky to catch up with Christina Ramirez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Christina, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Growing up, I had loving and supportive parents. They did a great job at allowing me to see life’s challenges but not feel them in a difficult way. I seen my mother develop illness which changed her abilities as a mother and caused instabilities in my life as a child. This is where my resilience began. Moving from different states and towns to seek better medical care and familial support challenged me to be open to new friends and environments. In addition, after experiencing childhood trauma it caused me to be open to professional supports and develop inner strength to be there in my family and maintain my own personal journey. In high school, i was place in track 2 which was a level above special education. I realized in time, i was placed there because they didn’t have college in mind for me. They meaning the school system. Having a diverse group of friends some of which who were in honors and college prep courses i saw the opportunities and access they had and were receiving that i did not. I inquired further about this and learned about their “track” for me. I disputed this as i had an interest in college. In advocating for myself, i was able to take a track 1 “college prep” class and if i passed would be given the opportunity to take more. I was not the smartest kid in the room but i worked hard and did my best. By senior year i was talking all track 1 classes. I would receive AB honor role and i was in leadership roles in student government and JROTC program. With this being said, I continued to try and make a path for myself. I didn’t receive much college opportunity despite verbal offers but the letter and confirmations didn’t come. Which could of been a set back for me. I decided to explore the one school which was open to me and I loved my visit. This was Mary Baldwin College in VA. I had to take an extra math and English due to my SAT scores but i was OK with that. I was the first generation going to college and that meant so much to me. I had parents and older siblings who didn’t go to college and most didn’t finish high school. My parents always encouraged me to be who i wanted to be and i feel their belief and support in me helped me find my voice and learn to fend for myself in academia. I finished MBC with academic honors and found my place in the social work community. I went on to work in social services and provided care for families and individuals in Hudson County, NJ. I decided to pursue my Masters at Rutgers University and graduated with all A’s which is a huge accomplishment for me. The girl who wasn’t the smartest in the room and struggled academically to finding my space and falling in love with expanding my mind and excelling in my social work education. All of this lead me to who i am today. A private practice owner and Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specialized in trauma and has the mission to help others find wholeness. Finding their voice, accessing resources and pushing beyond the limits set before them. Along the way, I have engaged in missions abroad, served within my church community and accessed opportunities i never dreamed of. Finding my Purpose to serve others and use my experience and story to empower others is where i found my light. Now i can create space for others to feel empowered and encouraged to be who they are called to be and break cycles and labels set on them.
There is so much more to the story but i hope this paints the picture of how despite my life’s challenges, I was able to walk thru doors and make a path for myself because i boldly stepped forward and believed i could learn how to be that student, professional and leader i was made to be.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NJ. I have started a private practice called Hope 2 Whole Mental Health. I provide mental health counseling to children and adults. I have expertise in Trauma and helping parents of children with mental and behavioral challenges. I started my practice to provide needed services to the community. My goal is to be able to establish a safe space where people of all backgrounds could feel welcomed and seen. Being a Hispanic American I take pride in being culturally informed and strength based in my practice. I seek to find the best ways to reach my clients, help them feel comfortable and identify ways to reach their goals. I hope to take on an intern in the future and mentor a young social worker to become the professional they can and hope to be.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most important qualities and skills that impacted my journey was being open minded and willing to learn along the way, having a strong faith in God and understanding social skills and using them to interact with others at all levels of my journey.
My advice to someone at the start of their professional or academic journey is to always extend grace to yourself. No matter what barriers, challenges or obstetrical you may face you can always take the next step forward. If you keep your eyes focused on the next step and do it to the best of your ability it will help you as you reach each stage and phase of your journey. When it comes to social skills expand your community and openness to others who you cross paths with along the way. Be willing to build relationships, talk to others and network to allow yourself to learn from others ahead of you, foster networks professionally and academically. Relationships are a big part of success. In regard to faith, As a christian, remaining connected to my faith community, understanding Gods calling in my life and what my identity in him was; encouraged me as i took each step to remember my strength, resilience and abilities.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Right now the biggest challenge i am facing is owning and running a business independently. Expanding my skills to be the receptionist, biller, website manager and clinician comes with a lot of hats and tasks. It is exciting to reflect on my business once being an idea and two years later seeing it thrive. I think sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough credit for our accomplishments and growth in regard to our skills and stepping into new territory. I think a lot of the challenge sometimes is mental and it really takes belief and faith. What I am doing to overcome this challenge is focusing on one step at a time. Managing tasks in a way that works for me and organizing my schedule to allow time for each responsibility. I am also open and considering hiring or taking on an intern whom i can mentor, guide and whom can also help me with some of these tasks.
It has been key to extend grace, pace myself and know my limits. Focusing on the present and next step rather then the distant future has helped me remain grounded and successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hope2wholemh.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope2wholemh?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088016358751&mibextid=LQQJ4d
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
