Lauren Trerotola was ready to pursue her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She had earned a double major in her undergraduate years in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. Due to pain and fatigue caused by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a neurological condition affecting both motor and sensory nerves, her bachelor’s degree had taken an entire extra year. With her condition, a full-time job, and a young son to care for, Lauren decided to pursue her master’s through UA Online, which offered her the prestige and rigor of a premier degree program with the flexibility and convenience of online coursework.
“I was able to jump right into class on my phone after work and still come home, make dinner, get the kids to bed, and do all the day-to-day stuff of life but also attend class live,” she said. Additionally, Lauren’s husband is in the military and was often deployed for months at a time, but the convenience of the online format allowed her to manage her work and family responsibilities while staying on top of her schoolwork.
When she began the Rehabilitation Counseling program, Lauren was a care manager for Partners for Kids and Families, under the New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care, a state agency that provides services to children ages three to 21 who have special behavioral, emotional or developmental needs. Since graduating with her master’s, Lauren has been promoted to Care Manager Lead, a role that allows her to empower and guide her team members in their important service.
To become a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in New Jersey, Lauren was required to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE). She passed successfully in April 2018 and credits UA’s program and faculty with her educational preparation: “Dr. George Mugoya was really helpful to my passing the exam. He checked in on us every once in a while even after we had finished the program, but I was able to prepare for the NCE mostly by studying his course materials.”
While in the program, Lauren completed an internship with Family Therapy and Consultation Services, a partner agency to her full-time employer. When she completed the internship, they offered her a job, and she now works there part time, providing in-home counseling to clients, in addition to her full-time role. This opportunity allows her to have a more profound impact on her clients’ lives.
“I work really closely with mostly teenagers, a lot of whom are depressive or have anxiety, and some of them have parents with substance abuse issues. The rehab counseling program gave me the clinical background I needed and increased my education so I’ve been able to teach my clients how to cope and move forward,” she shared.
Lauren was drawn to The University of Alabama College of Education’s program because her dad and brother (also military members) live in Alabama. Her son’s autism diagnosis also piqued her interest in Rehabilitation Counseling. She notes that the course concepts have helped her personally and professionally. “I learned a lot of communication, social and coping skills necessary to help me with my son and my clients as they navigate through life.”
“Rehab counseling was my focus because I wanted to inspire those I work with to go after their goals, even if they have a disability, like me. Being able to overcome that and go this far with my education is huge to me.”
Published: August 30th, 2020