A little over a month ago, I wrote about the final stretch of my counseling program. At the time, I sat with a series of questions that felt practical and deeply personal. Where will I continue serving once I graduate and become an Associate? How will I keep refining my professional identity without the structure and support of Palo Alto University? How will I cultivate the relationships I have built with my cohort? And what becomes of this blog when this chapter ends?
Those questions are still with me. Most of them remain open, and I have come to accept that they may not have clear or immediate answers. One of them, however, is taking shape in a way that feels grounded and right.
I have decided to continue at my primary internship site after graduation. I will remain at Hearts and Hands Counseling.
Arriving at that decision has brought a sense of steadiness during a time that could easily feel uncertain. There are many reasons behind it, but the most meaningful is the level of support I have experienced there. From supervisors to staff to fellow clinicians, I have felt guided, encouraged, and challenged in ways that support growth.
Equally important is the range of clients I can work with. At this stage in my development, that variety matters. It allows me to continue exploring who I am as a counselor, what approaches resonate, how I respond to different needs, and where I continue to grow. Identity in this field is not formed in isolation or in theory alone. It develops through experience, reflection, and ongoing learning. Hearts and Hands offers a setting where that process can continue in a meaningful way.
As I write this post, I am in week four of my final quarter. In less than two months, I will be graduating. That reality still feels a bit surreal. There is a quiet shift happening, moving from being held within the structure of a program to stepping more fully into the profession. It is exciting, but it also comes with a level of responsibility that I am learning to fully grasp.
There is still so much I do not know. Questions about maintaining connections, continuing growth, and what comes next for this blog are still unfolding. Having clarity on where I will continue to serve brings a sense of direction that feels reassuring and earned.
For now, that feels like enough.
This program has shaped me in ways I am only beginning to understand. As I move closer to the finish line, I am grateful to know that the next step will not be a leap into the unknown, but a continuation in a place that has already played a meaningful role in who I am becoming as a counselor.
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I will see you next week.
Roque Neto 