La Posada Providencia serves a community and a demographic that is both underprivileged and deeply complex. A few weeks ago Dr. Selma Yznaga— an associate professor in the Department of Counseling at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)— along with her student cohort began offering counseling services at La Posada. Dr. Yznaga’s students were trained by the international organization UNICEF to specifically work with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Through such teachings, the student counselors understand how to attune to immigrants’ psychosocial needs. Our clients each have a unique experience for how they arrived here, all of which can be extremely overwhelming for them; Dr. Yznaga’s program provides clients with supportive and reflective listening which is the temporary assistance they need to move forward. When asked about the sensitive nature of our client’s varying cultures and ethnicities, Dr. Yznaga responded by emphasizing the importance of individuals’ unique worldviews by promoting agency and autonomy through healing and relief. Every person who steps through our doors has goals, goals that will only flourish into an abundant reality once they make their journeys from here. We are honored and humbled to partner with such passionate professionals who believe in the importance of immigrant mental health care as much as we do.
Daniela Arguello
Social Work Student
Program Highlights
Clients assisted from July 1, 2021 – June 4, 2022 (Fiscal Year):
2,328
Clients assisted from June 1, 2022 – June 4, 2022:
58
The following six (6) Countries of Origin are represented in May
Colombia
Cuba
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nepal
Nicaragua
Peru