Alex S: “I am honored to walk beside them”

When Alex S. immigrated from Colombia several years ago, she worked in marketing and advertising. Today, she is a counselor at Walk-In, providing free mental health support, often in Spanish, during a traumatic time for immigrants in Minnesota.

“As an immigrant myself, I understand what the process is like,” Alex says. And she knows that many immigrants experience severe trauma pre-, during, and after migrating to the United States. Some who are now experiencing family separation, fear, and trauma have been able to get help at Walk-In. “I am honored to walk beside them,” Alex says.

During the past month, multiple new counselors have volunteered to staff Walk-In clinics, which will help make it possible for Alex to devote more of her time to Spanish-speaking clients. The need is high, and Alex is one of only two Spanish-speaking counselors currently at Walk-In.

Alex was inspired to go into the social work field, in part, by the professionals who helped her when she first came to the United States. She studied social work at Metro State University and is now completing her practicum at Walk-In as part of a social work graduate program at Loyola University Chicago. She specializes in both migration studies and clinical tracks, focusing on supporting immigrant communities. When her practicum is finished, she plans to continue volunteering at Walk-In to help meet the tremendous need for Spanish-speaking counselors.

Alex strives to bring a holistic, strengths-based, and culturally humble approach to therapy. “Working with my clients, it’s about bringing hope. They may be experiencing socioeconomic barriers as well as depression.” If a client is unhoused, Alex systematically addresses those needs and connects them with resources. “Mental health is important; however, it is one piece of the puzzle. I like the systemic approach of social work in its entirety. When someone has resources, they can thrive.”

She recalls one client in particular who came to Alex while lacking housing and experiencing multiple challenges. “This was one of those amazing cases where she is now helping other people,” Alex says. “She was unable to work because her emotions made it challenging. Over three months, she improved tremendously. The client said she didn’t know what she would have done without addressing other needs. She still has many challenges, but you can see the before and after—she has gone from ‘there is no hope’ to ‘now there is light.’”

At Walk-In, Alex relishes working with clients from many different walks of life. “The fact that we have been helping people for so many years means we have this credibility, and people trust us. This place is amazing. It is wonderful knowing we can make a difference in someone’s life.”

“I love the fact that we are providing these services in Spanish and culturally sensitive services, as they are more relevant now than ever.”

Currently, all counseling in Spanish is provided virtually and is available by appointment. To make an appointment, call (612) 870-0565 x 2 and leave a message.