Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Beltran.
Hi Diana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Diana Beltran, and I was born in Park Ridge, Illinois to Mexican Immigrants. My family and I moved to Little Rock, Arkansas as a result of my dad receiving an opportunity through his job at Deluxe Media at the time when I was about 4 years old. My family and I lived in a suburb of Little Rock called Maumelle, where I lived my entire life. I attended Mount St. Mary Academy and graduated in 2012. I went on to pursue my bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in social work at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville. At first, I wanted to be a doctor; however, after my first psychology class, I fell in love with human behavior and the complexity of the mind. My best friend, Jessica Villegas (whom I have known since I was 15), texted me about becoming a social worker. When she began talking to me about social work, my first initial thought was, I don’t want to be someone who takes children away from their families. However, social work was more than that, and I enjoyed learning about advocacy, learning about how systems impact humans and mental health. I graduated with my BA in 2016 and moved to Little Rock to begin my master’s in social work program at UALR. It wasn’t till I began my internship at the Arkansas State Hospital that I knew that I was in the right field. I really did enjoy working with the adolescents, collaborating with the team on how to help the patients, and also work with families to improve their lives. After I graduated in 2018, I began working at the Centers For Youth and Families. Jessica and I were the only bilingual clinicians who provided counseling services in Spanish in Central Arkansas. It was quite an honor to work alongside your best friend, whose office was next to each other, and work together to serve the hundreds of families and children that were referred to us. We each had a 60-plus caseload. We both became trained in parent-child interactive therapy (PCIT) and were the only TWO bilingual clinicians in the state of Arkansas that offered PCIT in Spanish. I loved my job and I learned how to advocate more for bilingual services, to translate for my patients, and be able to ensure that each child/family received quality services. We often would go around Southwest Little Rock on the weekends (off the clock) promoting our services and spreading awareness. We spoke at churches, we attended meetings, and we spoke with stakeholders to raise awareness of mental health in the Latino Community. In 2020, I decided to move to Dallas, Texas. I began working at The Family Place in January 2021 and began working with men and women who were survivors of domestic violence. I began learning more about the unique challenges of Latinos who were survivors of domestic violence. I learned how to navigate a complicated system with them and provide testimony in their hearings, attend court hearings if it was just simply to hold their hands, and provide support to face their abusers. It was a beautiful and humbling experience during my time at The Family Place. In May of 2022, I began my private practice journey and became the clinical director at Therapy Works Counseling Services, PLLC. I continued to engage in networking events, meeting stakeholders and providers, and building connections in the Dallas Metroplex. I supervised interns and staff and spoke at countless events. I was approached by Adriana “Adry” Sanders, MS, LPC-S to begin helping her bring a vision of hers to life. We both co-founded the BIPOC network in 2023 which provides a safe space for clinicians of color to come together and network. On the second Friday of every month, we host our networking event at Valley of Hope in Grapevine and invite black, indigenous, people of color clinicians to learn from each other as well as welcome non-minorities who want to learn from these experts. On February 5, 2024, I went full-time in my solo virtual private practice. I am a fully licensed clinical social worker in both Texas and Arkansas. I am also a board-approved supervisor in Texas, where I can supervise LMSWs who want to begin accruing clinical hours. I provide services to women and first-generation Latinas who are struggling with anxiety disorders, OCD, and trauma. I am both EMDR and exposure response prevention (ERP) trained. I also conduct extensive immigration evaluations and have been doing so for six years. I love my job, and I am passionate about mental health, especially helping my Latino community in BOTH Texas and Arkansas.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In 2020, I accepted a job in Dallas and was excited about moving. I had 16 hours left out of my 100 that I had to complete to be able to test for my LCSW. I was excited about the new prospects and the opportunities that a bigger city had to offer. When the pandemic hit well, it caused a lot of uncertainty. My parents had also decided to move to Dallas since my sister, Melissa, had been living in Dallas since 2017, so it was only natural for them to follow me. They sold their house 2 days after putting it on the Market in February 2020, and they moved to Dallas 30 days later, leaving me alone in Arkansas. I asked my job if I could move sooner and they agreed, however, what I did not expect was my license delay. I went 7 months without being able to work in my field as a result of the shutdown and delays. I did work some odd jobs, such as nanny for a family, as well as worked at a psychiatrist’s office, which provided me with some admin skills. I was grateful for those opportunities! But yes, that was, I would say, the most challenging part.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Happy Autumn Counseling and Supervision, PLLC?
Happy Autumn Counseling & Supervision draws its name from the profound symbolism of autumn. Just as the season encourages embracing change and releasing what no longer serves us, in our counseling sessions, we aim to guide clients through personal growth and resilience. The choice of “Autumn” as the name not only signifies the transformative journey clients undergo but also pays homage to another source of inspiration – my goofy, smiley, and happy Australian shepherd named Autumn. Much like her infectious energy and big smile, my practice is dedicated to providing a positive and uplifting experience for all my clients. At Happy Autumn Counseling & Supervision, PLLC, we hope to empower individuals to redefine their happiness!
Something that tends to make others smile is that I named my practice after my dog! She has been my inspiration behind the brand!
Our Mission is to offer exceptional bilingual virtual therapeutic services, promoting client well-being and growth within a supportive and compassionate setting, empowering individuals to redefine their happiness.
I am a certified clinical anxiety treatment professional (CCATP) with over five years of experience. I offer counseling services for women and First Gen Latinas struggling with anxiety disorders, OCD, and trauma. I am trained in both ERP and EMDR. I provide supervision for LMSWs in Texas (soon in Arkansas in the summer of 2024) and I have over 5 years of experience conducting immigration evaluations. I keep my license in Arkansas because I know that finding bilingual services is extremely difficult, especially finding a clinician who takes commercial insurance. Arkansas is a rural state, and when I lived in Arkansas, people would sometimes drive an hour away to receive services from someone who spoke Spanish. I want to continue to be part of the community and continue to be an option, even if it is virtually.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Get out of your comfort zone! I am naturally not someone who talks to others or strikes up conversations out of nowhere, and no one would know that I unless I told them! However, being a social worker and knowing the importance of making connections is important, so I learned how to push myself a little bit out of my comfort zone. I think that the first step is making stronger connections with the people within your circle first. Go have coffee, have lunch, or go to a network event together. Having a strong inner circle that you can lean on that also wants to support you is key. From there, they will introduce you to people, and you will introduce them to others. It turns into a massive network before you know it! I am currently teaching this skill to my supervisors and the importance of making connections.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.happyautumncounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyautumncounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093331817943
Image Credits
Mallory Green
