Saint Rose counseling student receives $10,000 NBCC fellowship

Kimberly Sanz G’24, a graduate student majoring in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the College of Saint Rose, has been selected to receive the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors. As a fellow, Sanz will receive $10,000 and travel expenses to participate in program-related training for mental health counseling students.

The NBCC Minority Fellowship Program is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA). Sanz is one of 30 master’s-level counseling students in a CACREP accredited program to receive the fellowship this year. Fellows demonstrate knowledge and experience with underserved minority communities, including children and older adults, minority communities in urban and rural areas, LGBTQIA+ populations, disabled persons, and veterans and military families. As a fellow, Sanz will teach, administer services, conduct research, and provide direct mental health counseling to one of the aforementioned populations. 

We caught up with Sanz to talk about her experience pursuing the fellowship and her future plans. 

What does receiving this fellowship mean to you?

This is the first year our CMHC program has been CACREP accredited. I feel honored to be the first to participate in the NBCC Minority Fellowship and look forward to representing The College of Saint Rose. I hope that many more students in the program take advantage in applying for this fellowship!

What motivated you to choose your current field of work?

I have always had a passion for working with those who are oppressed and underserved. I’ve worked in multiple environments where they do not have easy access to mental health services, resulting in unresolved trauma and grief. I am a transracial adoptee who has struggled with identity and loss. I am dedicated to helping adolescents, teens, and families (specifically transracial adoptees and those in the child welfare system) find meaning to life and recognize their worth in the world. 

What are your thoughts on mental health care for underrepresented groups?

I do not believe that mental health for underrepresented groups is advocated for enough. Our health care system lacks a lot of funding and support for underprivileged groups especially. For instance, mental health services are lacking in rural areas, many mental health professionals do not take insurance, and up until December 2022, mental health counselors were unable to work with clients on Medicare (however, the Mental Health Access Improvement Act passed which is huge for us). In our program, we take Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice with assistant professor Tom Murphy. One of our assignments is an advocacy project where we reach out to an assembly member, congressperson, legislator, etc. and advocate for our profession. This is a great opportunity for counselors in training to advocate for underrepresented groups and make it known that there needs to be more done. Advocating is essential when in this field and we must take action if we want to see results.

Do you think this underrepresentation of certain groups will change?

I think that the underrepresentation of certain groups can and will change. Unfortunately, not as quickly as we’d like to see! If we continue to advocate and talk about these issues and fight for change, and if mental health counselors continue to see the disparity and actively work to confront the issues as well as choose to work with underprivileged groups, we will see a change, and a positive one at that. 

Any future plans?

My future plans consist of attending the NBCC Symposium this summer in Atlanta. I will start practicum in the fall, and graduate Summer 2024. Down the line, I intend to be a licensed clinical mental health counselor working with adolescents, teens and families dealing with trauma and identity (and specializing in adoptees and child welfare). Getting a PhD is not totally off my radar – only time will tell. 

By Kaseem Gomez