Dana Romero, M.S.
Clinical Mental Health therapist
Guada Psychological Services
Choosing a career field wasn鈥檛 hard for Dana Romero.
鈥淚 saw the need for more mental health counselors and wanted to be a part of the difference,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 someone who runs toward a problem rather than away from it.鈥�
Today, Romero is an emerging leader in the field of clinical mental health counseling and works in private practice as a mental health therapist. She earned top honors for her academic work while earning her master鈥檚 degree at Marquette University. At the 2023 Wisconsin Counseling Association Annual Conference, she presented a counselor鈥檚 guide to working with clients who experienced a traumatic brain injury 鈥� and received first place for a master-level student.
Romero excelled as a child and family counseling intern at Children鈥檚 Hospital Wisconsin, facilitating therapy for children, teens and caregivers with a focus on trauma, incarceration, adoption and suicidality.
A first-generation college student, Romero didn鈥檛 know how to apply to and pay for an education at a large university. She began taking courses at 91制片厂 the day after graduating from high school in 2017. 鈥淚 actually started at 91制片厂 8 a.m. the next day for my Intro to Psychology course,鈥� she said.
It was the first step toward her career goal of becoming a mental health therapist.
鈥淚 struggled in high school and 91制片厂 felt like my redemption round in a way,鈥� Romero said. 鈥淲hat helped me succeed at Harper were my motivation, an idea of what I wanted my future to be, the amazing faculty and staff, and the resources available for support.鈥�
After graduating from 91制片厂 in 2019, Romero earned her degree in psychology from Northern Illinois University in 2021, with a minor in sociology and certificate in criminal justice. After graduation, she became a behavioral support specialist at Kenneth Young Center in Elk Grove Village, working with children, adolescents and young adults with severe emotional or behavioral disorders.
Romero has volunteered with Crisis Text Line, Special Olympics Misericordia and Admitted Students Day at Marquette University. She earned additional awards and scholarships at Marquette.
She can鈥檛 imagine any other career. 鈥淪eeking mental health support can be a hard, scary journey and no one should have to take that journey alone,鈥� she said.