Her Story
About Theresa
Theresa Alvares is a certified school counselor and peer support professional dedicated to advancing student well-being, emotional wellness, and access to mental health resources. With a multidisciplinary background encompassing school counseling, crisis intervention, education, peer support, and behavioral health, she brings a compassionate and student-centered perspective to her work. At Access: Supports for Living, Alvares serves as a Mobile Mental Health Peer Practitioner, providing community-based support to individuals experiencing mental health crises. Working alongside clinicians and responding through local crisis resources and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, she helps individuals navigate difficult situations, identify appropriate services, and access a higher level of care when needed.
Alvares developed her counseling expertise through extensive hands-on experience across diverse educational and community settings. Her professional background includes school counseling internships, crisis intervention counseling, substitute teaching, and education support, including work with students with disabilities and individuals facing complex personal and behavioral challenges. She has worked in an alternative high school, a group home serving teenage boys involved with the juvenile justice system, The Center for Discovery, a middle school, and a diverse urban high school. These experiences have strengthened her ability to establish meaningful connections, recognize individual needs, advocate for students and families, and collaborate effectively with educators, clinicians, and community-based organizations. Her approach is trauma-informed, strength-based, goal-oriented, and grounded in empathy, communication, and respect for each individual's circumstances.
As a school counselor, Alvares is particularly passionate about helping students navigate executive functioning, motivation, confidence, social-emotional development, and the challenges associated with succeeding in educational environments. She is committed to creating inclusive and supportive spaces where students feel heard, understood, and empowered to recognize their strengths. A member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), she was recognized as an Outstanding Graduate upon completing her graduate program in school counseling, an honor awarded to only two students in her program. Alvares credits mentor Dr. Brittany Zakaria with helping strengthen her confidence as a counselor and professional. Through her combined experience in school counseling and crisis intervention, she continues to advocate for accessible, compassionate support while empowering young people and families to build resilience, develop confidence, and pursue meaningful personal and academic growth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Theresa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my success to the guidance and encouragement of my mentors, particularly Dr. Brittany Zakaria, who played a significant role in helping me build confidence and trust in my counseling abilities during my internships. Her support and belief in my potential encouraged me to recognize my strengths, develop my professional skills, and approach my work with greater confidence.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering school counseling to embrace the flexibility of the field and recognize that there is room for different personalities, strengths, and approaches. I would encourage them not to be afraid of making mistakes, because growth comes from learning through experience. Most importantly, I believe it is valuable to model imperfection for students by showing them that it is okay not to have all the answers and that mistakes can be opportunities to learn, grow, and build resilience.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe the biggest opportunities in school counseling come from being able to support students with diverse needs and help them develop the skills necessary to succeed. My journey from initially pursuing fashion design to studying psychology and human services has allowed me to build a broad understanding of people and their experiences. Through internships in an alternative high school, a group home for teenage boys involved in the juvenile justice system, and the Center for Discovery, where I worked with students with disabilities through vocational activities, I gained valuable experience supporting students in different environments. These experiences, along with my work in mobile mental health through Access: Supports for Living and my membership in ASCA, have strengthened my passion for helping students navigate executive functioning challenges, motivation, emotional wellness, and personal growth.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are compassion, empathy, resilience, and a genuine commitment to supporting others. My experiences in crisis intervention, peer support, and school counseling have reinforced the importance of meeting people where they are and providing support without judgment. I value continuous growth and believe that my own experiences, including overcoming challenges related to ADHD, have strengthened my ability to connect with and advocate for students. Being recognized as an Outstanding Graduate in my school counseling program was especially meaningful because it affirmed my perseverance and commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
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