Foundation Connections

Before Christine Park, PhD, NCC, LMHC, REAT, was a counselor or a mentor, she was a K–12 teacher working with underserved youth. It didn’t take long for her to realize that teaching alone wasn’t enough—not for the deep, complex needs she saw in her students every day.

Dr. Park wanted to give them the hope she had. “The driving force behind my work, even when it is the most challenging and emotionally demanding, is hope. A hope for humanity and a world that can be filled with compassion, kindness, connection, and a sense of responsibility for leaving this world a better place for future generations.”

 

As a teacher, Dr. Park saw many of her students weren’t just struggling academically, they were dealing with emotional and psychological barriers. She knew they needed more than lesson plans; they needed someone to walk with them through the pain. So, she pivoted, pursued a master’s in counseling, and never looked back.

 

Still, the road wasn’t smooth.

 

“Early on in my counseling journey, I felt isolated. I wasn’t sure where I fit in professionally,” she shares. That changed when she became a 2017 NBCCF Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) Fellow. “Being a Fellow was life-changing. It challenged me to reach beyond what I thought I was capable of.” The MFP provided her with the opportunity to attend professional conferences, increase her professional development, and pursue leadership roles. Christine went from feeling unsure of her path to standing firmly in it, helping shape the profession from multiple angles.

 

Now, with a doctorate in counselor education and supervision, Dr. Park has come full circle. She’s back in the classroom, this time as a professor preparing the next generation of counselors. She helps students find their voice, understand the social dynamics of mental health, and embrace the responsibility of being part of someone else’s healing process. She also serves as a mentor to MFP Doctoral Fellows and gives back as a member of the MFP Advisory Council.

 

For her, it all comes down to advocacy. While she believes advocacy shows up in different ways, her drive has always been there. “Sometimes, advocacy is writing a research article. Sometimes, it’s talking to lawmakers. Sometimes, it’s creating assignments that push students toward a broader understanding of mental health and wellness in their communities.”

 

For her, success in the profession is helping others improve their lives. She says, “If I can make a difference in one person’s life, that person can move forward and make a difference for others. For me, success is playing a role in breaking cycles of oppression, abuse, poverty, and injustice.”

 

Dr. Park reminds us what it means to lead with purpose and to believe in people even when the work is hard. Her story is a reminder that hope is powerful. It’s what drives change, one relationship at a time.

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