PSU Graduate Student Karen Guzman-Cruz Brings Heart and Experience to School Counseling

Karen Guzman-Cruz (MA '26) didn't follow the traditional path to becoming a school counselor. She lived it first.

For nearly a decade, she worked in after-school programs, summer programs for low-income youth and as a special education assistant. Each role deepened her passion for supporting students and families, particularly those facing significant challenges.

"Throughout my whole life working with people, I was becoming a school counselor," says Guzman-Cruz, a third-year master's student in Portland State University's School Counseling program. "I was really interested in learning about kids' development and how to help kids find different ways and accommodations to help them succeed."

That hands-on experience led to an unexpected opportunity in 2023 when Lincoln Street Elementary in Hillsboro needed a school counselor immediately. Guzman-Cruz had the background in education and psychology they were looking for. Despite lacking her graduate credentials, she was offered a temporary position under an emergency license with one condition - to keep the job, she'd need to enroll in graduate school.

Learning on the Front Lines

Guzman-Cruz applied to PSU without much confidence she'd get in. The School Counseling master's program is highly competitive, and she was already managing a full plate. But when her acceptance letter arrived, she was thrilled.

"I really love the school I work at and the students I work with," she says. "It's a really highly trauma-informed school. So learning different strategies and ways to be able to support these students and families really interests me."

Now in her third year, Guzman-Cruz has transformed that temporary position into a permanent role. She works full time as Lincoln Street's school counselor while completing her coursework and clinical requirements.

Learning classroom management, counseling theories and how to navigate complex school systems all at once was initially overwhelming. The first year, learning to understand her role as a counselor while taking courses was especially challenging.

"I was scattered," Guzman-Cruz says. "I didn't know where to start, what to do. I was nervous about doing lessons."

She says the clinical practicum at PSU's Community Counseling Clinic helped ground her theoretical learning in practice, while courses on disabilities, working with children and youth in schools and providing effective counseling gave her practical tools.

"I think PSU has done a really good job with those courses," she says. "I didn't know what to do when I started working." While she was skilled at listening to her students, she was eager to learn more about counseling to better support them in overcoming academic barriers.

Building Trust, Finding Resources

At Lincoln Street, Guzman-Cruz has become something of a celebrity among students and their families. She works closely with the school's student success coach and dean of students to identify why children might be struggling academically and connect families with resources they didn't know existed.

"I've learned to build a deep connection with those students with higher needs," she says. "When I discover that they enjoy coming to school and I'm like a big celebrity to them, that's what makes me feel good. I love being able to help those families and students."

One major challenge Guzman-Cruz's students are facing across all grade levels is anxiety.

"I'm trying to figure out how to help students with it," she says. "Maybe it's the anxiety from getting out of the pandemic, or the attachment from kinders trying to start school. There's just anxiety with what's going on with the world."

The most challenging thing has been learning how to ask for help. I felt like I needed to do things by myself to succeed. But I learned on the way that this job can't be done alone.

Learning to Ask for Help

One of the hardest lessons for Guzman-Cruz has been learning she can't - and shouldn't - try to do everything on her own.

"The most challenging thing has been learning how to ask for help," she admits. "I felt like I needed to do things by myself to succeed. But I learned on the way that this job can't be done alone."

Guzman-Cruz advises that school counseling involves steady nurturing and collaboration. Her team includes school staff, families, students and even her PSU classmates, who share different approaches and perspectives.

"It requires a lot of communication and working together as a team," she says.

Balancing It All

If managing graduate school and full-time work wasn't challenging enough, Guzman-Cruz has a teenager at home - and gave birth to her second child in November.

She credits her parents with helping watch her children so she can finish the program. But she's also motivated by the example she's setting for her 15-year-old daughter.

"I want my daughter to see it's possible," she says. "If I did it, you could do it."

I want my students to know I'm there for them and I'm supportive, even after they leave elementary school.

Looking Ahead

After graduation this spring, Guzman-Cruz plans to continue at Lincoln Street while also working toward her Licensed Professional Counselor credential. She wants to explore school-based counseling in different capacities and intends to continue looking out for her students for years to come.

"I want my students to know I'm there for them and I'm supportive, even after they leave elementary school," she says. "They're going to go to different schools, but I'll be around. If they need support, don't be afraid to reach out."

For anyone considering a career in school counseling, Guzman-Cruz offers straightforward advice: Don't be afraid to ask for help. Be part of the community. Lean on professors and classmates.

"You're always going to be learning," she says. "You're not going to learn everything through grad school, but it's going to be a good step of the way."

Most importantly, she wants prospective counselors to know about the support system they'll find at PSU.

"I think the most wonderful part of this experience has been the community I've built at PSU," Guzman-Cruz says. "I'm incredibly thankful for my cohort and professors. They've been really good mentors and role models. Their passion for the work has also encouraged me to be as passionate too."

Guzman-Cruz earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from PSU in 2013 before spending years working in educational settings. Her return to graduate school represents not just personal achievement but a commitment to the students and families who need her most.

This story was published during National School Counseling Week to highlight the important work of school counselors and those preparing to enter the field.