A shared calling: Married couple earns counseling degrees together at UHCL

From teachers to counselors

Before pursuing their degrees, Martinez and Perales spent years in education as teachers. While they loved working in the classroom, they said they often wanted to support students beyond academics.

"We always wished we could give more personalized attention to some students at a socio-emotional level," they shared.

Perales, who already held a bachelor's degree in psychology, dreamed of combining her background in mental health with her classroom experience. Martinez, who worked as a college and career teacher, discovered that school counseling naturally aligned with his passion for guiding students toward their futures.

Choosing to pursue the same degree together became more than a career decision. It became a partnership in growth.

"Embarking on this journey together provided us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build on each other's strengths and lift us up to the next stage in our careers and in our lives," they said.

Their story began years earlier in 2017 at a mutual friend's bachelorette party, where a conversation turned into a lifelong connection. Perales was temporarily living in the United States as an Au Pair, a cultural exchange program in which participants provide childcare for a host family while experiencing life abroad, while Martinez had already built his life in Houston after moving from Mexico during middle school. Since then, the two have remained inseparable.

Finding community and confidence at UHCL

Living in Cypress, the couple sought a program that offered flexibility without sacrificing quality. UHCL's hybrid-online school counseling program provided exactly that. But what impacted them most was the sense of connection they found inside the classroom.

"We enjoyed the in-person classes the most," they said. "The hands-on activities prepared by our professors, together with role-playing exercises, provided us with real-world counseling experiences."

The couple credits UHCL faculty and classmates for helping them develop the confidence needed to enter the counseling profession.

"Our professors prepared us very well to the point where we feel we won't have to fake it till we make it," Martinez and Perales explained. "The curriculum taught us to appreciate the unique perspectives of people with diverse backgrounds, ethnicity, culture, and personalities."

Through practicum experiences during their final year, both served as intern counselors at their schools, gaining firsthand insight into the emotional and personal challenges students face every day. Martinez and Perales said that the experience strengthened their counseling abilities.

The support of their cohort also became a defining part of the journey.

"We got along very well with our cohort teammates," they said. "They made the experience more enjoyable."