Graduate Student Spotlight | Hannah Furlow

I attended Mount St. Mary’s University for my undergraduate studies, where I majored in psychology and discovered my passion for working with people and the field of mental health.

After graduating, I continued my education in the clinical mental health counseling master’s program at Hood College, where I also earned a graduate certificate in trauma, crisis, grief and loss. During my time at Hood, I completed my practicum and internship in both private practice and community settings. 

I now work at Village Counseling, a group private practice, where I provide individual and group therapy to clients across the lifespan, with a particular focus on those navigating trauma, loss and life transitions.

Receiving this award is such an incredible honor! I learned so much from the counseling faculty, my internship supervisors and my peers during my time at Hood, and I’m deeply grateful to be recognized for my efforts in the program.

Beyond coursework, I had the privilege of serving as co-president of Hood’s Chi Sigma Iota chapter, working on Professor Samuels’ research team and interning at the on-campus training clinic, the NeighborHood Counseling Training Center (NCTC). Being part of the Hood community was truly transformational, both personally and professionally.

The program not only prepared me to be a counselor, but also encouraged me to grow as a person, which makes this award especially meaningful.

Without a doubt, my practicum and internship were the most impactful experiences of my time at Hood. I interned with Mike Southers at his private practice in Frederick, and the high-quality supervision I received from him allowed me to put what I had learned in my courses into practice and feel prepared for graduation.

The feedback I received was invaluable and pushed me to grow as a clinician. In terms of coursework, Trauma and Crisis Interventions with Professor Shaine and Advanced Techniques with Professor Campbell stand out.

Both classes helped me begin to define my approach to therapy and explore the populations and therapeutic modalities that resonate most with me.

My initial inspiration came from my undergraduate experiences. My love for studying psychology paired with my desire to work directly with people led me to consider counseling. Additionally, during my undergraduate internship with Heartly House in Frederick, I discovered my interest in supporting individuals impacted by trauma, particularly interpersonal and relational trauma.

Throughout the counseling program at Hood, my motivation only grew stronger as I gained hands-on experience and learned to navigate the rewarding and challenging aspects of the profession. I also learned the importance of maintaining self-care and personal wellness as well as the value of connection and support among peers. The relationships I made while in the program continue to help sustain me in my career today.

One moment that stands out was early in practicum when I was assigned a child client as my site. I remember feeling nervous and unsure if working with children would be a good fit for me, as I had always planned to only work with adult clients. 

After discussing it in practicum class and receiving guidance from my site supervisor, I felt more prepared, and working with this client turned out to be a truly meaningful experience. It helped me discover a passion for working with children, and I continue to see kids in my practice today.

When I returned to class the next week to share how well the initial session went, my peers and Professor Shaine cheered for me. It was such a supportive and affirming moment, and it captured the sense of community we built throughout our practicum and internship class.

It’s hard to believe I’m almost a year out from graduation! The program goes by so fast, and my biggest piece of advice would be to slow down and take every opportunity to learn. Try new things, work with a variety of clients, explore different counseling theories and step outside your comfort zone. 

Each experience helps you understand yourself better as a counselor and as a human. It can be especially intimidating to work with clients for the first time, but there’s so much support available within the program. Take advantage of it and trust the process as you will grow in ways you likely never expected! 

Inspired by Hannah’s story? Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s graduate programs, including the clinical mental health counseling M.S.