Enciso awarded prestigious national minority fellowship in counseling

Enciso awarded prestigious national minority fellowship in counseling

Kim Chaudoin | 12/16/2024

Laura Sofia Enciso, a Master of Science candidate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) at Lipscomb University, has been selected for the prestigious National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation Minority Fellowship Program. The fellowship supports minority students in pursuing careers in counseling and includes a scholarship, professional development opportunities and a chance to connect with leaders in the field.

Enciso views this fellowship as both a confirmation of her calling and an avenue to expand her impact in the counseling profession.

"It truly is an honor and a blessing to be awarded the NBCC Minority Fellowship because it confirms that I am doing the work I feel called to do and get to continue to grow within this field of counseling," said Enciso. Not only am I being financially supported from this fellowship, but I get to work with populations I care so deeply for like the Hispanic and immigrant population, as well as veterans and youth populations. I learn so much from the clients I see, and I want to continue to develop myself professionally so I can show up in the therapy room as my best self."

Enciso is a native of Tarpon Springs, Florida. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in criminology from the University of South Florida and gained valuable experience through internships and work opportunities, including at the Agency for Community Treatment Services and Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital in Nashville.

Her passion for serving underserved populations has its roots in her own experiences being part of the Hispanic community. Enciso's parents and brothers migrated to the United States in 1999 from Bogota, Colombia. She was born in the U.S. a few years later and grew up speaking Spanish and English.

"I have been able to integrate this central part of my identity in my own work with clients because I am able to provide counseling services in Spanish to clients who prefer or can only speak Spanish," she explained. "It has been amazing to provide a space that provides culturally informed care for my clients struggling with the effects of trauma and working towards healing. It is critical to take client's cultures into consideration, so I am very passionate about meeting my clients fully and not solely looking at them from a psychological framework. A holistic approach has always been a priority and I want clients to know that counselors go beyond therapy, they are advocates and can promote real change in society."

Currently, Enciso is interning at the Sexual Assault Center in Nashville, providing trauma-informed care for clients. She also serves as a graduate assistant in Lipscomb's Department of Social Work and Sociology and works remotely for a group private practice. Her ability to integrate her bilingual skills into her work has made her a trusted resource for Spanish-speaking clients, a need she sees as critical in the growing Hispanic community in Nashville.

Enciso attributes much of her professional growth to Lipscomb's CMHC program, which she chose for its strong reputation and its faith-centered, holistic approach to counseling.

"The culture that Lipscomb has is something I knew I wanted to be a part of, where I felt that I would be able to grow and have built-in support along the way. Professionally, I saw that Lipscomb had so many community partners and their CMHC program has such a great reputation in the Nashville area," she explained. "It felt crystal clear that Lipscomb was where I needed to be and once I received the offer there was no hesitation. I love that Lipscomb values faith and in a field like psychology where that is often forgotten, I wanted to be in a place that saw humans in their totality, with the complexities of being human in a mind, body and spirit approach."

DeAndrea N. Witherspoon Nash, director of Lipscomb's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, praised Enciso's dedication and excellence. "Laura is a stellar student who is passionate about learning," she said.

As an NBCC Minority Fellow, Enciso will participate in professional development events, share her experiences in providing culturally informed care and continue to advocate for underserved populations. She also plans to use her education and experiences to address barriers to mental health resources, particularly within the Hispanic community.

Beyond her academic and professional achievements, Enciso shares her passion for mental health and faith through her podcast, Garden Convos, which explores the intersection of spirituality and mental health. Enciso is on track to graduate in December 2025 and her ultimate goal is to have her own practice that combines her "faith and love for mental health."

Learn more about Lipscomb University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.

- Photo courtesy of Laura Enciso

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