(Posted 2024 April)
Meet Irvin!
Position: ADAPT Counselor in the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division
I’ve been working with the county for the past 3 years. As an ADAPT counselor, we facilitate therapy groups. These groups are specifically for those who have caused harm in a domestic violence incident or situation. Some of our clients are court ordered; some of them are coming here voluntarily. We also facilitate intakes where we interview our clients and participants that are going to enroll in our program. In addition, we create treatment plans, and we meet with them individually as needed. We also participate in different community activities where we educate the community about domestic violence and the work we do.
They say experience is the best teacher. I’ve been working for the past 14 years in many different areas of the mental health field and the social services field. First in Puerto Rico as an intake worker for the emergency crisis division of the social services department, and then in different places as a counselor. Also, I worked in a youth academy to prepare students to go to university; in that role I worked as a case manager. In 2014, I moved to the United States--to Colorado--where I worked for the department of human services in the family drug court treatment program as a counselor and as a child protection bilingual therapist. Then I moved to Virginia, where I’ve been working also as a therapist--for a national counseling group and different agencies while I completed internships. So, I’ve been working for a little bit but in this same field.
Helping people make connections is very powerful. The most rewarding aspect of this work is to be able to be that bridge between someone who is in the process of healing. They have been navigating through so many different experiences. And to witness that growth … for me and I believe for all of us who are counselors in this program, we are witnessing something very powerful at times. Life changing. We are helping others to connect with their loved ones in ways that probably they have never done. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job--and also my whole entire professional career!
Working with families feeds my soul. I decided to work for the Department of Family Services because I do believe it’s in my nature to work with families, not just work with one individual that belongs to that family, but to impact positively the family itself. I’ve been doing this for a while now and because of that I feel compelled, I feel driven, and committed to help not only families in our community but also families from different countries and different places that happen to be here living in Fairfax County. Being able to utilize this platform, which is this position, allows me to serve the community, helps me to continue confirming what I wanted to do, which is to serve not only minorities and Latin American communities, which I have been able to do, but also to learn from other cultures. That is something I was not expecting to learn so much from, and I feel absolutely excited every single day that I have the opportunity to be in front of clients who are from different backgrounds, cultural backgrounds. It pushes me to be more mindful and receptive and obviously to learn from them.
I believe DSVS has an amazing team with people from different backgrounds that allows us not only to learn from each other, but also to be part of a program that had a vision in which we are looking for equity, where we are looking to provide services in an approach that is person centered. It is something that is promoted from our managers and supervisors. It makes this whole environment a unique one--one I invite anybody to have the opportunity to join. It has been the highlight of my career, as I mentioned, because of how seen you feel and heard and your voice matters and your work and your background and your training and your experience is validated. In addition, you’re doing something that will positively impact someone and maybe a whole community.
Who says you can’t master the work-life balance? I love going to the gym. I enjoy working out. Anybody who knows me knows I love movies. I love collecting movies, watching movies at home, and going to the theater. I love going to concerts. I love anything that is live performance. I really do spend a lot of time having fun doing those things. Spending time with my family. Lately I’ve been visiting my home county Puerto Rico a little bit often to see my dad, and I think it’s becoming my hobby.
My pet is my self-care. A fun fact about me: I have a dog. She is 4 years old. She’s a pandemic dog. She is one of the sweetest animals I’ve ever had. She definitely helps me ground myself. Every single person who knows me and knows her can agree: the sweetest dog ever. I’m very proud to be a dog dad!
Get to know more about Irvin’s career through this video spotlight (English and Spanish).
Join our team to discover why I enjoy working with DFS so much.