My Path From HR to Therapy
Written by: Mari Novoa, M.S., AMFT
For most of my career, I’ve worked in Human Resources, leading benefits, wellness programs, and people initiatives. I’ve always loved helping others grow and creating workplaces that feel supportive and human. But at one point, I realized something wasn’t aligning. I’ve never been a “yes” person. I’m analytical by nature, and I ask questions to understand and make sure others do too. In my long-term corporate HR role, that curiosity wasn’t always welcomed. It was seen as a challenge instead of a strength. When that happened, I started to question if I was in the right place.
I began meeting with a career coach to figure out what was next (this is when I fell in love with CliftonStrengths!). Through that process, I realized what I loved most about my work wasn’t the systems or policies. It was the people. Their stories. Their emotions. Their growth.
I always loved it when employees trusted me with their stories about work, life, and everything in between. I often found myself referring them to a therapist and explaining how to use those benefits. That’s what first initiated my curiosity about psychology and the human experience. That realization led me to take a Personality Psychology class at Long Beach City College (Go, LBCC!). It was a credit/no credit class, but I took it seriously. I wanted to see if this was really something for me. By the end of the semester, I knew it was. I started looking for in-person master’s programs in Counseling Psychology, because I’ve always learned best through real human connection. Then COVID happened, and everything went online anyway 😅 (but I digress). Oh, and by the way, I left that long-term job because I realized safety isn’t the same as growth. I wanted to see who I could become outside my comfort zone.
Now, I work in both worlds. I continue my work in HR, but now for a nonprofit with a mission I deeply believe in. And I also work as a bilingual Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in California, supporting teens and adults navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, identity, and life transitions. Working in mental health has helped me understand people more deeply, even when they do things I might have once boxed as “right” or “wrong.” It’s taught me that there’s always a story behind behavior, and that compassion creates more change than judgment ever will. It has also helped me understand my own story and the painful moments that shaped who I am. I’ve learned that healing is not linear and that even when life knocks us down, we can rise again. As one of my favorite poets, Maya Angelou, reminds us, “And still, I rise.” Those words remind me that strength doesn’t mean we never fall: it means we keep showing up with faith, grace, and courage, even when it hurts. And when we feel that we cannot rise, it’s okay to reach out and ask for help.
This blog, which I call “My Voice,” is an extension of that growth. It’s a space to explore wellbeing, mental health, and culture through the lens of someone who has lived in many worlds: Mother, therapist, HR-lady (that is what I call myself), English-Spanish-Spanglish speaker, Mexican and American, faith-grounded, trained dancer, and modern life in general. My hope is that by sharing my own experiences and what I’ve learned along the way, I can offer tools and understanding to those who might not have easy access to therapy. I want this to be a space where you can relate, reflect, exhale, and remember that you’re not alone in your healing.
If any of this resonates with you and you’re looking for a bilingual therapist in California, I’d love to connect. I offer therapy for teens and adults in English, Spanish, or both.
Welcome. Let’s grow, heal, and learn together. 💚
Reflective Thoughts For You
When was the last time you chose growth over comfort?
What stories have you told yourself about what’s “right” or “wrong,” and are they still serving you?
How do you rise after life knocks you down? What helps you stand again?