Adriana Ruiz is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (Supervised by Mary Ann Rocha, LPC-S). Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, she is passionate about supporting First Responders, Veterans, and Military service members by offering them a safe space to share their experiences.

Adriana earned her Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. After completing her degree, she went back to the Valley and went on to work for Hidalgo Police Department as a 911 Telecommunicator for three years. She is certified and still holds her license by the Texas Commission On Law Enforcement (TCOLE) as a telecommunications operator. During her time at Hidalgo Police Department, she enrolled at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley to earn her Master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. Her prior experience in law enforcement gives her a strong appreciation and understanding about the first responder and military culture and challenges they face.

Adriana strives to support First Responders, Veterans, and Active Military service members by helping them focus on prioritizing their mental health, helping them process experiences, promote connection, and build resilience. Adriana is committed to spreading mental health awareness within the First Responder and Military field by empowering the individuals.

My Why:

I am passionate about spreading awareness about mental health and wanting to make it a part of our day to day conversation. It can be difficult to take that first step into seeking professional help, I know I’ve been there.

Growing up in a Hispanic household, I did not know what “self-care” or “self-love” was nor what it meant to take care of my mental health. As a result, I struggled throughout my young adult life with my own mental health. It led me to question who I was and my choices in life. Deconstructing my behaviors, choices, emotions, and relationships turned out to be an essential part of my development. I have a sense of compassion towards others who have struggled with their mental health because I have to. 

It is a wonderful feeling to be able to work alongside others who have made the decision to take care of their mental health. The journey is never towards inner-peace or self-acceptance is never easy. There is no shame in seeking professional help. 

My goal is provide a safe space for my client to find meaning in your experiences, offer insight, and the tools to help you live authentically. The key part of therapy is the therapeutic relationship between the client and counselor. I am committed to being authentic and building a professional relationship with my clients to help them through their own challenges and help them become the version of themselves that they are proud of.