When a personal loss introduced Xhymena De La Fuente, PsyD ’31, to a school grief counselor in the eighth grade, a fire was lit inside her to ensure no underserved community was left without mental health support. Today, in Azusa Pacific University’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program, she is learning to weave faith, cultural integration, and compassionate care into a powerful tool of healing.
De La Fuente is excited about the faith foundation of her learning. “I wanted to study somewhere where faith was intentionally integrated into the conversation,” said De La Fuente. “I can openly talk about my Christianity while not diminishing any part of my profession.” Faith integration has allowed her to explore more deeply what it means to be a psychologist, examining what faith means to her and her patients. “Your faith is in the room as a part of you, but also a part of your client,” said De La Fuente. “It’s not something you should turn off when you enter the room.”
Her exploration of faith integration goes beyond personal relations. “I am currently writing my dissertation on Islamic faith integration,” said De La Fuente. “I want to know how to best help my Muslim clients as a non-Muslim therapist, and how to integrate my clients’ faith into therapy.” Faith is an integral part of any person’s identity, and De La Fuente recognizes this. She is working to create spaces where clients can share their beliefs freely, studying how therapists can help create a welcoming environment, despite differences in personal faith.
Growing up in a lower-socioeconomic community, De La Fuente didn’t have much experience with therapy. “In the eighth grade, I lost both of my grandparents, and the school brought in a grief counselor," said De La Fuente. “It mattered that the school cared about my mental health.” De La Fuente acknowledged that some communities lack access to mental health resources. “It lit a fire under me,” she said. “Everyone has an experience with mental health, and may need support.” After graduating from APU’s program, De La Fuente hopes to work within the community to help shrink the inequity among lower-income families and their access to therapy.
De La Fuente recognizes the deep sense of trust between client and therapist when
allowing someone into your thoughts and emotions.“I appreciate every time I am able
to sit with clients,” said De La Fuente.
She said she feels God’s presence most when sitting with clients. “He knows we’re
together at this moment for a reason, and I hope that I can be the support that someone
needs, even if it’s just lending an ear.”
Beyond her work in the classroom, De La Fuente is connecting with the APU community. “I love my cohort,” said De La Fuente. “We share losses and celebrate wins together.” De La Fuente also works at the Marshburn Library, which gives her the opportunity to support fellow students. “I love it there, I love books and getting to be in a quiet place and read is amazing,” she said. For De La Fuente, APU’s community and connections extend beyond the classroom, which helped her realize the importance of identity beyond therapy. “This program is rigorous,” said De La Fuente. “It can take up so much of your time and mental energy, and it's important to remember that it isn’t all of who you are.”
As she continues her work toward becoming a psychologist, De La Fuente dreams about
what her career could look like after graduation. “I would love to work in a place
centered around holistic care,” said De La Fuente. “A client could come to me for
sessions, with a medical doctor and psychiatrist also on site.” She recognizes that
mental health is about both the body and the mind. So much of mental health can be
influenced by socioeconomic levels, access to resources, and physical conditions.
Throughout her program at APU and beyond, De La Fuente knows that it takes hard work to get to where she's going. “I try not to let outside forces drag me down,” said De La Fuente. “Our job is important, and it’s always going to be important.” She remains dedicated as she completes her doctorate and looks forward to sharing the fruits of that hard work with those who need it most.