Building a Career in Mental Health Counseling

After growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, Kayla Lustosa moved to Orlando in 2017 and fell in love with the area. Touring UCF convinced her that the university offered the personal, professional, and academic resources she wanted.

As the first person in her family to pursue a graduate degree, Lustosa initially felt intimidated by graduate school. She knew she wanted to help others but struggled to narrow her focus. She discovered the nationally ranked Counselor Education program — accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs — and was drawn to the rigor and quality it offered. “To prepare for my future, I searched for the best education, the best program, and the best opportunities,” she says.

Lustosa’s passion for counseling began after her parents’ divorce early in her college years, when she found support through counseling and realized she wanted to help others navigate their struggles.

During her time at UCF, Lustosa received enormous support from the university community. Her assistantship with the Graduate Student Center made her studies possible, and she credits many faculty who helped her along the way, including Dr. Vicki Kelchner, Dr. Edward Brand, and Dr. Bryce Hagedorn, as well as Tyler Campbell, Nathalia Bauer, and Wendy Cartier.

Lustosa encourages fellow students to remember they deserve to be where they are and to trust the process. After graduating in spring 2022, she began her career as a therapist in private practice.

• Aspire Integrated Healthcare Grant recipient
• Graduate Assistant for the Graduate Student Center (3 years)