I began my college education at 55 years old. I had to complete my GED, in order to get accepted at The College of Santa Fe in Albuquerque where I completed a B.A. in psychology, in 2000. My professors recommended that I earn my master's degree in the state that I wanted to be licensed, so I moved to California and applied at Antioch University, Los Angeles where I was accepted.

I liked the idea of completing my M.A. program on Saturdays and became a member of the Green Group. I worked full time at the Los Angeles AFB while attending school. I completed my traineeship at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood. After I graduated, a month before turning 60 years old, I started my paid internship at College Community Services (CCS), in Lake Isabella, CA. I remember one of my first clients, a 6-year-old, and asking my supervisor "what am I supposed to do with a 6 year old?" She assured me that the parents would not attend sessions, and that I would need to focus on helping the child improve behaviors. Well, the 6-year-old and his family attended all sessions and became one of my first success stories. This experience helped me to understand the value of my education at Antioch University and at the LA Gay and Lesbian Mental Health Center.

I completed licensure requirements and became licensed on April 4, 2006. Now, 5 years after graduation and 172,000 miles on my 2004 Honda, I am working for the Navy as a Clinical Counselor, 7 minutes from home, where I am helping Sailors and their families learn to cope and thrive within a mobile community.

- Mary Bradley
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology

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