Alexandra Ortega
For Alexandra Ortega, pursuing an MA in Pastoral Counseling was a natural extension of her long-standing interest in mental health and holistic well-being. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in bioethics at Loyola, Ortega decided she wanted to continue her education and pursue a path that blended clinical training with spiritual care.
Pursuing graduate study at Loyola
Ortega first encountered the Pastoral Counseling program while working as an administrative assistant at the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) as a Loyola undergrad. It was during this time that she recognized how closely the program’s values and approach to spiritually integrated counseling aligned with her own understanding of well-being.
“I think the people at IPS really embody the values of holistic wellness and social justice,” explains Ortega. “I was really drawn to the program after meeting the people there and seeing how their values are reflected in their work.”
Approaching mental health with a spiritual lens
“Well-being is really multidimensional. Your mental health and your physical health have a circular causality—how you’re doing in one area impacts how you’re doing in the other,” she says. “I think that that's true for your spiritual wellness as well.”
Through coursework that connects psychological and medical concepts with spiritual perspectives, Ortega says the program is helping her learn how to invite conversations about belief in ways that allow clients to explore their identities more fully.
“As pastoral counselors, integrating people's belief systems into therapy or even just signaling that it's a safe space to talk about a client’s faith can help uncover topics that would've otherwise remained undisclosed,” she says.
Ortega also sees pastoral counseling as a tool for promoting equity. “I view it the same as having the sensitivity and training to support other underrepresented groups,” she says. “It’s a multicultural form of counseling that gives you the understanding and cultural competency needed to discuss spirituality with people who belong to different faith traditions or who are just looking for spiritual direction and don’t know how to talk about mental health.”
Learning in a supportive environment
Many of Ortega’s classmates in the Pastoral Counseling program are religious clergy, including priests, nuns, and other faith leaders, while others are lay professionals working in roles related to counseling or mental health. Though her classmates come from various faith traditions, Ortega says they are united by a shared commitment to spiritually integrated mental health and service to others.
“It has enriched my learning because even though many of us are from different denominations, you can see how much each person’s individual relationship with spirituality and religion can differ even when they belong to the same faith community,” she says. “It’s really interesting to be able to learn alongside people who you don’t share an identity with, but that carry similar values that connect to your own spirituality, such as service to others.”
Together, these varied backgrounds create an engaging classroom experience that encourages thoughtful discussion and shared growth, guided by faculty who are committed to supporting student success. “The professors are really open about their experiences in the field and are always willing to give people advice or answer questions. You can tell that they have a lot of care for the people here and are invested in our futures,” she says.
Gaining experience and looking ahead
As she approaches her third and final year in the program, Ortega will soon complete a required internship that will allow her to gain real-world experience in a clinical setting. She hopes to secure a placement at a private practice offering individual therapy, a path she is strongly considering after graduation.
Reflecting on her time at Loyola, she also encourages others who might be considering the program to reach out to IPS. “Everyone is more than happy to answer questions about the nature of the coursework, what students' experiences are, and what their worries or concerns are,” she says. “I would also encourage you to reach out to current or former students as well, who are often more than happy to talk about their experiences.”
Learn more about Loyola’s MA in Pastoral Counseling program and contact our Graduate & Professional Admission team with questions.
Learn more about Loyola’s MA in Pastoral Counseling program and contact our Graduate & Professional Admission team with questions.
For Alexandra Ortega, pursuing an MA in Pastoral Counseling was a natural extension of her long-standing interest in mental health and holistic well-being. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in bioethics at Loyola, Ortega decided she wanted to continue her education and pursue a path that blended clinical training with spiritual care.
Pursuing graduate study at Loyola
Ortega first encountered the Pastoral Counseling program while working as an administrative assistant at the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) as a Loyola undergrad. It was during this time that she recognized how closely the program’s values and approach to spiritually integrated counseling aligned with her own understanding of well-being.
“I think the people at IPS really embody the values of holistic wellness and social justice,” explains Ortega. “I was really drawn to the program after meeting the people there and seeing how their values are reflected in their work.”
Approaching mental health with a spiritual lens
“Well-being is really multidimensional. Your mental health and your physical health have a circular causality—how you’re doing in one area impacts how you’re doing in the other,” she says. “I think that that's true for your spiritual wellness as well.”
Through coursework that connects psychological and medical concepts with spiritual perspectives, Ortega says the program is helping her learn how to invite conversations about belief in ways that allow clients to explore their identities more fully.
“As pastoral counselors, integrating people's belief systems into therapy or even just signaling that it's a safe space to talk about a client’s faith can help uncover topics that would've otherwise remained undisclosed,” she says.
Ortega also sees pastoral counseling as a tool for promoting equity. “I view it the same as having the sensitivity and training to support other underrepresented groups,” she says. “It’s a multicultural form of counseling that gives you the understanding and cultural competency needed to discuss spirituality with people who belong to different faith traditions or who are just looking for spiritual direction and don’t know how to talk about mental health.”
Learning in a supportive environment
Many of Ortega’s classmates in the Pastoral Counseling program are religious clergy, including priests, nuns, and other faith leaders, while others are lay professionals working in roles related to counseling or mental health. Though her classmates come from various faith traditions, Ortega says they are united by a shared commitment to spiritually integrated mental health and service to others.
“It has enriched my learning because even though many of us are from different denominations, you can see how much each person’s individual relationship with spirituality and religion can differ even when they belong to the same faith community,” she says. “It’s really interesting to be able to learn alongside people who you don’t share an identity with, but that carry similar values that connect to your own spirituality, such as service to others.”
Together, these varied backgrounds create an engaging classroom experience that encourages thoughtful discussion and shared growth, guided by faculty who are committed to supporting student success. “The professors are really open about their experiences in the field and are always willing to give people advice or answer questions. You can tell that they have a lot of care for the people here and are invested in our futures,” she says.
Gaining experience and looking ahead
As she approaches her third and final year in the program, Ortega will soon complete a required internship that will allow her to gain real-world experience in a clinical setting. She hopes to secure a placement at a private practice offering individual therapy, a path she is strongly considering after graduation.
Reflecting on her time at Loyola, she also encourages others who might be considering the program to reach out to IPS. “Everyone is more than happy to answer questions about the nature of the coursework, what students' experiences are, and what their worries or concerns are,” she says. “I would also encourage you to reach out to current or former students as well, who are often more than happy to talk about their experiences.”
Learn more about Loyola’s MA in Pastoral Counseling program and contact our Graduate & Professional Admission team with questions.
Learn more about Loyola’s MA in Pastoral Counseling program and contact our Graduate & Professional Admission team with questions.