Pathway to Service

Student’s Journey to Supporting Military Mental Health

Second Lieutenant Lisa Lozano ’27 always knew she wanted to help others, but finding the right path took time. She first worked as a college advisor and later as a teacher before feeling drawn to a greater purpose: giving back to her country as a military psychologist. After deciding on counseling psychology, she thought, “This might be how I can serve — using the skills I’ll actually be trained for.”

Now pursuing a Ph.D. in our Counseling Psychology program, Lozano received valuable guidance from her faculty advisor, Dr. Linda Castillo, such as connecting her to an alum from the program who also entered the Air Force as a military psychologist. Through that guidance and support from Dr. Castillo and other faculty in the program, she felt immensely supported while completing all the material and steps required to apply to the United State Air Force’s highly competitive Health Professionals Scholarship Program.

While pursuing her degree, Lozano is gaining hands-on experience at our Counseling and Assessment Clinic where she is strengthening her clinical skills and adapting to the diverse needs of patients. “This program is full of practicum experiences, and because of that, I’ve gained so many clinical hours and haven’t felt the need to worry about meeting my clinical hours to be competitive for internships,” she said. The opportunity to work directly with people, not just study concepts, is helping her develop the confidence essential for working with service members and their families. Lozano is also expanding her experience at the Austin Veterans Affairs Clinic as a trainee in their PTSD Clinical Team, where she provides and is further developing her skills in evidence-based treatments to treat veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Lozano has relied on faculty support when facing complex assessment cases. “There were moments when I wasn’t sure how to proceed ethically, but I never felt alone in those decisions,” she said. “Dr. Kelly Lee was always there to talk through things with me to make sure I felt confident and supported.”

The program’s cohort model has been one of the most rewarding aspects for Lozano. From the start, she was drawn to the camaraderie and encouraging atmosphere in which classmates exchange insights and support one another. Facing the highs and the lows has strengthened the cohort’s bond, providing just as much meaning as her academic and clinical training.

With the hands-on training she’s gained and the support of her peers, faculty and advisors, Lozano feels confident and ready to serve her country. In August of 2024, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and is currently an inactive reserve officer. Before her internship year, she will attend Officer Training School.

The Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology program is housed in our Department of Educational Psychology. To learn more, visit tx.ag/PhDCounseling

For media inquiries, contact Ruben Hidalgo.