Known for his soft demeanor and personal mission to make the counseling and therapy environments feel like safe spaces to talk, Aaron Maleare (鈥�18), an alumnus of 精东影业 Online鈥檚 Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program, is a true testament to what is possible when you apply yourself and reach for new heights in your professional career and personal life. Combining his love for therapy and passion for assisting clients with anxiety, depression, and family conflict, Aaron looks back at his time as an 精东影业 Wildcat with fond memories.
Finding His Calling
Although he sounds and looks like a hip therapist, Aaron would be the first to tell you that his life wasn鈥檛 always picture-perfect. Growing up as a 鈥渄epressed teenager,鈥� Aaron was faced with overcoming a lot of obstacles alone. However, little did he know that God was watching over him every step of the way. Remembering his former youth pastor, Aaron says he got a first glimpse at what real counseling was 鈥� and more importantly, what it could do to someone鈥檚 self-esteem. Seeing that presented to him for the first time, Aaron decided he, too, wanted to serve in ministry. After some time and undergoing life changes, including marrying his wife, Vanessa and completing his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Lipscomb University, Aaron was already living in New Zealand and conducting missions work with kids and teens of all ages. Over the next few years, Aaron went from living across the world to moving back to the states to complete his Master of Theological Studies from Lipscomb University, to accepting the chance to move to Ontario, Canada, where he would work directly with teenage students as a stand-in parent or older brother as the Associate Minister at Tintern Church of Christ.
Helping teens get out of the juvenile justice system in Canada, Aaron remembers how rewarding his job was, including the various cases he dealt with. In many ways, it planted the seed in his heart to assist teenagers in crises.
鈥淢aybe a year and a half into the job, a local kid that I met with sometimes had some run-ins with the law and was part of the juvenile justice system in Canada,鈥� Aaron said. 鈥淲orking with him and his family, helping them have some kind of peace about it 鈥� it鈥檚 almost like a spark of inspiration just hit me. Like, this is what I really enjoy doing. This is the part of the job that I love. How can I do more of this?鈥�
In fact, over time, Aaron began to feel something change inside of him. For some reason, he was no longer interested in serving in the same way he was. He knew he wanted to stay in ministry, but not in the same way. Searching for answers and praying constantly, Aaron remembers hearing his wife say the best thing she could 鈥� maybe he should try counseling. Amazed at how he could have missed this before, Aaron decided to make the change happen. And just like that, Aaron felt like his prayer had been answered. He was going to become a therapist.
鈥淚 realized that I didn鈥檛 like church work the way I thought I did, but I loved working with the people,鈥� Aaron said. 鈥淎nd my wife, who is a lot smarter than me world-wise, told me, 鈥榊ou know, you鈥檙e a lot better with the people. Why don鈥檛 you look at marriage and family therapy? And then, I just said 鈥楾hat鈥檚 great! What a good idea!鈥� and then, I just did it.鈥�
Finding His Way
While Aaron had been through a master鈥檚 program before in a traditional setting, he really needed the flexibility and accessibility of an online program. After all, his family was about to leave Canada without knowing where they would land. After consulting some friends from Lipscomb University and former alumni from 精东影业鈥檚 Doctor of Ministry, Aaron remembers hearing 鈥渟uch high praise for the faculty and the program,鈥� making him even more open to applying to the first cohort of the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program. Going through enrollment and strongly agreeing with 精东影业鈥檚 values, Aaron鈥檚 transition from traditional to online was seamless 鈥� and, in many ways, super easy.
鈥淚t made it easier to have a kind of shared vocabulary in the way that [精东影业 and I] envisioned the world,鈥� Aaron said. 鈥淣ot just because the profession can pay well or because it鈥檚 a good job, but because we have felt united in this calling that we wanted to make the world a better place.鈥�
Beginning his program in 2015, Aaron and his family were able to settle in Austin, Texas, and begin cultivating a life around people and places that desperately needed mental health therapy. Looking back, Aaron deeply appreciated the program鈥檚 online versatility including its accessibility of video conferences and field placement. Despite the 鈥渞obust and intense鈥� 500-hour internship, Aaron knew he would get a lot more practice, skills, and hands-on experience through this program. And he was ready and up for the challenge. In 2018, Aaron graduated with his Master of Marriage and Family Therapy and began working as a consulate in various settings, including Mosaic Church Austin and other private practices.
鈥淎fter I finished my degree, I just remember saying, 鈥極kay, I just want to help people,鈥� Aaron said. 鈥淎nd so I just started working and looking for places to take me [..] and then I decided that I didn鈥檛 want to be working at the very end of the problem, when it鈥檚 the most dire, and would rather work my way upstream to the beginning of people鈥檚 problem, which is when I started working with other counselors and set-ups like group therapy.鈥�
Aiming to get ahead of the problem, Aaron decided to pursue his doctorate and realized quickly that if he enjoyed learning so much, why wouldn鈥檛 he find a way to train and guide other mental health counselors to do the same. Launching Get Mental ATX, Aaron leads a practice dedicated to helping new therapists and clients discover their problem cycles, change their negative patterns, find ways of interacting with others, and equip each person with the right tools to manage their lives and the progress they鈥檝e made so far. Listed as one of the best therapists in Austin, Aaron finds himself serving those around him daily. Whether helping teens who are struggling just like he was or helping newly engaged couples find their way, Aaron sees value in his work.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to feel good knowing that I鈥檓 doing something that matters 鈥� that when I go to work, I鈥檓 helping somebody鈥檚 life get a little bit better,鈥� Aaron stated.
Today, Aaron sees his life as a complete testament to God and His big plans. Aaron believes he is eternally blessed beyond compare. Hoping to inspire others to achieve their goals in life, Aaron believes there is still more for him and his family out there. But for now, for the time being, Aaron feels like he is exactly where he wants to be.
Do you share Aaron鈥檚 commitment to making a difference in the lives of families? Learn more about 精东影业鈥檚 online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy.