Master of Arts in Counseling Alumna Helps People Grow in Positive Ways

Molly Losey ’08MA chose children and community work over a career after earning a B.A. in art history in 1973. But she was always aware of a third calling. “I consider my role as a wife and mother my greatest achievement,” she said. “I felt a need to give back, and I became involved with many charitable organizations as well as volunteering in the public school system. But through those years, the idea of being a mental health counselor was a continual whisper in my ear.”

Thirty years later, Losey’s nest was empty, and she decided to heed the whisper. She returned to school. “Attending Hamilton Holt School was a no-brainer. The Master of Arts in Counseling program is well known for its diverse population and excellent academic standards,” she said. “I knew the smaller classes, community connections, and diverse population would be a perfect fit for an older student like myself. I was also very impressed that Rollins offered a multicultural focus.”

Graduating with honors at the age of 56, Losey was finally ready for a career, one utilizing both her Rollins training and the experience she’d gained throughout her life. She opened Park Avenue Integrative Counseling in Winter Park and became a mental health counselor. “The experiential opportunities offered in Rollins’ small classes and the modeling by the teachers really prepared me best for the honor of helping others in a collaborative process of therapy,” she said. “And my current career in counseling has been greatly enriched and sustained by my life experiences through marriage, motherhood, and community work.”

Family. Community. Giving back. These clearly continue to be Losey’s keys to life as she focuses on clients who’ve suffered from a loss of power. “I feel I was very privileged to be able to stay at home and raise my family and return to school at an age when many others choose to retire, and much of what I do involves shining a light so others can find their way back to their strengths and their voices,” she said. “People need to feel a sense of meaning and purpose in life.”

“Helping People Grow in Positive Ways” is the title of Losey’s professional website. It’s also the job she’s been succeeding at since 1973.

By Renée Anduze