Clients Reclaim Their Stories with Claudia Hernandez Vargas
When Claudia Hernandez Vargas was growing up in Southeast Austin, she was no stranger to clinical settings. Her father had a kidney disease and needed a transplant, so she and her family spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to support themselves and each other during his recovery.
She later decided to study social work to help others facing life challenges, which has made her realize how many resources could have helped their family that they simply weren’t aware of.
“I wanted to help others in this community to better the resources and let people know what’s available… I decided on counseling because it is direct work, and I love meeting the clients,” she said.
When Claudia was interviewing for internships in graduate school, she applied for a position with LifeWorks in Community-Based Counseling, but a friend was offered the position instead. Even as she worked several other jobs in the social work field, she still felt a connection to the agency.
“Even at other jobs, I would refer clients to LifeWorks, because I would always hear really good things about it — the counseling programs and all the resources that were offered. LifeWorks always just [left] a good taste in my mouth.”
After taking a break for about a year, she decided to apply again—this time for a part-time role—and was offered a full-time position.
“Even [in] the interview process, I was like, ‘Okay, I like how this feels.’ And so, I ended up accepting the full-time offer. Then I learned about everything we do, which is a lot, and it's honestly been amazing,” she said.
Claudia has now worked as a counselor for LifeWorks Youth and Adult Counseling (YAC) program for almost a year. Youth and Adult Counseling provides strengths-based therapeutic services to individuals, groups, and couples, with a particular focus on children and families. Counselors serve up to 26 clients, and Claudia says she has worked with children as young as four years old.
One of the things she appreciates about the agency is that it offers a wide range of services, which makes it much easier to refer clients to supports that they need.
“If they’re looking for work or a GED, it feels so good to know that we have that stuff already here… it definitely breaks down a lot of barriers and makes it easier.”
Jessica Benavides, the program director for the YAC program, shared that it is an honor to work with Claudia. She added that Claudia’s willingness and enthusiasm to work with Spanish-speaking clients was an important skill for the team. Jessica also highlighted how she mentors interns and shares useful effective strategies for administrative tasks with her co-workers.
“She is a passionate advocate for her clients, and her commitment to supporting and inspiring other counselors is unmatched,” she said. “Her work ethic is exceptional, and she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the best outcomes for everyone she works with.”
Claudia believes that counseling and the work YAC does is important for the mission of solving youth homelessness for a number of reasons.
“A lot of it is increasing their support system and their coping skills so they don’t feel like seeking something that might not be healthy for them,” she said. “A lot of it is a sense of stability that then helps with external stuff… like jobs, money, or housing. So definitely, once they come in, if there’s external stuff we can help with, we do, but if it’s even out of the counselor’s control, we do try to focus on what’s present, what strengths they can acknowledge, anything that they have worked for, so that way they do feel a little bit more confident to handle all the other things that are going on.”
One core value at LifeWorks that especially resonates with Claudia is compassion.
“I'm a very relational person, so I also bring that to my sessions, and with being relational I bring compassion a lot,” she said. “I feel like that has helped me connect with clients, especially the clients that don't want to be here or they feel like they're being forced to be here, or they might think there's something to work on, but they don't actually want to.”
She recalls a client who had experienced domestic violence and was dealing with custody issues, who struggled with shyness and low self-esteem. Over the course of their work together, she was able to regain control of her life.
“She learned how to set boundaries, which was amazing,” Claudia said. “She was doing more stuff for herself. She was hanging out with friends. She was going on walks at least every other morning… I remember there was one week that she was like, ‘I don't have anything to talk about.’ And I was like, ‘That's great; you know, it's okay to not have anything to talk about. You can tell me about the good things that are going on.’”
“It was a lot of trying to make sense of everything she had experienced—not to let that be her whole narrative but to create her own story and enjoy her life again.”
Claudia says that this is her favorite part of her job: seeing the growth and increase of self-confidence that clients experience over the course of their mental health journey.
“I actually told a client yesterday, ‘You’re the reason I love this job.’”
“Noticing how they react whenever I'm acknowledging the stuff that they've worked on, because I definitely do like to let my clients know that all the skills [they’ve] learned, [they] already had them. I'm just showing you that you have them, but you did all the work yourself. Whenever they first start recognizing, ‘You're right, I did do that myself,’ I think that's my favorite thing about doing this work.”
Written by Sophia Ryland, Communications Intern
Transforming the GED Experience
Studying for one’s General Education Development (GED) test can be a difficult and lonely pursuit. You work through your test prep book, you arrive at your assigned testing destination, and then eventually receive your emailed results. And in the end, it doesn’t come with the celebration of a high school graduation. The fun parts of high school, like field trips and events, aren’t there, and you don’t get to be around friends who are also working toward their diplomas. However, at LifeWorks, the High School Equivalency (HSE) program is determined to build community and motivation as people work toward that certificate.
“If you are connected to people around you, you are engaging with them...those are all the pieces that you need to feel like this is a place for you. That’s been my focus, and why I do things not directly aligned to our big goal of passing the test ... I know that those are the ingredients to get them there.”
Using VR to explore careers at the Make it Center
Martinez and the rest of the staff have boosted educational opportunities and community-building outside of the classroom by hosting outings for students. These have included visiting the Make It Center at Austin Community College, where students explored career paths like electrical technology and healthcare hands-on; a tour of Huston-Tillitson University, where they spoke with an academic dean; and the TyRex Group Facility, which where they learned about methods of advanced technology. These outings have clearly had an impact.
One student said that the university visit was the first time they had stepped foot on a college campus.
Another shared after the tour of the TyRex facility: “I had no idea this could be a career. I can see myself doing this.”
“They do need to see something beyond just these four walls; what is out there? What opportunities?” Martinez said.
During each field trip, the teachers also take the students to a fun activity, such as disc golf or a cave tour of Inner Space Caverns, and treat them to lunch at a local spot, to encourage clients to engage with the opportunity and help them form connections with their fellow students.
“If you leave here feeling good, the chances that you’ll come back on Monday are increased, right?”
Taking a cave tour of Inner Space Caverns after visiting the Make It Center
The educational trips are just one of several ways that the HSE program is looking to improve the student experience.
Knowing that attendance is a key factor in the rate of successful GED completion, Martinez created a system where students can collect points based on the number of days they were present. Points can be exchanged for prizes, things like games or electronics, which were all selected by the students based on what they decided would be exciting to work towards.
“If I can get them here, and they want to be here, we’ll start to build that habit of [staying] with it when things get tough,” Martinez said. “We need to encourage them, and we need to have them feel some of that motivation.”
Another effort they made was redesigning the space to feel more welcoming and inclusive for students. HSE Instructor Abby Lincoln shared that it is important that every client feel comfortable and secure in the classroom setting.
“A comfortable environment means that you can be more relaxed and focused when you are studying”
Poster photos taken from the HSE classroom
“So, I made sure that the posters that are on our walls more accurately represent the demographic of clients that we have in the room. I wanted to make sure that there are pride flags everywhere,” Lincoln said, “I wanted to make sure that there was a cozy corner. You know, it's kind of hard to get into a book when you're sitting in a hardback chair at a table. But beyond just reading, you know, if you're having a bad day, you probably would like to sit in a beanbag chair with a blanket instead, so we have that.”
Lincoln and Martinez both added that they will ask clients what would make them feel more at home in the classroom or excited to attend, and if possible, they will make it available.
“If Pop Tarts are the reason you come to class, then by all means, we will give you Pop Tarts,” Lincoln said.
Nox, a former student who completed their GED in January, said the environment is helpful to make students feel willing to attend and connect with others.
“They definitely try to make it as comfy as possible,” they said. “You can go get coffee—they gave me coffee every day I was in here. They'll give you snacks… they’re always on it.”
“There’s a lot of interesting people, and a lot of them will talk to you. It was a nice environment, for sure.”
“The frequency at which [students] are here really is determinant of their success and their completion of [the GED]”
- Marc Martinez, HSE Program Director
Christiana, a current student who hopes to find a better job to support her son, said that this program has helped her get closer to her GED than any other program she has tried before.
“We’re very supportive of each other,” she said. “It’s a very calm, peaceful environment. People bounce off the peacefulness, so they give off that chill and happy vibe.”
Martinez said that while the skills, like math and English, you learn by studying for the test are important, what’s most important is that students start to feel less alone in their lives and that they can reach any of their goals. Their hope is to make the experience of completing a GED less dull, more supportive, and more inclusive. By creating not just a classroom, but an engaging community, education can empower clients beyond what they achieve by earning their certificate.
“When somebody's had a negative experience in school, what that often means is that they will start to tell themselves things like, ‘I can't do it. I don't have the skills for it. I've just not been able to master this thing,’” Martinez said. “What we've seen in a lot of our entry and exit surveys…they start to feel more ... able to control their daily lives, [and they have more] hope and resiliency.”
“They’re not going to necessarily need all the math that they [learn, but] we know that whatever they decide to do after this program, those are the skills that they’re going to take.”
Written by Sophia Ryland, Communications Intern
Edited by Tara Chbeir, Communications Specialist
Stability and the Power to Choose
This entry shares the journey of “Camila” (pseudonym), who turned to LifeWorks while facing homelessness and mental health challenges rooted in past trauma. As she navigated her path forward, she discovered her own strength, built a future she’s proud of, and gained the resources to support herself and her daughter long-term. We are honored to have been part of her journey and remain committed to amplifying her voice as she continues forging her path ahead.
When you think of stability and independence, what comes to mind?
For Camila, it means being able to pay rent, having her own home, caring for her daughter, and enjoying the freedom to explore new opportunities. But getting to this place of stability didn’t happen overnight. It was a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and growth—one that she navigated with determination and support.
An abusive upbringing and subsequent relationship in adulthood made standing on her own two feet overwhelming.
"It really limited me," she explained. "[Growing up,] I wasn’t allowed to leave the house or do anything unless it related to school. Everything was controlled, down to the clothes I wore and who I spoke to."
After leaving an abusive relationship, Camila and her daughter began couch surfing to have a place to sleep.
After moving to Texas in search of better opportunities, she realized she needed to make a change. The combination of the abusive relationship she was in, the weight of childhood trauma, and the responsibilities of motherhood all left Camila feeling stuck. With the help of a friend, she connected with a local shelter.
"After I left him, I began couch surfing with my daughter,” she shared, “My friend told me SAFE [Stop Abuse For Everyone Alliance] would be a good place to go, so I called and told them my story and the urgency of the situation.”
SAFE provided her and her daughter with a one-bedroom space at a hotel while she began to rebuild her life.
A Turning Point: Finding Counseling at LifeWorks
Camila’s turning point came when she was encouraged to seek help for depression.
"It wasn’t normal to feel so sad all the time," she recalled.
The cycle of moving from shelter to shelter, alongside the extremely difficult memories of her past, left her feeling hopeless. However, connecting with LifeWorks began to reignite her belief that she could successfully escape her situation and begin to thrive.
“Feeling like I wasn’t able to do anything with my life, going from shelter to shelter—being at LifeWorks made me realize that there was a path for me to do things with my life," Camila shared. "It opened new doors for me to explore what I really wanted to do versus what I had to do to survive.”
Here, she found counseling, community, and resources that helped her begin her journey toward stability.
“When I first came to LifeWorks, I was living in a shelter and didn’t have anything of my own,” Camila said. "No car, no food, not even clothes of my own. Now, having my own things puts me in a better headspace—I am free."
For over two years, Camila worked with LifeWorks counselors, which was only the beginning. These sessions helped her process past trauma and reframe how she saw herself. A pivotal moment came during a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) assessment.
"Hearing how severe my number was let me know it was something I needed to work on," she recalled.
Through affirmations and exercises, she began challenging her negative self-beliefs and rediscovering her identity.
"I realized I didn’t have to hold onto those negative memories anymore," Camila shared. "I could live life for myself. I’m an amazing person and friend. I have a good heart, and I really like helping people."
Balancing Motherhood and Career Goals
Camila secured a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
While counseling helped Camila build confidence and her sense of self, she also needed support to balance her responsibilities as a single mother. LifeWorks workforce programs provided her with the flexibility and guidance she needed to pursue meaningful work while caring for her daughter.
Through these programs, Camila secured a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) position that aligned with her passion for nursing.
"It was flexible enough so that I could take my daughter to daycare and pick her up on time," she said.
Workforce also equipped her with valuable skills, including navigating diverse communication styles and collaborating on projects through LifeWorks Impactful Voices initiative,
“[The experience] made me realize that voice is so important no matter who it’s coming from,” she said.
One project she found particularly meaningful during her time as an Impact Generalist was developing a cookbook for foster youth to help them maximize their grocery budgets.
"It was nice to see people actually listening and using our suggestions," she said. "It let me know that my voice mattered."
Looking Ahead: Building a Life on Her Terms
Today, Camila is proud of how far she’s come. Stability means having her own space, paying rent, and providing for her daughter, but it also means the freedom to dream. She envisions a future where she progresses her nursing career, explores interests like boxing and esthetics, and continues discovering what makes her happy. Most importantly, she looks forward to giving back.
"I’m not giving up," she said. "I have so many creative thoughts and things I want to strive for.”
Camila’s journey is a reminder that stability isn’t one-size-fits-all. For her, it’s about creating a life where she can thrive and explore new opportunities.
A Message for Others
For those considering LifeWorks, Camila offers this advice: "Sit down with yourself and see what you need instead of being told what you need. Here, you’ll have the space to make your own decisions and grow on your own terms."
Camila’s journey highlights how holistic support can solve youth homelessness:. Iit is more than just housing and shelter. It includes giving each young person the space to discover their own strength and resilience, leading them to shape their own futures and achieve their own vision of stability and independence.
Written by Tara Chbeir, Communications Specialist