November Hero of the Month: Alexandrea Rebar, LICSW, LCSW

Every month, we spotlight a counselor who has gone above and beyond for Uwill as our Uwill Hero of the Month. This month, we are delighted to recognize Alexandrea Rebar. LICSW, LCSW as Uwill’s Monthly Hero. 

Since joining the Uwill team in August 2023, Alexandrea has always gone above and beyond for Uwill. In that time, she’s had over 500 appointments, impacting the lives of students across Washington and New Jersey, all with a very high feedback rating. 

Check out our interview with Alexandrea as she discusses the importance of same day appointments, how Uwill has made her a better therapist, and some tips for students coming home for the holidays.

What excites you the most about working with Uwill?
During my 9-to-5, I work with kids, youth and families. In the state of Washington when you’re 13 or older you get to make decisions for your own mental health care and so oftentimes what the kids want to work on is not what the parents want to work on. Working with college students, they come ready, they want to work. They know what they want to work on. 

Can you illustrate the importance of a student being able to access a platform like you will?
I think having access opens a lot more doors for people to get therapy, to break down the barriers. Oftentimes, in rural areas there’s not enough therapists or providers available so that can make it tough to be able to go to therapy. Speaking from experience of when I was in grad school and I had insurance for Washington, but was attending school in Colorado, your insurance can be different. So trying to find a therapist that fits your insurance from a different state that is also going to be a good fit for you is a challenge. I think it’s nice that students can find a provider that’s licensed the same day which is practically unheard of in traditional therapy which usually can take weeks or months. I remember during the pandemic when I was trying to get therapy they said “yeah, we can see you in three months.” Well, that doesn’t do anything for my depression now! So it’s nice that it’s a lot more accessible for students and that they’re not just seeing a provider, but someone who’s licensed.

What aspect of your work would you say that you enjoy the most?
I would probably say when students start to see the changes in themselves that I’ve slowly been seeing happen during sessions. I get really excited and filled with joy when they start to realize, their own progress or people in their life have told them that they are seeing changes when they start to have more confidence in themselves.

What is the most important lesson that you’ve learned through your work?
Just to meet all the students where they’re at. Some days students come ready to talk about things but maybe they weren’t in the previous session. There might be times that they’re struggling and they aren’t sure how they’re going to make it through the weekend or if they’re going through a really tough friend situation. They just need to be able to cry and process or if crises come up. I think not just with Uwill, but in general, like meeting students and kind of where they are at and being able to empathize with their experience has been like really, I think, important in building rapport and having students feel heard, accepted and like want them to come back to another session versus like, I’ll see you in one time and then never see you again.

What was it that first attracted you to working with Uwill.
I immediately loved that students could get care the same day and that the expectation of how many hours therapists or providers needed to be available was only five hours a week. which was nice because it allowed me to continue working my 9-to-5 and then provide therapy in a different capacity in those off hours. I was often working from 9:00 to 5:00 and then seeing students like two days a week, 7:30 to 9:30, and then some weekend hours. It was nice to have sessions with students who are experiencing life differently than the population I was already serving.

What impact would you say that Uwill has had on you as a professional?
I think it’s made me a better therapist. I feel like I’ve become more dedicated. I have more drive and I’m committed to do the work that I do more than ever before. I’ve had some great opportunities to take some trainings. I took the last one on eating disorders and I took the one on mental flexibility for college athletes. I’ve been able to get some CEUs and then also make my practice better in the way that I serve students.

What advice do you have for students who may be returning home for the holidays and may be experiencing struggles at home?
Going home for the holidays can cause a lot of stress, turmoil, and familial conflict for students and figuring out how to navigate returning home can be a challenge. If students feel safe setting boundaries with family members, I would recommend doing so by speaking in a calm and straightforward manner. It is important for families to know and respect the student’s boundaries whether a student does not want to talk about a certain topic or decides to not participate in a holiday activity. Remember no is a complete sentence! If students do not feel safe doing so, they should carve out some time to spend with friends or supportive family members, participate in a hobby (reading, snowboarding, crocheting, etc) or find a local coffee shop or library to hang out in to find some peace of mind. It’s okay to decline to participate in an activity or take space in another room if things become too heated. It is important to be consistent with strategies students have learned and implemented from their student health center or sessions with their Uwill counselor. If students are unsure how to navigate going home for the holidays, they can always reach out to their Uwill counselor for support!

To learn more about becoming a counselor with Uwill, click on the link below.

Back to Blog

Share this: