Meet Ignacio Perico, a personable, accomplished Primary Counselor at Guardian IOP — Hoboken. Ignacio holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling, is licensed as a mental health and drug and alcohol counselor, and is fluent in Spanish and English.
While he has been working in substance use disorder treatment since 2018, Ignacio’s interest in helping people dates back to high school. “I was interested in psychology and learned that I could make a career out of talking to people and helping them,” he said. “It sounded too good to be true.”
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The Journey to His True Calling
Ignacio’s journey to the world of counseling was not a direct one, however. Ignacio took a job in construction after earning his bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“I worked in construction for five years, then experienced some family and personal issues that made me re-evaluate things,” he said. “At the time, I was doing some volunteer work that reminded me of my desire to help people. I decided to go back to school and pursue something more worthwhile.”
His advanced degree and double certification soon followed. After working for two other organizations, Ignacio joined Guardian IOP in July 2023.
The Humble Helper
When asked what he gets out of helping people address mental health and substance use issues, Ignacio deflects any personal credit for his work.
“I would love to take the credit, but it’s not about me,” he said. “I don’t really do anything. My clients do the work. I give them the tools, but they have to use them. As long as they put in the work, things will come together.”
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No Such Thing as a “Typical” Day
Ignacio says that his days vary widely but typically comprise individual and group counseling sessions, intake assessments, and virtual group sessions.
“It really depends on what’s happening in a particular week,” he said. “Sometimes I facilitate more group sessions. Other weeks I have more individual sessions and intakes.”
In addition to working with clients, Ignacio shares facilitation duties with a co-worker for a family group that meets twice a month.
“We invite family members even when the client is not active in the program,” he said. “Family members need support, and they can provide consistency for a client who might be struggling.”
Virtual Groups Benefit Clients
Most family sessions are virtual, as are several client groups. Ignacio sees the advantages of this method of care delivery for everyone involved, noting how it increases both accessibility and quality of life.
“Many of our clients have jobs and families, and it’s hard for them to be away from their families four nights a week,” he said. “They can miss out on a lot. Being able to log in to a meeting from home eliminates travel time and helps them balance family life with the services they need to maintain long-term recovery.”
Time Off is for Learning How to Slow Down
Ignacio describes himself as a person who has always needed to be “on the go.” But lately his personal development goal has been to learn how to be still, and he’s exploring ways to be with himself. He enjoys spending time outside, focusing on “enjoying the small moments.”
He also values his time at church and with his families. When asked what family means to him, he replied with a smile, “great conversation, some laughs, learning from each other, and moments of growth.”
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More Than He Imagined
When reflecting on his experience at Guardian IOP, Ignacio notes the importance of rapport, which in turn leads to a rewarding experience for all.
“I see the importance of building rapport with clients first. Once they feel comfortable and safe, it’s appropriate for me to challenge them a little bit,” he said. “Sometimes I’m teaching, sometimes I’m listening, and sometimes I’m encouraging. But no matter what I’m doing, it’s a lot more rewarding than I ever imagined.”
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