Inside Education and Health Sciences
Turning trials into triumphs
By Emily Clemenson
Aleighia (Lay) Mayle had a year left in her master's program in clinical mental health counseling at the University of Dayton. She landed one of the few paid internship opportunities in the local area — working as a mental health therapist in a regional Catholic school through UD’s ECHO program. She was taking her final courses to be eligible to sit for the National Counselor Exam, and as things kept piling up, she felt overwhelmed.
"I felt scared about the future with graduation around the corner, I started checking out of my coursework, and there were personal trials I had to get through," Mayle recalls. "I described it as being in water but the water level was right under my nose. I was drowning.
"Despite wanting to handle everything independently as I am used to, I reached a point where I needed to speak up. I shared my concerns separately with one of my professors and the ECHO administration, and each response was exactly what I felt I needed: 'How can we support you?'"
What followed was a unified effort from both programs to support Mayle. The administrators in the ECHO program are also adjunct professors who understood the nature of the demanding coursework. The faculty in the academic program are also licensed counselors who have designed their courses to build clinical skills and address the real-world demands of a clinical mental health counselor.
The communication between the two parties helped Mayle feel heard, understood and supported.
"It wasn't just about academic guidance or career development; it was about creating a safe space where I could openly discuss my challenges and receive the support I needed," Mayle said. "In retrospect, their support was more than I ever expected. It wasn't just about earning a degree or gaining professional skills; it was about creating a nurturing environment where I could grow into a well-rounded clinician."
Mayle completed her degree last May, passed the National Counselor Exam and is now a fully licensed therapist, and she has chosen to continue working for the ECHO program.
"In addition to my wife, family and friends, the kindness and support from my professors and the ECHO staff was what got me through some of my darkest moments in graduate school," Mayle said, "and for that, I am forever grateful."