Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucia Salas
Hi Lucia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I remember the first time my baby sister described me as “the love child of Lizzie McGuire and Miranda Sanchez.” I grew up watching Lizzie McGuire; I fell in love with the idea of her “perfect family” and being able to just exist. But life is not perfect and I’m not a protagonist in a teenage sitcom. Like Lizzie and Miranda, I was just a girl with big dreams and an enthusiasm for life. Even in my darkest moments I would sing to myself “Hey now, hey now this is what dreams are made of.”
Now that I think about it, it was definitely a little embarrassing. I never lost my spirit of dreaming and love for life. Even if I grew up the complete opposite of Lizzie and Miranda. My story starts in Texas being the oldest daughter to a Mexican family in a very inclusive and open minded household. My parents shaped so many of my values like social justice and service to humanity that becoming a Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist was the perfect career for me. Growing up in Texas I experienced and saw so much poverty, trauma, and oppression. Sometimes, I would ask myself why things are so hard for me and why can’t life be like in Lizzie McGuire. I frankly refuse to give up because I believed in my dreams and regardless of how painful things were I knew I was going to be okay.
So I kept going, I was the first to graduate in my family from College and received my Bachelor’s and Master’s in 3 years. During my college years I became involved with the National Association of Social Workers where I served a student board member, presented my academic research, and spoke at the Texas Capital about the inequalities of Mental Health for Texans.
I graduated from graduate school in 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was fortunate to land my first big girl career as a Mental Health Therapist in a Juvenile Detention facility.
That career pushed me out of my comfort zone and it taught me how profoundly childhood trauma and your environment shapes a person’s future. It helped me confront my childhood trauma and shaped me into the clinician I wanted to become.
In 2022 I started actively using Tiktok to build a virtual community to create content to share my knowledge and resources to others. In my official Life Skills By Lucia website you will find a resource card and an education card with detailed information. It’s important to share my resources and uplift others because others did the same for me.
Now in 2025, I’m building my practice as a Bilingual Mental Health Therapist trained in Somatic practices and taking up space in the field of mental health as a Latina First Gen Clinician. My story is still in progress but I don’t take a single moment for granted, I make memories with my loved ones, and strive to be a decent human being for myself and others each day.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is a highway,” as the Rascal Flatts song goes, and it’s been a bumpy ride for me. My struggles are intertwined with growing up working-class, facing limited resources, and breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma. In 2022, my father’s cancer diagnosis shattered our family. Witnessing his suffering as an uninsured, low-income individual in Texas was heartbreaking. I strived to be his strongest advocate, empowering him to take charge of his health. Our father-daughter bond has significantly improved, and we’ve rebuilt our relationship.
For the longest I was angry at my dad but the more I began to understand how childhood trauma affects others I began to understand him more. He was also just a boy with dreams and aspirations
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently I work part time as an independent contractor/Mental Health Therapist at a private facility where I am obtaining my clinical hours for my LCSW license.
In my full-time role as a Social Worker, I serve victims of crime by connecting them with essential resources. This includes assisting them with applications for the Crime Victims’ Compensation Program, addressing basic needs such as housing, and providing immediate crisis counseling. My dedication to this work was recognized in the Houston Chronicle’s “DART Ride Along” feature, which highlighted my efforts in supporting victims of domestic violence. My career as a Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist is a calling to me and all my life experiences have helped me empathize with my clients and advocate for them.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
During my childhood, I spent a few years living in Mexico with my family. One of my most vivid memories is celebrating Día de los Muertos, a deeply significant tradition within my indigenous Mexican heritage.
I still remember the photos of relatives that passed away, colorful candles, and my family explaining the importance of this holiday. The coolest memory from that day was being part of the town’s parade and waving to my neighbor. It was an amazing experience and made me believe anything was possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lifeskillsbylucia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeskillsbylucia/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifeskillsbylucia
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeskillsbylucia
Image Credits
Vanessa Mejia Photography
