Dr. Jose M. Lara
DMin; M.Ed; LPC, CSC
Jose Lara is a proud father of two children, an immigrant, a former migrant, a La Feria High School alumnus (2000), and a US Navy veteran (2000-2006). As a bilingual counselor, he seeks to make a difference in the lives of adolescents, young and middle-aged adults of all backgrounds and nationalities. He believes solutions to life’s entanglements can be discovered in nonjudgmental conversations and honest reflection. His approach to counseling is simple- seek answers from within. With minor personal adjustments and partnering with a skilled “listener,” individuals and couples can attain their therapeutic goals. As a Certified School Counselor (CSC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, 2023), he has had the opportunity to provide academic, social, and emotional interventions for high school students in a residential treatment facility, counseling center, and disciplinary alternative educational program (DAEP) settings. He is the newest member of the La Feria Academy family and loves his new role. As an LPC, he is honored to provide professional counseling services at First Baptist Church La Feria during his free time.
Jose has received training as a Hospital Corpsman at Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Michigan (2000) and as a Surgical Technologist at Naval School of Health Sciences San Diego, California (2003). He also received combat medical training at Field Medical Service School, Camp Pendleton, California (2003) and served in two forward-deployed overseas military bases (Okinawa, Japan and Sicily, Italy). He has earned the degrees of Bachelor of Science: Religion (2010), Master of Arts: Christian Ministry (2012), and Doctor of Ministry: Pastoral Counseling (2021) from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. He also earned the degree of Master of Education: Counseling and Development (2018) from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. He is a member of the Texas Counseling Association and an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy practitioner.