My name is Giannina Reyes, and I have a large family of 4 children, I own my own business and my husband has a full-time job. They say you can’t have it all, but my husband and I, both 33 years old, are achieving it. I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, I graduated from high school at the age of 16 and after the death of my father I moved to the USA in 2005 with my mother. We worked two jobs in order to bring my younger siblings as quickly as possible. During the day we cleaned houses and at night we worked in a factory. Soon after I started working at the local community radio station, under the radio name “La Gigi”. This was my escape from so much work.
I quickly started taking English classes and soon I was attending the RACC. I graduated with high honors almost 5 years later. I continued my studies and in May 2011 I graduated from Alvernia University. During my last internship, my supervisor offered me to work as a Mental Health Counselor even without having my master’s degree yet. I was dedicated to learning everything about my new profession under the supervision of a mentor like no other. And in June of that same year, I married David Rodriguez the most important piece in helping me to achieve all of my goals.
In 2012 I was pregnant with my first child; a son and my priorities began to change. Spending time with him was the most important thing to me. In 2013 I decided to go back for my master’s degree, and I stopped volunteering at the radio station after 8 years of service in order to have time for my son. My husband did not expect to find dinner made when he returned from work and he was always willing to stay with the children for me to attend my classes. They say that; “behind a good man there is a great woman, but also many times behind a successful woman there is a good husband.” During my internship I was pregnant with my second daughter and in 2016 I graduated with a master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from Messiah College with my one-year-old in my arms. After 11 years working at Familicare Counseling Services, I resigned at the end of last year to dedicate myself completely to my own practice. Today I am the CEO and founder of New Beginnings Counseling Services. Serving dozens of individuals and families offering couples, individual and family therapy.
My husband and I shared the same convictions. Among them, being open to life and having the children that God wants to give us. When I was pregnant for the third time, I got a lot of negative comments at work. During the fourth pregnancy it was even worse, people who did not know me stopped me in the street to make comments. My fourth pregnancy was the only unexpected and surprising one, as I was preparing to start my own practice and my husband was also in training at his job. It didn’t seem like a good time. However, this child forced us out of our comfort zone, to review priorities, and to trust God. In the middle of me starting my own business and selling a joint business we owned we even bought a bigger house.
Many see having a large family as a major obstacle. When I had my first child, many thought it was the end of my career. When I had my third child many assumed that I would not return to work, but the reality is that they became my engine and inspiration to be better and to practice this profession with more determination and dedication. What I like most about my job is that it brings me closer to my human side, it reminds me that important things cannot be bought with money. Children are expensive and I could potentially be wealthier at this point but then I realize that they are my greatest wealth.
How do I do it? I have a great mother who is always by our side taking care of her grandchildren and giving them lots of love. And I have a partner who sees his family as a priority and that makes everything easier. We don’t have time to party, but we do have quality time with them. Sometimes you have to choose between doing laundry or going out for a while and we almost always choose to go out; the goal is not to have perfect children, nor the cleanest house, but happy children. We pray together and ask God for the patience it takes to raise these energetic earthquakes.
Giannina Reyes
CEO, of New Beginnings Counseling Services
4641 Pottsville Pike
Reading, PA 19605
484-578-9796
Makeup Credits: Dariana Torres / A Freelance Professional Makeup Artist since 2017 based in Reading, PA. IG @beautybydariana
