The Story of Acquiring Hope
By: Alexis Hassan, LMFT-A
At our roots, Acquiring Hope Counseling is about family. Dr. Solorzano has been my lifelong mentor and hero. While we have always had a close relationship, I did not think I would initially follow in her footsteps. As I was deciding what I wanted to do with my life, I felt called to politics, wanting to be a voice for those who are historically marginalized. Then the first Trump administration happened. I watched as politicians argued back and forth, unable to push through the policies that the communities closest to my heart needed. I decided that while I still wanted to help people, I did not want to spend my career fighting and despising half of my coworkers. In came Dr. Solorzano, showing me through her immigration work the ways that a therapist can navigate the system, stepping up to help those who need a voice in systems that make them voiceless. As I got quiet with myself, needing to make a decision for how I would use my education and privilege to serve others, it became clear that I needed to pursue psychology.
As I completed undergrad and graduate school, I learned more about what would be needed from me as an effective therapist. I also learned how to honor each client’s individual stories, helping to empower them to make the change they are looking for in their lives. Along the way, I met Campbell, one of our other founding members. Campbell stood out from the rest of our cohort as the only person who had moved from outside of Texas to come study at OLLU. I had moved around myself and knew it can be hard to lay roots in a new state. I set out to become his friend and it was one of the best decisions I made in my graduate training. Campbell exposed me to new ideas, gently encouraging me to widen my perspective and take into account different points of view that I had not considered before. Before I knew it, we were friends!
In the beginning of 2025, it was time for myself and my cohort to start making plans for once we would be licensed therapists. During one of my frequent check-ins with Dr. Solorzano, I mentioned that I hoped to be in private practice and she proposed that the time was now. The impending changes that would be brought on by a second Trump administration were looming over our heads and we knew that we were about to enter a period where people would need additional support in their lives. The more we talked about it, the more we knew that we needed to start our business.
When it came to name ideas, we knew we wanted something positive that would be centered around hope, something we try to infuse into each of our sessions. We threw around a variety of names but nothing seemed quite right. It took us weeks of brainstorming, unable to find one that would fit us and our mission. One day, Dr. Solorzano walked in and casually said “how about Acquiring Hope?” It was perfect! As soon as we had our name, everything else began falling into place. We found a space, wrote a mission statement, and started envisioning what Acquiring Hope should be.
When we say Acquiring Hope is about family, that means many things. As marriage and family therapists, we want to help families lead full lives. However, Acquiring Hope being about family extends beyond our clients. As Dr. Solorzano and I talked about what we wanted in our practice, it became clear that she and I were hoping to build a professional family. We want to be able to come into work every day, happy to see our colleagues, knowing that if we needed extra support they would be there for us. As I thought about the people who had been my co-therapist, having my back in session, I suggested Campbell be brought on as our first “adopted” member of the family. Dr. Solorzano agreed and the Acquiring Hope Family began to grow.
Today, as we are growing Acquiring Hope, we hope that our professional family will continue to grow. When you come to our office, know that we have a team of professionals who deeply trust and care for one another, making sure that everyone is at their best to care for our clients. No matter who you choose to see at Acquiring Hope, you will be welcomed, affirmed, and safe along your healing journey.
