Mr. Jose Palomino Ponce

Specialties:

 Military and Veteran Mental Health 

 Trauma and Combat Stress 

 Transition and Reintegration Counseling 

Accepting New Clients in Sept. 2025/ Military Veteran

Mr. Jose Palomino Ponce is originally from Lima, Peru, and spent his early childhood in the Andean town of Abancay before moving back to Lima at the age of nine. At seventeen, he immigrated to New York City and lived in Queens for four years, where he adapted to a new culture, worked, and pursued his education. He earned an associate’s degree in Math and Science from LaGuardia Community College.

At the age of 21, Jose joined the U.S. Army as an Infantry Soldier, proudly serving from 1998 to 2023. He retired with the distinguished rank of Command Sergeant Major. One of his proudest personal milestones was becoming a U.S. citizen. Professionally, he is most honored to have led and served others during peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Africa, as well as during combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Jose’s passion for service led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Thomas Edison State University and a master’s degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma. Throughout his military career, he provided essential counseling and support to soldiers and their families before, during, and after deployments and high-tempo training cycles.

Following his retirement, Jose continued his commitment to service by enrolling in the Master of Social Work program through the UMGC and Salisbury University partnership. He is honored to begin his internship with The Centers for Wellness, where he hopes to continue making a meaningful impact. His professional goal is to become a Behavioral Health Counselor focused on supporting military personnel and their families.