After our much needed holiday break, I returned to school for our anticipated competency exams.  While I believe I prepared sufficiently enough, the concept of studious dedication seems to be overrated during the holiday season!  Prior to the exam, I sat down to my individual computer as my friend and fellow peer sat next to me.  After several minutes of discussion she made the following comment: “Try not to be an overachiever and let us get a curve on this one!”  While this statement was made in jest, I realized that the comment was not made due to any amazing ability I have to do well on exams.  Presumably, she likely made this comment due to my leadership position and involvement with various student organizations like C.P.A.G.S.  Scholastically I would rank myself as a traditional, hard-working graduate student achieving a decent but certainly not perfect grade point average.  Moreover, I make it no secret that I too dedicate myself to hours of studying and periodically still fall short of the ideal letter grade.  Therefore, am I considered an “overachiever” because I choose to take positions in organizations like C.P.A.G.S. and contribute additional time actively participating in student diversity issues?  Or are students apprehensive that involvement in such organizations is so time consuming that one must be an “overachiever” in order dedicate any spare moment to anything other than graduate work, practicum, and other scholarly projects?

Continue reading »

There are some psychology programs that require that students attend therapy as a part of their “personal growth” requirement, while others do not. Regardless of program requirements, I believe that it is our responsibility as clinical psychology graduate students to engage in our own therapy. Much of my work as a therapist has been informed by my experiences as the client, and I strongly believe that therapy is an enriching experience that helps shape who we are, or who we will be as therapists. In my opinion, the idea of sitting in the therapist’s chair without having been in the client’s chair is simply irresponsible. How can we truly understand our clients if we don’t know what it’s like to call a therapist and set up the first appointment? Or the thoughts and feelings involved in walking into an office and waiting for the therapist? I recently had the privilege of teaching an undergraduate course and the one thing that helped me truly understand and empathize with my students was my own experience as a student. I think this also applies to being a therapist in that we can better understand our clients if we have been in the client’s chair. As an advocate for personal therapy, I would like to address some common objections from students with regard to seeking therapy. It is my hope to challenge some of these thoughts and concerns and provide an alternate rationale for consideration.

Continue reading »