Hello, and welcome to the PsyD webinar for Divine Mercy University.
My name is Bradley Seifer, and I'm the PsyD admissions advisor, And joining me is Matthew Wen.
He is a third a third year doctoral student at Stellan Mercy University.
And so the format for yeah.
I'm Matt.
So the format for, our webinar today is we're going to go over a little bit of a a slideshow presentation, detailing the major aspects of the program.
And then I'm gonna hand it over to Matthew, and then he's going to talk a bit about his experience as a student at Divine Mercy, and his story, sort of how he got interested in psychology and some of his, career plans.
And then after that, we'll go over some questions that you guys have.
So feel free as we go through this to drop any and all questions in the chat box as we go through, and we'll fill all the questions at the end.
So, as we go through, drop the questions in the chat, and then we'll attend to them at the end.
And so without further ado, let's get started, and I'll share my screen.
Okay.
So this is the overview of the doctor of clinical psychology at Divine Mercy University.
This is me, Bradley, the admissions advisor.
Okay.
So Divine Mercy University is a Catholic institution comprised of two schools.
It's dedicated to the scientific study of psychology with a Catholic Christian understanding of the person, marriage, and family.
It was founded in 1999 as the Institute for the Psychological Sciences.
And in 2014, the Institute launched its MS in psychology program online with its focus on educating working professionals.
In 2015, IPS was is renamed Divine Mercy University with the addition of the school of counseling.
So as you can see, this is a diagram.
It just sort of shows you what I just mentioned, namely that we're a university.
We have two schools.
We have school counseling, and school and the Institute for the Psychological Sciences.
The School of Counseling is chiefly online, though it's also hybrid in the sense that our counseling students come in for about a week toward their end of their training to come on campus for clinical work.
And within the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, we have the doctoral program, which we're going to discuss today, and that is a residential program, and then the master's of psychology, which is exclusively online.
Alright.
So our mission is, to provide students with an effective academic and educational environment that supports the integration of the psychological sciences and the Catholic Christian understanding of the person and to prepare students to respond to their vocation as mental health professionals.
We are located in Sterling, Virginia, which is, as you might say, a suburb of Washington, DC.
We are well located in the sense that we have much to do to the West and to the East.
To the West, we have mountains.
We have vine we have, vineyards.
We have wetland rafting, lots of hiking and outdoors, outdoorsy kind of activities.
In the in the winter, there's skiing.
To the East, we have lots of cultural opportunities in the Washington area, artistic, cultural, and museums, that kind of thing.
So, there truly is, something for everyone.
Matthew, could you speak a little bit to your experience in this area?
Absolutely.
I've been living here for about, a year now, and, there's just so much to do.
I mean, DC is right right over there.
It's about forty minute drive from the school itself.
And, like Riley was saying, there's something to do for every type of environment or anything that you would like to do, in less than an hour from from the school.
So if you wanna go hiking, you go west for an hour.
If you wanna go to the city, you go east for half an hour.
Right?
If you wanna visit a whole another state with its own things, Maryland, just go north for about half an hour as well.
There's a lot of great restaurants.
I have a Google Maps full of restaurants, that that I love eating out here.
And, DC is great because, you know, all the Smithsonians are free.
You get to visit those every once in a while, and just a good time.
It's it's it's a very, very cozy place, very safe, very family friendly for sure.
Well, thanks, Matt.
So this is a bit about our accreditation.
We are thoroughly accredited by a number of agencies.
So first, we are institutionally accredited by SAPS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
SAPS is recognized as an accrediting agency of colleges and schools by the Department of Education, and DMU has voluntarily participated in the accrediting process.
It has met or exceeded all standards and thorough evaluations.
It's also been approved by SHEV, the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia.
And the PsyD program has been recognized since 2006 as a national registered designation program by the Association of State and Provisional Psychology Boards.
The signing program has been accredited by the APA, the American Psychological Association, since 2016, and that's a very, it's a very important, accreditation aspect.
And then the Duane University University has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization reciprocity agreement.
So as you can see, we are thoroughly accredited by a number of different accrediting agencies, including the APA.
Okay.
So clinical psychology is the psychological specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals and families, consultation to agencies and communities, training, education, and supervision, and research based practice.
So this slide indicates, it's sort of a, outline, you might say, of the structure of our program.
It's a 100 and twenty three credit hours, which includes a master's of psychology en route to the doctor of psychology.
And what that means is after the first two years of study, after 60 credits have been completed, students are awarded a master's of psychology degree en route to the doctorate.
And it's after the first years, it's three years thereafter for a total of five years for the doctorate.
And it is on-site, as we've said, in Sterling, Virginia.
And this does prepare ultimately for licensure as a clinical psychologist.
Now in the first year, students will have classes, and they begin dissertation research.
And then in the second year, classes continue, but this is where the clinical externship begins.
And so that's an on campus, clinical, supervision.
The so in other words, students will be they'll have a faculty supervisor, and so their interactions with patients will be supervised and scrutinized by faculty members.
But in year two, there's still coursework.
And and in year three and four, there's also coursework, but it's somewhat less.
And there's more, excuse me, clinical hours.
And then in year five, that's when students go off campus to a, internship off campus where they go through more clinical training, and there's no classes at that period.
And then usually between years four and five, there's a, they defend their dissertation.
So that's, towards the end of the program.
And then so but in the fifth year, the, internship off campus are students we have a 100% placement into, APA accredited sites, which have included, things like Saint Elizabeth's, hospital in DC, the psychiatric hospital of Washington, and the Virginia Medical Center.
Matthew, can you speak a little bit more to this structure and your experience with it?
Sure.
So like you were saying, Bradley, during year one, it's all class all class loads throughout the semester.
So you'll have about five or six classes per semester for the first two semesters.
Between one and two, you'll also be expected to attend a summer semester, which only has two or three classes during that time.
And it'll typically goes for a month and a half.
As the years go on, the classes reduce in size and the time externship increases in size.
So this graph is, a little misleading as the, like, year two, will still have about five courses per semester along with one or two clients you might see, at the IPS center.
And then year three, which is the year I'm in right now, I only have about three or four classes per semester, and I'll be spending about two or three days seeing about eight to 10 clients, per per semester.
By year four, that reduces to one day a week, of classes, and then the rest of the week is externship.
And then by year five, there's no classes like it says right there, and you're only doing basically just work, working with clients and finishing your participation, if need be.
I'm trying to finish up by the end of year four, though.
So Yeah.
For me.
No.
Sure.
Yeah.
Well, I hope you I hope you do just that.
Thanks, Matt.
You that's quite helpful.
Alright.
So things to consider, is the PsyD program right for you?
Do you want to help people flourish while you're interested in the science behind human behavior?
Do you want to become an instrument of healing through the psychological sciences?
Are you interested in performing psychological tests and assessments to diagnose your clients and create treatment plans?
Are you looking to start a career as a licensed mental health professional, but specifically as a clinical psychologist?
So questions to think about as you discern.
Alright.
So these are the chief areas of competency that we aim to achieve through the PsyD program, and there are six of them.
So foundations in psychological sciences and research, integrity and practice, assessment and diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, professional roles, and clinical practice from a Catholic and integrative perspective.
And so, the first five are standard in PsyD programs, but, at Time Mercy, we have this six, this, clinical practice from a Catholic perspective, really kind of, is our, you know, our trademark in a way.
It it, orders and sort of directs the, you might say, the rest of the program toward, you know, understanding the human person and image of God and that kind of thing.
Alright.
So let's take a look at each one of these goals in particular.
So the first one, foundations in psychological science and research.
Graduates will attain foundational psychological science knowledge of biological, cognitive, effective, social, and developmental aspects of the human person as well as history and systems of psychology, psychological measurement, research design, and statistical method.
Graduates will have the skills necessary to conduct their own psychological research.
Two, integrity and practice.
Graduates will be knowledgeable in areas of diversity and ethics and display critical thinking, self aware and reflective practice, and self care.
Graduates will demonstrate responsiveness, supervision, collegiality, and professional comportment and professional practice.
Three, assessment and diagnosis.
Graduates will be able to conduct clinical interviewing, perform intake evaluation, demonstrate knowledge in the administration, scoring, interpretation of psychological assessment, integrate multiple sources of test data and clinical interview information into a written report, diagnose and develop a treatment plan.
And four, therapeutic intervention.
Graduates will be able to demonstrate case conceptualization, treatment planning, building and maintaining a therapeutic relationship, psychotherapy skills, crisis management of urgent and special circumstances, and discharge planning.
Five, professional roles.
Graduates will be able to function in a variety of required roles of professional psychologists to include consultants, educator, supervisor, practice manager, and program evaluator.
They'll be able to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams and with clients.
Six, clinical practice from a Catholic interpretive perspective.
Graduates will have developed a Catholic understanding of human flourishing and individual person in marriage and family life and be able to integrate this with the psychological sciences in clinical practice.
Alright.
So these are some sample employment tracks.
There are many, many things you can do with, a doctorate in clinical psychology, but these are just a few of them.
So, obviously, being a licensed clinical psychologist, but also being a clinic director, a psychiatric technician, a psychiatric crisis unit interviewer, community health, mental social community health, mental health social worker, drug abuse social worker, certified alcohol or drug counselors, therapist.
So there's as you can see, there's many others.
And, really, one of the strengths, I would say, of our program is a general program in psychology.
So you'll be able to find the areas within psychology that you think are most interesting and go and go into those things.
You know, we'll have graduates that will be in hospitals, that will have practices and clinics of their own.
Some will decide to work with, other mental health workers such as social workers or counselors.
Others, will end up working with psychologists and and hospitals.
So it really there really is a plethora of things that one can do, with clinical psychology.
Alright.
So these are a few testimonials from our alumni.
James Walovich has said, in our clinical psychology program, the training is focused on healing the whole person.
Kristen Long has said, I was drawn to this IB program, a desire to help to serve others in a more profound way than my previous positions offer.
Timothy White, this school is not afraid to teach you what it means to be human at every level, psychologically, philosophically, and theologically, and that's why I like it.
Then Kirsten Curtis has said, I'm so thankful for DMU.
The faculty members are very supportive and receive a lot of hands on clinical experience.
So lots of happy alumni.
Okay.
This is a short YouTube video of one of our, alumni, William Johnson, who has carryout research on PTSD.
Hi.
My name is William Johnston, and I'm a PsyD student at Divine Mercy University, currently approaching the end of my third year in the program.
Military service runs in my family and, and so both my grandparents served.
My parents both served.
This door, the PsyD program at Divine Mercy University opened the opportunity for me to continue to get back to conduct research and hopefully implement a more robust program to treat PTSD as it relates to combat veterans.
DMU has certainly provided the integration that I saw in terms of my formation, both the philosophy and theology core, in addition to the psychology curriculum, has provided me growth in terms of my faith, and my role as a husband and father, and of course, a psychological clinician.
So in essence, the Catholic Christian meta model of the human person is is why I'm here, both for my own sake as well as the sake of my future clients.
Okay.
And then we have another, we have another video from another alumnae, giving her testimony of DMU.
I would say that being a student at DUY University or DMU is one of the best things that happens to me.
I really appreciate a great support from faculty members and also classmates.
I have gained a great deal of knowledge in all aspects of clinical practice, research, and also professional development.
DMU not only provides students with strong academic skills, but also prepares them for a career in psychology.
I personally benefit from mentorship with academic advisor and clinical supervisors.
As a person, what I most appreciate from DMU is that its mission helped broaden my perspectives in understanding a human person through the lens of Catholicism.
Catholic principle, especially in hope, love, and faith, are very valuable and certainly helped me become a better clinician.
Okay.
With that, let's move on, to our faculty.
So this is a selection of our many faculty members.
So the top left, we have doctor Lisa Kloecki, who is our PsyD program director.
She is a specialist in adults, adolescent, and couples therapy.
To her right is doctor Diane Graves, who's the assistant program director, and she is a specialist in child and developmental psychology.
And to her right, doctor Anna Pecororo specializes in addiction and trauma.
And the three gentlemen on the bottom are the are among the founding faculty members of Divine Mercy, formerly IPS.
So doctor Scriffani is a specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy.
Doctor Nordling, specializes in child marriage and family therapy.
And doctor Vitz, the senior scholar, and professor is a specialist on the integration between Christian theology and psychology.
So we have, this is just a a sampling of many other faculty members that have specialties and expertise amongst practically every single, major field within psychology.
So, really, you're in good hands with our faculty.
Okay.
This is a bit about licensing.
So is licensing required?
A license to practice is required by each state and or jurisdiction where individuals might practice as a counselor.
When?
Licensing process begins after the student completes the practicum and internship and officially graduates from DMU.
States can and often do have additional and differing requirements.
Students are responsible for checking state requirements where they plan to work and adhere to them.
These typically include national and state exams.
And DMU will provide general information related to licensure during the student experience.
So who initiates licensing?
Licensing is a student driven process, and it's important for the student to begin research or licensing requirements in the state he or she intends to work in as early in the program as possible.
Will the students be fully licensed after graduation?
No.
Students must work approximately one year in a supervised clinical environment in addition to other state requirements to be licensed.
And the graduate may be required to obtain a provisional license for this year period, and be sure to check your state for requirements.
Matthew, is there something that you wanted to add to this?
I know this is a lot of information, for one slide.
And a lot of this, happens after you graduate, after you get your your degree and you have couple hundred hours of face to face hours, on your belt.
You you'll go back to your state individually, wherever you wanna start practicing, and, finish up the rest of the hours maybe in a postdoc, if that makes sense.
And then, finish up, kind of like one last big test, and then you'll get your license.
A lot of people are confused about what the license even does or, like, what it is.
And at the end of this program, you don't automatically get a license.
Those are given by the state.
Mhmm.
But this this program does prepare you well, to to receive that as soon as possible after graduation.
Okay.
Fair enough.
Thank you.
Okay.
So this, these are two graphs that indicate or show the difference between investments.
So on the one hand, something like a car investment, something material, will often depreciate rapidly after you make that investments.
So you drive the car up a lot, and a few years thereafter, it has a lot less value.
Whereas, when you're investing in education, in your mind, your, your investment is going to appreciate.
It's going to grow.
Your value as a, excuse me, as a clinical psychologist will grow throughout your career, because you will be become an expert.
You'll be grow in experience and knowledge in a certain area within psychology, and so you'll have more to contribute to whatever field that may be.
Okay.
This slide is a bit about the financial side of, the investment.
So it is 1,095 per credit at a 122 credits.
This is a $133.05 90 in total, and that does not include in include fees and indirect expenses.
As you can see, there are many different options for funding the education, including, federal aid, William d Ford, federal student direct loan program, the Stafford Loan, the Graduate Plus Loan.
And this is important that the financial aid department will work with you.
So once you submit your application to the doctoral program, the financial aid department will be in contact with you shortly thereafter and on an individual basis.
Also, noteworthy is our assistantships.
So a number of our students, do sort of sort of, like, work study programs.
So they'll come, and work for different departments within the university.
For example, we have some, sports study students in our financial aid excuse me, the admissions department.
And then in the business office, we have other students that are doing the same thing.
So there are different ways to, you know, work on a part time basis on campus.
And then there's other alternative financing plans indicated down here, cash plans, private funds, different things of that nature.
Also, of worthy of note is the MOUs.
So, for for those, you know, that have connections perhaps or could establish connections with the diocese, let's say, if you're Catholic, you could, arrange for, you know, the diocese to pay for part of your education provided that you come back and work for them after graduation.
Things like this.
So there are different options to explore, when funding this kind of investment.
But then but, again, the financial department will be in touch with you once you complete the application.
These are some of our, scholarships on offer on offer, and they range from, you know, different amounts as you can see indicated on the right hand side, and they apply to different people.
So, for example, the Faith and Hope scholarship is for clergy, or the Christendom scholarship, as you might surmise, is for Christendom students.
But the but a lot there's really most likely, you'll be able to apply to a number of these, and you can apply to a maximum of four and receive up to two.
So that's also an option that you should definitely consider.
Alright.
So this is a bit about entrance requirements.
So a baccalaureate degree from a regional accredited or internationally recognized school is required, and an undergraduate degree in psychology is preferred.
So that means that students without any undergraduate, training in psychology will be required to complete a prerequisite course during the first year of the program.
That's typically online, and it's concurrent with the other classes that students take during the first year.
And then we do require a minimum GPA of three on a four o scale.
And then applicants with a GPA of less than three o may be considered for application on a case by case basis.
So if you're really close to that three o, go ahead and get in touch with me, and we can see what steps can be taken moving forward.
Okay.
This slide is a bit about the application process.
So the first step is to complete the application online.
And then two, our financial aid office, as I mentioned before, will be working with you upon receipt of the application.
And then consistent communication is maintained consistently thereafter.
And then once students are once the documents of all that is the documents for the entire application are submitted, the competitive applicants will be invited to interview on the site that is on campus.
And then all applicants will hear back the admission decision by mid February, and the program will begin in August 2013, so about a year from now.
Alright.
So, how to complete your application package.
The online application form is the first thing.
So the first part is an online app.
It's a $55 application fee, and the second are your essays and your resume, which can be submitted later.
Moreover, we do require three letters of recommendation, two of which must be academic in nature.
So if you can find faculty members that you've had from undergrad or if you have a graduate degree, find professors that know you and that can recommend you to doctoral studies in psychology.
And then one can be, less academic in nature and more, personal.
So for instance, if you know a priest that knows you well and can speak to your personal strengths, that would be a good idea.
And then, of course, official transcripts from all post secondary institutions, so, you know, college and if you went to a graduate program, graduate school as well.
And then the official GRE test scores need to be sent to DMU, and there's our our code.
And they do have to be up to date, so within the past five years is, required.
Okay.
This is a bit about, information for international students.
This doesn't apply to everyone, but for international students, this can be helpful.
So for international applicants and applicants whose bachelor's degree was earned at an institution outside of The US, please keep this in mind.
Applicants holding degrees from outside The US must submit an international transcript to an an ACEs approved evaluation service, such as West dot org, for a course by course evaluation of their transcripts.
Applicants holding degrees from outside The United States must demonstrate postsecondary education that is at a minimum equivalent to a US bachelor's degree.
And if the credential is not in English, the credential must be translated into English.
And the cost for this evaluation will be responsibility of the student.
Applicants whose primary language is not English may also need to take the TOEFL.
Okay.
So that's all I have for you.
At this point, I'm going to, stop my share and transfer over to Matthew.
He's gonna speak a little bit to his own experience, getting into psychology and his own experience here at Divine Mercy.
So, Matthew, it's the floor is yours.
Great.
Thanks, Bradley.
So like, like you guys know, my name is Matthew Nguyen.
I am a third year in the PsyD program here at Divine Mercy.
So the PsyD program is entirely in person.
The first year was kind of hybrid because of COVID and the pandemic.
And so I was, I I was doing some part time work and also taking the classes online so I would have to zoom in every single day, to to attend the classes and whatnot.
But I finished my second year here in full person, in full in person, and then I'm starting my third year.
So just a little bit about how I personally got into psychology.
I, was originally went to be a priest actually.
I was in the seminary for a year and I had taken psychology as an undergrad.
And I I was at a Catholic school actually when, Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington, Doing all of, the psychology courses out there really opened my my mind to oh my gosh.
Like, everything that's, is happening this in this somewhat very secular world of the field of psychology is matching up with a lot of my beliefs, and my faith and and what we understand to be true about the human person.
It really intrigued me and really kind of opened my eyes into it's like, okay.
This is a pursuit of truth.
This is a pursuit of goodness.
And I I'm kind of interested in this.
I kinda want to look into this more.
And how can this be used to serve people on on a real level, on a on a genuine, loving, and charitable level?
As I spent some time in the seminary and discerned a little bit more, I felt that God was calling me to pursue psychology, as a full time kind of job.
And so after discerning out, like, divine mercy came up and, here I am.
And as I'm taking classes, and learning just more and more about all these all the findings within the scientific world psychology, but at the same time, in congruence taking classes of philosophy and theology here, and just integrating this idea that, oh, wow.
Yes.
We are mind, body, and soul.
Let's not forget about the mind and the body as we focus on the soul.
Right?
And so a lot of great professors, a lot of good things that we're learning here.
I've got a lot of great skills under my belt, and I've been seeing clients for about a year now.
I'm going into my second year seeing clients at my new externship, which is a local mental health clinic, in the area.
Really excited to to get that going, and seeing the people in this community here.
If you guys have any questions about anything, feel free to reach out to me, and Bradley, of course.
But it does look like, Bradley, we had we had a question come up during your presentation.
So, I'm not sure if you if you'd like me to answer that now.
Yeah.
Sure.
Let me just read it.
So for someone who may not have an undergraduate degree in psychology or counseling, what do you recommend if their interest is in PsyD?
So, yeah, why don't you go ahead and, take that on, Matthew?
Sure.
So if you don't have an undergraduate degree in psychology or counseling, like Bradley said, a psychology degree is preferred.
However, it's not necessary.
There's a lot of my peers and cohorts, in the cohort, that have a biology degree.
They also have a philosophy degree or even a theology degree.
And that course at the very beginning of the first year helped them to acclimate to the psychological language and whatnot.
But a lot of what I personally covered in undergrad while I was doing a psychology degree is actually reviewed and actually expanded upon within the program itself.
So while it is helpful to have a psychology degree, it's it's definitely not necessary, especially if you're very committed to the academic work and and just, like the that critical thinking, like like we've been mentioning before.
It's it's the the information is definitely a lot, as it is a doctor program, but it's not undoable for someone who is who is open to learn and and ready to learn.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Sounds good.
Thanks, Matthew.
So, could you maybe speak a little bit to a lot of times people will ask about the difference between counseling and clinical psychology.
Right?
So, could you maybe talk a little bit more about that and what's, to your mind, really is what's distinct and, sort of, yeah, what sets clinical psychology apart from counseling?
Sure.
Great.
I know that we had talked about this before, Bradley, so I'm glad you bring it up now.
So there there is a very, very fine distinction that that may be sometimes blurred sometimes in in people's heads and the general misconceptions of of what each field does.
Divine Mercy does offer a counseling degree as well as a clinical, psychology degree, so clinical therapy.
I would say the major difference is that if you're to pursue the PsyD and the the clinic the the the degree in clinical therapy, clinical therapists, are able to assess people and make, certain diagnoses that a counseling, professional might not be able to.
We're also able to, during this program, we're we're equipped with different modes of therapy, that addresses more severe, kind of cases such as schizophrenia, more severe cases of depression and OCD, things, like, we'll be able to treat, like, people with autism or Alzheimer's, depending on what field you specialize in or what population you specialize in.
Counseling is is similar to to clinical therapy.
However, a lot of it is, I I don't wanna say life coaching per se, but in many ways, a lot of the less severe types of depression, anxiety, maybe career issues or discernment.
Some some counseling degrees also provide you training to to do some family therapy, some couples therapy.
But on a on a larger scale, the society is able to do all those things and just a little bit more.
That kind of distinguishes them, in terms of outreach, in terms of ability, in terms of, like, a wider kind of umbrella of things that we can do on a deeper level.
That makes sense.
If you remember the slides and if you have access to them after this, and go back to all those sample kind of jobs that, someone with the society can do, being a clinical director, absolutely, and doing a lot more, like I said, assessment and diagnosis of, like, those severe diseases, of the mind.
Yeah.
Fantastic.
So to these tests that you're that you mentioned, what would be some sort of standard, psychological assessments that a clinical psychologist would carry out?
Sure.
Yeah.
Before I get to that, so something I forgot to mention, for the PsyD is that we also do research as well.
And as we test certain, like, therapies and whatnot to see which which therapies actually work based off of evidence.
We call them evidence based therapies.
Right?
We we are able to refine the field more and to participate within the field and, in a in a deeper way that maybe even counseling can.
You mentioned what what a typical assessment might look like.
So when when someone comes in and they they need to be assessed for, for example, they don't know what's wrong with them.
Right?
Am am I depressed?
Am am I going, quote, unquote, crazy?
Right?
Am I seeing things?
Whatnot.
We have certain measures and assessments that have been found through a lot of evidence and a lot of scientific research that have been found to to to pinpoint what the issue is, if that makes sense.
Mhmm.
So if you heard of tests like the MMPI or the MCMI, or if you kind of follow the Johnny Depp Amber Heard trial and listen to all the psychologists present in a forensic and a court environment, all these different assessments that they gave to either Amber Heard or Johnny Depp or whatnot, right?
These are the assessments that we learn in this program.
If you ever heard of the Ink Block test or different storytelling tests and whatnot, we're taught all those assessments within the program itself.
By the second year, you'll you will have access to and have the tools, to to even do the IQ test.
Mhmm.
So I've I've learned all these things already, and so my classmates have gone on to externships where they administer these and formulated, reports, for clients, like, complete reports for clients in hospital settings, and private group practice settings and whatnot.
Very cool.
Yeah.
I think that's that's super interesting.
So you you know, you could also carry out personality tests as well.
Right?
Yes.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
So it seems that the, you know, the advantage with with clinical psychology is that you are you have a greater tools kit at your disposal.
Right?
So Mhmm.
You're able to rule out underlying factors that could show up on a on a psychological test that, you know, maybe, you know, a counselor couldn't couldn't do.
And as you say, you also have extensive clinical training, and you have a lots of coursework, lots of, heavy duty research into really the, you know, where, each field in psychology rests.
You know, where is, what does the evidence show?
What are the best practices?
That kind of thing.
Because in a way, you're you're you're a scientist clinician.
Right?
So you you're you're you're trained to carry out research, but also, you know, to digest that research as a as a practitioner, as a clinician.
Right?
Yep.
Absolutely.
Okay.
So could you maybe say something about your own so looking for your own career and your own goals and your own future.
What do you see?
I mean, so you've gone to your sort of radius race at Divine Mercy.
You've had, you know, some some years under your belt now.
What is, you know, what are you interested in, and what do you see yourself getting into in the future?
Sure.
So I actually have a background in working with, delinquent adolescents, within an in inpatient treatment facility, in the state of Oregon.
Back then, I was just a residential counselor, so I couldn't do much other than just talk to them and, like, listen to them, and just, like, take care of them, just their bodily needs and whatnot.
And, as, you know, I look forward to the future, I hope to work with them in a clinical sense in that these these delinquent adolescents, for example, they they suffer a lot of PTSD.
They suffer from a lot of family issues and attachment issues and whatnot.
And they would they would receive therapy, from the on-site, doctor level clinicians.
I saw that.
I was like, heck.
I wanna do that.
Right?
I I wanna work with these these kids and their families on on a deeper level to to kind of unpack those wounds and and hopefully to heal those wounds, that have been so buried deep that has had led them to, commit these crimes, these these felonies sometimes, and lead them to to a life that isn't fulfilling, to live into a life that isn't free.
And so as I look forward to the future, I hope to to work with that population.
Yeah.
Just they're just very close to my heart.
And so, looking hopefully to work in maybe even a hospital setting, but definitely maybe also treatment facilities, that's that have that have these families that that need help.
Yeah.
So speaking of hospitals, sometimes people can so we've talked about the difference between counseling and psych clinical psychology.
How would you distinguish clinical psychology from psychiatry?
That's a good question.
So psychiatrists, are actually very drastically different from psychologists.
Psychiatry, you you receive your medical, doctorate.
And psychology is and clinical therapy, works more through kind of thought behaviors and, thoughts and behaviors and thinking patterns and and whatnot and then trying to get to the root of that through, through talk therapy or through even working with psychiatrists.
Psychiatrists, they do see clients, but their main mode of intervention is through medication, While psychology and, clinical therapist, their main mode of of intervention is through, like, their therapeutic orientations such as, like, cognitive behavioral therapy or things like acceptance and commitment therapy or whatnot.
So psychiatrists, they don't do a lot of the family work.
They don't do a lot of, the, you know, couples work or, like, intense severe cases outside of medications, while psychologists work with psychiatrists to to provide the best form of care, which, through evidence, we found is a mixture of both medication and therapy, not one or the other.
That makes sense.
Yeah.
No.
It makes makes makes sure it makes sense.
So what have you found to be maybe speak to the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of the program thus far for you and the things that have been the most challenging?
Sure.
I'll start with the most challenging and then on a good note.
Okay.
One of the most challenging things, I think, is I I came in with a misconception of, like, how how much commitment this this program takes, if that makes sense.
My first year I I mentioned before I was doing some part time work, and it was just very taxing.
I was very tired all the time.
And once I started to shift my focus and understood, like, no.
This is this is like a job.
Right?
This is, like, I I I live and breathe psychology, and I have to, you know, like, refocus every single week and every single day to to growing, my myself in a professional manner as a psychologist.
But also looking out for those times where, like, okay.
Gotta refocus, gotta remember what this is all about.
Right?
Mhmm.
And the prayer definitely helps, definitely helps with that.
One of the most, I think well, one of the most important blessings I've had throughout this program, has just been this, it's been a joy working with clients and, talking with my cohort and just growing, in community with them as well.
I have a priest in my cohort, and the first cohort also has another priest.
And, you know, we also have sisters in in our program as well.
And just speaking with them and just seeing how they love and seeing how they live, such a, like, a pious life and, a zealous life within a field that on the outside looks like it's very secular in nature.
A lot of people think that psychology kind of detracts from the soul, kind of detracts from from the pursuit of God.
Like, well, no, it's it's actually quite the opposite.
As we enter in these people's lives, we we help them to untangle kind of life's mess, if that makes sense.
Sure.
And to see them be free to pursue God in a way that is, genuine.
Right?
In a way that, they can make that decision themselves and make that choice to, like, okay.
This is where I'm at in my life.
It's it's it's just been a joy, you know, to to be to be able to be part of that process, and to be able to walk with people, if that makes sense.
Yeah.
That's cool.
Doctor Vitz, one of the founding guys, of this program, he he speaks about he hosted the child baptist one day.
It is the patron saint of psychology, as he sees psychology as getting in the way and riding the way for the Lord.
Right?
Oh, that's beautiful.
Thanks for sharing that.
What has been would you what would you say is really the greatest strength of Divine Mercy?
Now I know it's maybe that's not a fair question because, you know, you've only been to to find mercy and not other schools in psychology.
But in in order to kind of for for people that are, you know, listening to this and and wondering, like, what is it that's really remarkable and salient about, Divine Mercy?
What would you say?
Sure.
I think in comparison to other schools again, there have been another school besides Divine Mercy Sure.
Because I love air.
But it's it it does a fantastic job of helping you to understand, the fullness of the human person.
Mhmm.
And that includes yourself and myself.
This I I this idea that, you know, you can you can pray things away or, this idea that, oh, depression is just, you know, sadness or can just be fixed with talk there.
Like, no.
It's it's a little bit of everything.
Right?
And while some programs, you know, they lean very heavily into CBT or very heavily into the research and whatnot, that's that's all well and good.
But to forget the meaning and the purpose behind what we do, I think leads many people astray, which is why even within the field of psychology itself, there's a lot of different divisions, a lot of different, perspectives and philosophies, that may be harmful to to clients, that may be harmful to patients.
And so as as we approach the this view of the human person as full of dignity, as full of worth, as full of, this this value, that deserves unconditional love and our very best research, our very best therapy, and our very best practice, it it it just provides, this this whole deeper meaning of what it means to be a therapist.
And part of that, and we discussed this in class just the other day, means to to work on yourself and to to look back on yourself and say, okay.
If I'm gonna be here helping this person to to be free, I need to find those places in my in my heart that I've heard.
I need to find those places in my in my life where I'm not free, where I'm a slave to some things, where I, am struggling.
Right?
Because if I don't know the way, then how can I guide someone else down that way?
Yeah.
No.
It makes perfect sense.
Hard to argue with that.
One last thing.
So has there been, you know, I think maybe another another thing maybe that I'll add on to that is, we we really are a generalist program.
Right?
So, you know, you're exposed to basically every major, school of psychotherapy.
You're well exposed to all of the different, treatments and testing and research.
Right?
What has been maybe a school of psychotherapy or thinker that has been you know, you've been exposed to a divine mercy maybe for the first time that has really changed the way that you thought about the human person and your role as a future mental health clinician?
Sure.
Yeah.
No.
That's that's a great question.
And so you're right.
We we are a generalist institution, which means that we explore kind of the fullness of the field, which means that we don't really narrow in on kind of one thing or another.
But this idea of of, there's a there's a psychologist named Erickson, and this this might be psych one zero one for some people.
But Erickson laid out human development on, a couple stages, and he said that there's a struggle between each stage.
And just in my experience of people and just speaking with them and just listening to to their struggles and their sufferings and whatnot, these ring very true.
For example, for adolescents, the the population I wanna work with, Erickson says that during this stage of adolescence, they're the struggle that that's pulling them and causing this tension within them is that they either find their identity or it leads them to identity confusion.
Right?
Within the school and and Erickson mentions it.
And within a secular school, they don't really mention this last part.
But Erickson tied a virtue to each of these things, right, to each of these struggles, that that will help to guide them through through each of the struggles.
So another example for for the elderly, the geriatric community.
Right?
The geriatric population.
Either they, that they're struggling between finding themselves with full of integrity, which means that their dignity is still worth or, like, decay, if that makes sense.
Mhmm.
And so, like, okay.
Am I worth something in my old age, or am I just going to pass away without being helpful or useful anymore?
Right?
And, it's it it opened up a whole new way of thinking about, look about helping people and what their core struggles are, and what their their main hurts are.
And so, it's helped me to to grow in empathy for sure and compassion for each each population and and every client that I see.
Excellent.
Thank you, Matthew.
And thank you for your time.
With that, I I'm gonna wrap it up here.
Sure.
For for those of you who are watching, if you are interested in our PsyD program, I have listed my email address, my Calendly link, and at the application link in the chat.
So be sure to take advantage of that.
And, again, I wanna thank Matthew for very much for your time and, sharing us all of your knowledge about this program, which I think is a truly, wonderful one.
So with that, thank you, and god bless you.
Thank you all.
Thanks, Bradley.
Bye bye.
Take care, everyone.