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After graduating from college, you have been on a corporate path working in business. Why have you decided to return to psychology, and potentially pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology?
"What originally inspired me to enter the field of clinical psychology was my professor at my first psychology course in college: Introduction to Psychology. He was so passionate about all aspects of psychology and human behavior that it inspired me to expand my knowledge in the field. Later in my career, I took a course in Abnormal Psychology, and this is when I decided that, in fact, I wanted to pursue psychology as my profession. I became fascinated with the functions of the human brain and the interaction of emotions and behavior, so I decided to return my focus to clinical psychology by volunteering and interning at organizations that give me the opportunity to have direct-client interactions in a therapeutic setting."
- How do you feel the Adventure Camp experience will help you as you pursue advanced studies in psychology?
"Being trained in the Adventure Camp protocol definitely aids my growth because I am learning on how treatment for selective mutism is helpful to treat a unique population of children. The training has expanded my knowledge on how to interact with children with SM by teaching me important skills such as labeled praise, behavior descriptions, and imitation, which are actually essential skills in any therapeutic settings that treat children."
- You took a leap of faith, leaving your corporate job and joining ATS. How did you handle your anxious thoughts about that?
"I always knew that I wanted to work for a psychotherapeutic office or organization that helped people, so when I was offered the job as Psychologist Assistant at ATS, I was overjoyed. It was fairly easy for me to leave my corporate job and start working at ATS because it meant that I would finally be doing something that I loved and work in a place where I could grow professionally in the field of psychology. The only anxious thoughts might have been not knowing how to do all the functions of the job, but I took it one day at a time, asked questions and set a goal to learn a new task every day."
- If you could talk to your camper right now, what would you tell them?
"If I could talk to my camper right now, I would tell him/her that he/she can trust me, and that I am here to have fun and help him/her. I would say that he/she is very brave for coming to AC, and wait until they see the Prize Store!"
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