Just Like Me

1-  It’s never too early to start making strides toward your future, so once settled in, set up an appointment with your academic advisor. Whether you are contemplating majoring in psychology or have never been more sure of something in your life, this is definitely not a step to skip over. Once with your advisor, ask him/her about the pre-requisities and requirements for the major and the coursework it entails. Find out if there is a social work program in your school or a child and family studies department; these may be of interest to you. Find out the difference between a BS in Psychology and a BA in Psychology. Find out the pro’s and con’s of double majoring (for example in psychology and marketing) and what different options could offer you. Also, don’t forget to check with your advisor about the semester you must declare your major or majors (schools vary) because you don’t want to make any last minute quick-minded decisions. It is important to note and remember that the opportunities of working with a Bachelor’s in Psychology are scarce and may not provide you with what you want; this means you have to start asking questions about Grad School! Once you are provided with all this information, take it home, look it over and start processing.  

2- College is the time for self discovery; it is also the time for career exploration and brainstorming. Being that you have time before declaring a major, take the opportunity to read, ask, learn about the field, and evaluate your goals and desires. Talk to professionals, subscribe to Psychology magazines, search online…do what you gotta do! There are boundless opportunities and career paths to take in the field of psychology and counseling; you must discover what drives and interests you. I would caution against assuming your own realities and versions of this field without investigating first; this way you can be sure of what you want and don’t want to pursue.

3-Take courses that challenge and intrigue you. PSY 101 (although fun!) isn’t always the best descriptor of the field in its vast entirety, therefore shouldn’t be your deciding factor. Ask other students, alumni, and professors about which classes are recommended and have ranked well with students. Get the inside scoop! Your goal is to grasp the most knowledge of the field that you can, discover more or less what you want, and delineate the steps of how to get there.

4- Enjoy the process! Enjoy all your classes and soak in all the experiences and lessons you learn about yourself this year–academically and personally. Once decided, inspire yourself! There is a fascinating world ahead.

Welcome to College! Yes, it sure is all its made out to be! -Just Like Me- SD

Why waste money on psychotherapy when you can listen to the B Minor Mass? -Michael Torke

                                          Why not just try Music Therapy? ; ) -Just Like Me- SD

American Music Therapy Association: www.musictherapy.org

Certification Board for Music Therapists: www.cbmt.org

Canadian Association for Music Therapy: http://www.musictherapy.ca/

European Music Therapy Confederation: http://www.emtc-eu.com/

European Association of Music Therapy Students http://www.eamts.org/member.htm

British Society for Music Therapy: http://www.bsmt.org/

Music Therapy for Cancer Patients: http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/MindBodyandSpirit/music-therapy

Music Therapy Gives Voice to the Voiceless: http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/02/music-therapy-gives-voice-to-the.html

Music Therapy May Offer Hope for People with Depression: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080122203158.htm

Music Therapy Beneficial for Depression: http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/01/23/music-therapy-beneficial-for-depression/1823.html

Music Therapy Reduces Anxiety and Improves Physical Health: http://www.therapytimes.com/content=0002J84C489EB484406040441

Move to the Music: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/05/music.aspx

The Power of Music: Its a Real Heart Opener: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/11/music.heart/index.html

Eminem: Mental Healh Underlies his Musical “Recovery” and “Relapse”: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reel-therapy/201007/eminem-mental-health-underlies-his-musical-recovery-and-relapse

Just Like Me: Do you think age matters when working as a therapist or psychologist?
 (Be honest; our feelings wont get hurt!) If so, how can we “compensate” for this?

Karina Lapa, LMHC – South Florida Counseling Agency:  Is the therapist’s age really an issue? Is this really a matter of transference or countertransference in the therapeutic setting, or is it really important? The more I grow older, and the more I acquire experience, the more I continue to think about that. Well, I graduated at 21, and at 22 I was working in a psychiatric hospital. To be totally honest, I have only been asked and challenged by clients regarding my age a couple of times, and I believe that I have answered appropriately and was therapeutically correct in answering their questions. Or so I believe, as the client returned the following weeks…LOL.
I’ve seen poor clinicians at the age of 60, as I’ve also seen competent ones at the age of 25; therefore, competence has no age.  So what do I think really matters? A combination of academic background, life experiences, training in your area of expertise, exposure to   and people, and most importantly being comfortable in your own skin at whatever age you’re in.  Now… does all of that take time to acquire? Absolutely.  But don’t be fooled by looks, or preconceived ideas that a young therapist is not competent to do their job, and that an old one is more skilled.  Like I used to say, a therapeutic process involves way more than just the therapist’s age. My advice for the novice therapist is prepare yourself, know how to answer the question of “how old are you?” in the session, and be open to life, experiences, and to people. Do I think that age matters? It may, but it may not be of any   our clients.  When someone seeks therapy, they are looking for someone who inspires trust, who understands his/her struggles, and who can offer effective help and ease their pain. Be mindful of that! At whatever age you’re in!

1- Start the year by making an appointment with your Psychology advisor and make sure you have everything in line to graduate with your major. Take the time to make a list of questions for this meeting so that your advisor can answer any questions about Graduate School applications, options, and what you should be doing to prepare. It’s important to establish a strong relationship with your advisor not only because he/she will serve as a great resource for you but because many times schools request a recommendation letter from your advisor.

2- If you have free time in your schedule for an extra psychology course, take one! Pick something new and interesting! The more you learn, the better off you are! Also, if your schedule permits it, take a yoga class or kickboxing (something of that sort) for credit so that you can jump start an exercise/relaxation routine; this is imperative for your future and career!

3- If you haven’t already started, NOW is the time to make a list of schools you would like to apply to. Investigate, investigate, investigate!  Being that many applications are due in December and January, you musn’t procrastinate this process! Check out the schools you are interested in, jot down the application due dates, the requirements etc, and then narrow down to your top choices. Just like you did when applying to college, always be realistic as well as hopeful about the schools you apply to, and remember to have “safety schools” on your list; you never know how things will turn out or if you possibly change your mind throughout the year! Along with applications, you must start studying for the GRE and plan dates to take the test. (Check out our GRE PREP section for help)

4-Have you participated in any work related to the field? If not, this is a good time to do so! You will learn invaluable things and will have one more asset to put on your resume and grad school application. This will help you stand out from other applicants!  Being that your schedule is probably jam-packed this year, go to your psychology or education department and ask professors if you can be of assistance to them in their research. Usually you can work flexible hours during the week (even 2-5 hours a week is better than none!) and grab experience in the Research process. Ask around and do what works for you! This will also give you a better idea of the research world and if you want to be a part of it in the future or simply stick to clinical work. In addition, it never hurts to learn from an experienced Professor, build a connection, and have an extra recommendation letter under your belt.

5- Take advantage of your last year and make connections! This is part of your self-marketing! Talk to whoever you admire (student, colleague, Professor, psychologist, parent etc.) and ask them questions! Make mentors for your future; they will be there for you when you have questions and concerns about your career. Stop by your school’s Career Center. Let them revise your resume or CV, provide you with interview tips, and more.

6- READ!!!  EVERYTHING YOU CAN!! Learn more about the field and the school that will fulfill your goals and expectations. Learn more about  the multi-faceted areas and careers in psychology. If you haven’t already, fall in love with what his field has to offer, and find your passion; passion is the most important ingredient in your future success. Once you find what it is you want to accomplish, you will have direct avenues to the path you must take.

7 & Most Important: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK, SENIORS!!!!! ENJOY THE BEST YEAR OF COLLEGE ; )

COME BACK SOON! – Just Like Me -SD

http://apa.org/convention/programming/pi-directorate/highlights.aspx

Psychologists’ self-care

Never skip breakfast! Instead, consider splitting breakfast up throughout the morning. Keep dorm rooms and fridges stocked with great stuff you can eat in the room AND on-the-go. These can include whole fruits like oranges and apples, fat-free yogurt, packets of instant oatmeal, little microwavable cups of egg whites, and light string cheese. Consider a wake up snack like yogurt, nuke up some egg whites, have an apple (~200-calorie-or-so breakfast). Take a couple of 100-calorie snacks with you in case you get hungry mid-morning — this way, you won’t be ravenous before lunch. Pace yourself throughout the day, and eat smaller meals. Carry emergency snacks with you at all times. College students appear to gain weight because they’re usually busy and unprepared when hunger hits, so they grab whatever food they can, whenever they can which is a terrible idea! Other ways to avoid those dreaded Freshman 15? Get moving! EXERCISE. Make sure you schedule time to work out as often as you can (exercise is a great stress-reliever, which is especialy help full during those times, as endorphines keep you happy!). Avoid fast food (or proceed with caution!)… and don’t make a habit of late-night eating. -Just Like Me RD
 

Adapted from: hungry-girl.com

So you are going to an important interview or you have landed your dream job…What do you wear?? Check out these fashion tips for professional work attire. Remember to check out your best dressed co-worker or how your boss is dressed for key examples. To look and feel the part, you must dress the part! -Just Like Me SD

Dress for Success : http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/07/30/cb.dress.for.success/index.html 

How to Dress Successfully for Work: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/07/0706_fashion/1.htm 

How NOT to Dress to Work: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/07/0706_fashion/1.htm 

7 Day Wardrobe: http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/7-day-wardrobe-0410 

How to Dress for an Interview: http://www.job-employment-guide.com/how-to-dress-for-a-job-interview.html 

How to Dress for Interview & Career:                                                             http://www.career.caltech.edu/resources/handouts/How%20to%20Dress.pdf 

Professional Dress and Appearance :                                                                    http://womenforhire.com/advice/professional_dress_and_appearance_tips/ 

1-  Career Opportunities in Sport & Exercise Psychology- This is hot off the press!! APA 47’s Position Paper on Employment Opportunities in this field. It also speaks of how to enter the field, its requirements, opportunities, salaries, etc…READ THIS AND YOU WILL FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS FIELD!!! ; )

http://www.apa47.org/pdfs/EmploymentOpp_Summer_2010.pdf

2- APA’s Annual Convention is coming up Aug 12-15! : http://www.apa.org/convention/index.aspx

3- APA 47′S (Sport & Exercise Psychology) Online Newsletter is now available! Volume 24, Issue 2 Summer 2010:  http://www.apa47.org/pdfs/DIV47_Summer_10.pdf

 4- AAMFT Annual Conference Sept 23-26, 2010: http://www.aamft.org/resources/Product_Events/Annual/AC_Info.asp

5- DSM-5 Draft Updates Available Online http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx

**6- 

“Tired of 9 Million hits that don’t answer your Practice question?  Try PsycLINK instead!
 
Clinicians now have an interactive, online forum where they can find, share and discuss resources and useful web sites like practice management tools, anxiety, dementia, postpartum depression, and other topics relevant to their practices. Part social networking site, part community bulletin board, PsycLINK is a wiki platform “by psychologists, for psychologists.” Psychologists can also use PsycLINK to pose questions and receive e-mail updates when members add new content.

APA’s Presidential Task Force on Advancing Practice developed the new tool, and the Task Force believes PsycLINK will grow over time and increase in value as practitioners add to the content.

Try it now! Just click here: http://psyclink.apa.org/dashboard.action” -APA
 

Anxiety Disorders Association of America: http://www.adaa.org/

This Association is a great resource for professionals working with individuals with anxiety. Check out the podcasts, the journal, and all the useful links and information provided. Become a member and learn even more!

www.gradschools.com The #1 Graduate School Directory on the Planet!

www.psychwatch.com PsychWatch

www.mentalhelp.net Mental Help Net

www.jobsinsports.com Go Big or Go Home! (Love the Slogan!!)

www.careerbuilder.com Career Builder Job Search Engine – (Sign up for the Job Recommendations E-mails!)

http://www.simplyhired.com Simply Hired Job Search Engine

www.ihirementalhealth.com  Job Search Engine Designed Especially for Mental Health Field