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Participation in military combat leaves veterans at a greater risk for mental illness and the uniqueness of military culture requires clinicians to take special considerations when serving this population. The 海角乱伦 student body includes active-duty and military veterans. Our students and alumni also work with veterans in a variety of different ways- from internships, to research, to post-grad employment.

In honor of Veterans Day, here are a few of the ways that members of our community are serving this important population:

Internship

• Andrea Brent is completing her PsyD internship at Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center.
• Lauren Herline is completing her PsyD internship at Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center.
• Christine Sebastian is completing her PsyD internship at John D. Dingell VA Medical Center.
• Sharmane Brown is completing her PsyD internship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Research

• Dr. Christopher Corbin (MA ’18, PsyD ’22) completed his dissertation on
• Dr. Dustin Shepler (海角乱伦 Faculty) and Dr. Kelly Frazee (PsyD ’21) published an article titled
• Sharmane Brown published an article titled

Clinical Work

• Seven 海角乱伦 alums are working in the VA Saginaw Healthcare System including:
  • Dr.听 Maxine Pegram (MA ’15, PsyD ’19);
  • Dr. Tiffany Polzin (MA ’16, PsyD ’20);
  • Dr. Michelle Hodges-Pietryka (MA ’17, PsyD ’22);
  • Dr. Holly Spencer (MA ’18, PsyD ’22);
  • Dr. Mackenzie Tresnak (PsyD ’22);
  • and Drs. Cynthia Atkinson and Josephine Cervantes who shared a bit about their experience below.听

“I am one of four clinicians on a the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team (PCT). We are a specialty team providing intensive outpatient treatment, delivering trauma focused EBP鈥檚. Instilling hope to those who have put their life on the line for our freedom gives my work more meaning than I thought possible.”

听

“I鈥檝e had the opportunity to work with the veteran population in both rural and urban settings. By far the most meaningful work involved inpatient palliative/hospice patients. Most patients were older Vietnam veterans that often reflected on their life experiences. 听Unfortunately, most veterans have lived through horrific experiences both domestically and abroad. It was an honor to hold a safe space to discuss their experiences.听 The power of the therapeutic relationship, unconditional positive regard, 听and the ability to reframe experiences should never be underestimated.听 The veteran鈥檚 often found it helpful especially when coming to terms with their mortality.”听 听 听

Want to learn more about working with military personnel and veterans? Visit the APA’s .听

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This spring, students were given the opportunity to share what their experience at 海角乱伦 means to them. We’re so excited to get to share how the 海角乱伦 community has helped students grow not only academically, but professionally, and personally as well.

“I am sure that the world would definitely be a nicer place to live in if it were a little more like 海角乱伦.”听

-Fernanda Berganza, MA听

Learn more about what 海角乱伦 means to Fernanda.听

“The school鈥檚 learning environment helped me actualize and become confident as a psychologist who can make a difference in the lives of others through work I am engaged in related to research, advocacy, and clinical practice.”

听-Jared Boot, MA ’19, PsyD 3

Read more about Jared’s experience at 海角乱伦.

“Each day, despite the various stressors, anxiety, grief, and sometimes depression that comes along with being a graduate student, I wake up filled with gratitude, because I know I am working towards my life鈥檚 purpose, and 海角乱伦 has been giving and continues to give me that.”

听-Courtney Cabell, MA ’21, PsyD 1

Find out more about Courtney’s time at 海角乱伦.

“The community at 海角乱伦 has taught me that I can be an achiever, a hard worker, and resilient by completing one simple task; slowing down. Sometimes it amazes me how the simplest answer can be the most challenging yet eye-opening thing to discover.”

听-Alyse Dietz, MA with ABA

Learn more about what Alyse has learned at 海角乱伦.

“There are few places, whether that means organizations, schools, or communities, like 海角乱伦. It is a place of support, care, and growth and sets itself apart due to the conscious effort to promote diversity in higher education.”

听-Kari Eidnes, MA ’21, PsyD 1

Read more about what 海角乱伦 is so special to Kari.

“I was able to fully be myself and be accepted. The community is a real gift to the nonconformist.”听

听-Nathan Hayrynen (MA ’16, PsyD 4)

You can find Nathan’s full 海角乱伦 story here.听

“I have experienced 海角乱伦 as a healing place that has helped me answer as many questions about myself as it has created.”

听-Jasmyn Irvin, MA ’19, PsyD 2

Learn more about what 海角乱伦 means to Jasmyn.听

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Prior to becoming a doctoral student at 海角乱伦, I did not understand the importance of research, nor did I believe that conducting research was for me. Little did I know, my outlook would completely change within my first month of the program.

I have become immersed in scholarly research and professional development. During my first two semesters as a PsyD student, I have joined four research teams, have helped developed two psychological scales, and attended and presented at multiple conferences. I am also a member of multiple professional organizations. These have been very costly endeavors.

Recently, I was awarded the Psi Chi Professional Development Award. Receiving this award has been a tremendous relief, as it has eased some of the financial burden that comes along with advancing my research experience and professional development. I would encourage all Psi Chi members to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for this award if they incur costs related to attending conferences, joining professional organizations such as MPA or APA, or purchasing software such as SPSS. Personally, this award has assisted in funding my SPSS software, conference registration fees, and APA membership fees.

Thus far, 海角乱伦 and Psi Chi have made my new found passion for research as seamless as possible, and I am beyond grateful to have been selected to receive the Psi Chi Professional Development Award.

Courtney Cabell is in her first year of the doctoral program. She earned her MA degree at 海角乱伦 in July 2021 and her MS degree in August 2020 at SNHU. She currently serves as a student ambassador for APA鈥檚 Division 32 and sees clients part-time at a private practice. She has a passion for serving underprivileged, marginalized, and diverse populations, with a specific interest in the effects of trauma and vicarious trauma. She has a small web-based shop of her handmade, all natural bath bombs, body butters, candles, wax melts, hair oils, and beard oils. She is also the founder and CEO of Open Heart Communities, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving foster children and youth who鈥檝e aged out of foster care.

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Could you tell us about what AASECT is and what they do?

The AASECT is an organization that consists of sexuality educators, therapists, and counselors. It is a multidisciplinary organization; therapists include psychologists, MFTs, counselors, and social workers. Sexuality counselors include physical therapists, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, among other allied health professionals. The organization’s primary purposes include promoting sexual health and advancing the highest practice standards for sexuality educators, counselors, and therapists. Accordingly, AASECT is involved in advocacy, certification, education, conference programming, and community building.

How did you get involved with the AASECT?听

I became involved with the AASECT when I was a master鈥檚 practicum student at Dr. Joe Kort鈥檚 office, the Center for Relationship and Sexual Health. I was inspired by Dr. Kort鈥檚 humanistic clinical practice in his work with clients and his encouragement of interests in sexual health, especially as they relate to advocacy. For instance, through continuing education and involvement with Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, I learned how to better work with and advocate for marginalized individuals such as those belonging to the polyamorous, kinky, transgender and gender diverse, and asexual communities.

What led to AASECT deciding to make this statement?

Over the past decade, the amount of research and social awareness of asexual and ace-spectrum individuals has gradually increased. The chair of the advocacy committee of the AASECT is very passionate about social justice and advocacy for marginalized communities within the field of sexual health. Among other initiatives for this year, she was looking for an individual interested in and passionate about writing a position statement outlining the rights and dignities of asexual and ace-spectrum individuals.

What did your involvement in creating the statement look like?

I was the primary author and drafted the original statement reviewed by the advocacy committee chair and the AASECT board and edited with their feedback. I drew on my advocacy work, such as Asexual-101 trainings I have provided to other clinicians and my research in this area (e.g., dissertation and conference presentations at the APA Convention and GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality鈥檚 annual conference).

How do you think (or hope) this statement will impact asexual individuals?

As a member of the ace-spectrum community, I belong to online groups for asexual and ace-spectrum folx and shared the statement. I was fortunate to see that some individuals had hope reignited in the promise of therapy in a safe and affirming environment despite many past harms that they and others in their community may have suffered. I hope that future organizations will issue position statements affirming the rights and dignities of asexual clients/patients. Asexual and ace-spectrum individuals deserve access to supportive therapeutic interventions provided by knowledgeable clinicians regardless of whether their therapist belongs to the AASECT.

Based on this experience, do you have any advice for other students and clinicians who want to get more involved with professional organizations?听

My advice is for other students and clinicians to follow their passions and use the broad field of psychology to make the world a better place! Regardless of your particular area of interest, there are tangible ways to make an impact beyond the therapy room, whether through position statements, conference presentations, journal articles, newsletter articles, or trainings directed to other professionals or the community at large. As the Dalai Llama said in 2013, 鈥渏ust as pebbles spread out when a single pebble is dropped in the water, the action of individuals can have far-reaching effects.鈥�

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IDEA would like you to join us in celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility. This day is meant to commemorate the many achievements and contributions made by those in the transgender community. It is also a time to reflect on the many challenges the community continues to face. Much of the current information being shared about this vibrant and wonderful community is highly polarized. Often, the truth is hidden beneath political agendas, toxic sound bites, and information that is deliberately misrepresented with harmful intent. To truly honor this community and its many contributions, despite the constant struggles it has faced, it feels like a pertinent time to share an overview of some truthful history and science with you all.听

History

Transgender and gender nonconforming people have existed throughout history. There are cultures who have always not only accepted transgender and gender nonconforming people, but hold them in high esteem. In many Native and Indigenous communities, there are people referred to as Two-Spirit, individuals who were thought to exist outside of the gender binary and often filled special spiritual and religious roles as healers or shaman. While much of the expression of Two-Spirit people, and other transgender or gender nonconforming people throughout history,听 was done via clothing and nontraditional work roles, medical interventions did begin occurring earlier than most realize. Surgical and medical interventions began as early as 1922 by German physician Magnus Hirschfeld at his Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin. Unfortunately, much of this research was lost during WWII and the Nazi book burnings of 1933, when Hirschfeld was forced into exile.

Contributions from the Transgender Community

When looking at history, it is important to recognize the contributions to our society from those who belong to the transgender community. From artists to actors, physicians and politicians, the range of accomplishments and societal progress is exceptional, especially when accounting for the marginalization each of these people have faced along the way. This is a small list to highlight the range of contributions from transgender community from which our society has benefited.听

• We鈥橶ha, born in 1849, was from the Zuni tribe of New Mexico. We鈥橶ha was considered a Lhamana which is the Zuni term for Two-Spirit person. We鈥橶ha was not only a ceremonial leader for the tribe, but also a cultural ambassador who spent time in Washington DC trying to raise awareness about Zuni culture and traditions.听
• Alan L. Hart, born in 1890, was a transgender man and physician who discovered that x-rays could be used to detect tuberculosis, which ended up saving countless lives.听
• Wilmer 鈥淟ittle Ax鈥� Broadnax, born in 1916, was a famous gospel quartet singer. He performed with many gospel groups and even formed his own with his brother William.听
• Jacqueline Charlotte Dufresnoy, also known as Coccinelle, was born in 1931. She was a famous actress in France. Her marriage, which was accepted by the Catholic church and the government, led France to amend its laws regarding gender listed on birth certificates being able to be updated.听
• Sarah McBride, born in 1990, is the first openly transgender person elected to a state senate seat in 2020 in Delaware. Ms. McBride is known for her fierce advocacy work for the transgender community and continues that work to this day while holding her senate seat.听
• Rachel Levine, born in 1957, made history as the first openly transgender senate confirmed federal official. Ms. Levine currently serves as the Assistant Secretary for Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services.听

Current Research

Current medical research is seeking to understand and explain the multiple chain reactions that happen in utero, and how those events can possibly trigger an incongruence between sex and gender. Much of the research centers around the SRY gene which is located on the Y chromosome, and its need for exact timing to activate male sex differentiation. This research may be key in bridging the gap between sex and gender, although there are also many other factors, from biological to environmental and more, that interact with genes and require further research.听听

While research on the physical components of being transgender is vital, so is research regarding the mental health impacts due to gender dysphoria, discrimination, and marginalization. A recent study done by The Trevor Project called The National Survey on LGBTQ Mental Health 2021 indicates that 42% of LGBTQ youth attempted suicide in the last year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth. Transgender and nonbinary youth who had their pronouns respected by all the people they lived with attempted suicide at half the rate of youth who did not receive that respect. And a startling 48% of LGBTQ youth reported wanting mental health services, but were not able to receive such care. The medical and mental health struggles faced by this community are only a part of the picture.听

Legal Challenges听

There are currently dozens of state legislative bills being passed or proposed that specifically target the transgender community, focusing on transgender youth and affirming health care. Some of these bills not only attempt to criminalize providing affirming health care to children and adolescents, but also assert that parents are abusive for seeking it out. In some states, parents are being investigated if their children are undergoing gender affirming treatment, which may result in their children being removed from their care. Other laws are banning transgender youth from competing in sports with a team that matches their gender. Much of the information being cited about why this is necessary holds no place in scientific fact, and it becomes just one more way of excluding and discriminating against the transgender community.听

As current and future psychologists, cultural competence is a cornerstone of what we must embody. Understanding a culture in its fullness is vital to truly be able to meet our clients where they are. Social justice matters greatly impact the mental health of each one of us, no matter our identities. Being part of a humanistic institution with rigorous scientific standards means we must see the whole person, understand their cultural context, and embrace the emerging science. Most importantly, we must recognize that our education is a point of privilege which we should always use to lift the voices of those who are marginalized. We should help make what some want to legislate away, discriminate into silence, and keep invisible, visible. Thank you for taking the time to honor the transgender community, appreciate their contributions, and recognize their struggles. Please take this information into the world with you and use it in a way that can help heal.

Many sources were used to write this post. They are listed below for your further review.听

Further resources for your review:听

• Regarding transgender sports discrimination:
• Support, advocacy and education: ,
• Legal advocacy:

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Over a year has passed since 海角乱伦 moved all of our operations remote in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Never could we have predicted what is now the “new normal.” Below, Kenneth McDermott (MA) explores his experience in our virtual format.

Coming into the MA program knowing it would be virtual, left me unenthused originally about the prospect of having to start my MA online. Knowing I would not get to meet my cohort or professors in person took a bit of the wind out of my sails. Barring that, I was determined to adapt to a style of classroom that, even if It had not been my preferred method of learning, was ultimately going to get me closer to my goal of obtaining my MA.

Essentially, I was of the mindset to make the best of a bad situation and that you only get out what you put in, so don鈥檛 expect more until you do more. While I still highly desire that in person format, as I reflect on the benefits to online learning thus far, believe it or not, there are a few.

The first I would say is its reduction of certain stressors. I do not have to wake up early to get ready, or rush from work to make it to class. I have saved a small fortune in gas money, and I can feel better that I have not contributed as much as I normally would have to climate change. Also, its demand of me to continually improve my self-discipline to meet required class times and assignment due dates. Due to online learning being for many, myself included, an easier to forget format versus having to be to a classroom in-person, this is a key skill to have for any future therapist.

Subjectively speaking, I would give 海角乱伦 an “A” in how they have handled a transition to online learning. While I cannot objectively make a comparison to how 海角乱伦 is in a traditional in-person format (yet), I can compare it to my previous experiences. I had heard through discussions and emails that the staff and faculty at 海角乱伦 worked diligently over the summer to transition to an online format from an in-person one. This gave me confidence not only in the willingness of 海角乱伦 to provide my fellow students and I with a quality education but also that the school was being proactive in having a plan in place, where other schools and universities I had heard, were taking a more wait and see approach.

The pandemic and transition to online learning has not been easy for many. I feel that if one approaches the transition to a virtual learning environment from a perspective and willingness to understand the circumstances, and have a desire to adapt and thrive, one can overcome many of its challenges. One can find success in an online environment, as I have found in attending 海角乱伦, even virtually.

Kenneth McDermott is in his first year of the part-time MA program.

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