Clinical Psychology

One thing I have been impressed with since I started working at Midwestern University is the patient-centered focus that all of the programs have espoused.

In particular, I want to talk about the Midwestern Clinical Psychology program. Part of the College of Health Sciences, Clinical Psychology is one of the newer programs to the University, having graduated its first class only this past summer.

Clinical psychology is a science that I have always thought of as "mental surgery." In place of scalpels and sutures, clinical psychologists utilize more intangible tools like empathy and active listening to diagnose and treat.

I have often thought that being constantly faced with people's most raw emotions would be a tremendous challenge. But, like students in other programs, Clinical Psych students at Midwestern University are driven to do what they do by strong internal forces. I respect and admire that drive, because it gives clinical psychology practitioners the courage and ability to help their patients navigate even the most serious emotional and mental issues.

To give you an idea of the kind of dedication and mindset clinical psychologists apply to their work, Melissa Flint, Psy.D., Assistant Professor in the College of Health Sciences' Clinical Psychology program in Glendale, recently sent me this description of her work with the MISS Foundation, an organization that provides crisis support and long-term aid to families after the death of a child:

For me, the ultimate of giving back is to sit and be present with a family. Alas, it is not just any family, but a grieving family as they mourn the loss of their most precious, beloved child. There are no words as a psychologist which I could say to take the pain away. Yet, somehow, in that moment, I am able to help carry some of that burden... but, certainly, only for a moment. When people find out what I do, they often recoil as if my contact with that level of grief will somehow rub off on them. I tell them not to worry, they don't need to be impacted... unless, of course, they choose to be. And there is no more precious spot to be in than that sacred place where a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, learns that they can trust you with all they have left of their precious child, grandchild, brother or sister - the memory. It is an honor."

The eloquence of this description is significant, as is the courage that Dr. Flint shows in becoming involved in such a raw, painful environment. The rewards, however, are as significant as the challenges - both for the practitioner and patient.

I hope to write more about the Clinical Psychology program at Midwestern in future blogs. I find it to be a fascinating discipline and an asset to the University's approach to a patient-centered, whole person approach to healthcare.