Experiences Fit for Masters
Written By Asia Howe
The current cohorts of the UHH Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology program. Photo courtesy of Faith Payne.
“It is so vital,” says Faith Payne, “to understand the intricacies of a person’s culture so that as a counselor I am able to accommodate and understand them.” The second year cohort of the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology program chose to study psychology at UHH because of the ample opportunities the university and town provides for learning about various cultural perspectives.
UHH offers six master’s degrees, one of which is the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, a degree backed by a nationally accredited graduate program. The program aims to “encompass a broad range of practices that help people improve their well-being” via “the integration of theory, research, practice, and sensitivity to multicultural issues.” Of course, students in the program are not the ones receiving support, but the ones learning to administer it. Although there are many graduate psychology courses, this article focuses on one in particular, PSY 659: Internship.
Payne, whose studies are overseen by Doctors Bryan Kim and Charmaine Higa-McMillan, interns at Hawaii Behavioral Health as a paraprofessional and co-leads a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Group for teenagers and their parents. “I work with teenagers out in the community. I help them get involved in activities and take them out to do fun things. We build skills to deal with stress. The youth and I come up with goals related to behavioral struggles that are causing [them] problems or creating problems within their family structure. I also have sessions with one client that my supervisor at the site oversees. The feedback I get from my supervisor is so valuable,” the cohort states. “It’s not something I could read in a book or learn from a lecture.” Because of the nature of her work, Payne is usually on the job during after-school hours. She interns four to eight hours a day, three to four days a week.
Malgorzata “Gosia” Krepps, another second year cohort of the program, is being supported by Dr. Kim as well, in addition to Licensed Social Worker and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Grace Bunghanoy-Diama, her supervisor at her internship. Working Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Krepps interns at BAYADA Habilitation Internship Program. Krepps explains, “I am scheduled [for] various public and charter schools on the east side of the Big Island. [Usually,] I have 20 direct contact hours per week. I work with children suffering from neurodevelopmental disorders, primarily autism spectrum disorder. We work on behavioral, educational, and developmental goals.” While she acquired her first graduate degree in 2003, Krepps returned to school due to a persistent interest in psychology.
Malgorzata “Gosia” Krepps. Photo courtesy of Malgorzata Krepps.
Regarding the quality of her internship, she says, “This internship has been a great opportunity to experience behavioral treatments only touched upon in class. This real-world experience has also given me insight into [a] re emerging field gaining momentum in the treatment of autism. It has given me [a] greater understanding of applied behavioral analysis and has been a complement to my coursework in Cognitive Behavioral Theory.” Of what she has imported from the field, the cohort states, “I have brought forth a humanistic approach and a general understanding [about] the therapeutic process.”
“Being able to establish boundaries with clients,” Payne comments on what she has been imparted with by her internship, “is a concept we read about and discussed, but it is something you have to experience to understand what makes a healthy boundary.” Concerning what the graduate brings to her work, she declares, “So much of what I have learned in the classroom I use every day at my internship! I apply various concepts of psychology in fun ways to my work with teenagers. We go to local businesses to volunteer and the youth [are] able to use the interpersonal skills they have been working on.”
The experience which Hawaii Behavioral Health and BAYADA Habilitation Internship Program provide these graduate students has both contributed to their thoughts about psychology and their futures.
Krepps asserts, “It has broadened my understanding of the work of BF Skinner and O. Ivar Lovaas among others. It has made me more aware of antecedents, behaviors, and consequences in daily life. [It has also made me more aware of] incentives and positive reinforcements in many facets of life, including teaching and parenting.” She continues, “Although I probably won’t be pursuing behavioral analysis as a career, [my internship] has deepened my understanding of the value and spectrum of behavioral approaches. I feel for someone interested in applied behavioral analysis and pursuing certification in behavioral analysis, the BAYADA internship site would be ideal.”
“My internship,” Payne explains, “has helped me identify which aspects of the psychology field I am interested in. Through experience, in both my undergraduate and graduate practicum courses I have had the opportunity to figure out what [doesn’t] match my interests.” The cohort goes on, “My internship makes me excited about the work I will be doing after graduating. It gives me a taste of what daily life is like in my field. I strongly believe that internship opportunities and applied learning are critical to education! It should be required in all programs at UH Hilo. Connecting what is learned in the classroom with the community not only benefits the student, but gives back to the Big Island.”
“You need to have real world experience,” Krepps contends, “In some regards, this may be more valuable than the coursework itself.”
The list of UHH graduate programs may be found here. UHH Career Development Services has a webpage about off-campus jobs and internships. The Office of Applied Learning Experiences, or ALEX, has one for credit bearing internships. If interested, students should meet with their advisor as well.
