"Now Why Don't (S)He Write?"

** Bonus points if you can guess what movie the title comes from. (Yes, I know this is a grammatically incorrect sentence. But I'm from Ohio, where we end our sentences with prepositions.

On to the Blog

So it's been a crazy couple of weeks. Grad school is in full swing. Many of you have asked lots of the same questions - what's it like? What do you do all day? How many classes do you take? What do you have to do to graduate? How long will it take? When do you get to work with crazy people? Do you have access to the good drugs?

So here are the answers:

What's it like: One of speakers at orientation equated grad school to boot camp, only it lasts for 5 years instead of a few weeks. So far, I have to say that assessment holds fairly true. You do a lot of things that don't make sense, you're tense and nervous, there is no sleeping, and you're constantly being scrutinized. You and the people you go in with develop a tight bond really fast because they're freaking out just as much as you are.

But all in all - I love it. Every day is something new. I'm challenged in ways I never imagined. (when I have more time I'll tell you about my interviewing class and multicultural lab) I'm learning lots of cool stuff every single day. The people (professors and students) are an incredibly interesting group. Every discussion is fun and bright.

For the first time in a very long time - I am right where I'm suppose to be. I feel connected in ways I haven't ever felt.

What do you do all day: Every day is different. Some days are heavy on the class work. Others are more practical. I read and read and read ALL day. Today, I had a class and then worked with my group from my assessment class. We're developing an assessment measure to evaluate the functioning level of children who are survivors of sexual abuse. My professor is impressed. We seem to have hit upon an area that has very few tests and evaluations. The process is difficult and challenging - but we're on the cutting edge. Not bad for First Years (what we're called).

How many classes do you take: Technically, I have four core classes a quarter -this quarter it's Interviewing 1, Assessment, Adult Psychopathology and Multicultural Lab. I also have professional development and practice tutorial (where we learn to conceptualize and present cases). Beside class, I will be working at PECE-Pact, developing and running groups. I am also taking a seminar on Mental Health and Deafness. An interesting note: 1 percent of the population is schizophrenic, 1 percent is deaf. There are thousands of therapists who specialize in schizophrenia and only a handful who are trained to work with deaf populations.

What do you have to do to graduate: I have a ton of course work, most of which is in the first two years. The classes cover pathology, assessment, specific therapies, theoretical orientations, etc. Some are more fun than others. My friend Nicole, who has a masters already, got to substitute Sex Therapy for the assessment 1 class that the rest of us are taking (ask me about her assignments sometime). I also have a ton of practical work. Officially, practicum starts next year. We get to request certain sites all over the region and then get our placements during the second year. In the third year, we take the Clinical Competency Exams, in which we present two cases, conceptualize them from a practicular theoretical orientation, and defend our work in front of a panel of professionals. Yes - we are all anxious about this already. All during this we are working on our dissertations, which we have to complete and defend in year four. During year four, we compete nationally for internships. Year five is the internship year. So that's it. Follow those steps and you too can be a doctor.

How long will it take: Obviously if you don't know this answer you weren't paying attention to the last one. 5 Years.

When do you work with crazy people: I already have. It was called the Stater. Or Davey. Just kidding. We don't call them "crazy."

Do you have access to the good drugs: NO! Stop asking. You are going to make me get up on my soapbox (which all of you know I hate doing ;) about the overuse of psychiatric drugs. Medicating doesn't make the pain go away, people. Wait a minute. Oops. I just knocked over my glass of wine. :)

Okay, so now you know what it is I have jumped into. I don't know what else to say except that I hope each of you finds the thing in your life that makes you feel as "activated" (check out my new pysch lingo) as I am right now.

Peace Out.