Student & Alumni Bulletin

Academic year 2007-2008 Announcements

The Division of Counseling and Psychology, 33 years and going strong!

In 1975 the program began with a handful of faculty and students and has advanced into a broad foundation of psychology-based, rigorous theoretical study that integrates developmental, holistic, and multicultural perspectives; a strong emphasis on field experience in a variety of professional settings; and a commitment to socially responsible, reflective practice.

Next Student Social Event - Friday, March 21st from 3-5pm (Welcome Spring!)

Please join Counseling and Psychology Faculty, staff, current students and alumni for a casual wine and cheese gathering on Friday, March 21st from 3-5pm. The event will be in celebration of the first day of Spring, and will take place at the Counseling and Psychology Division Office at 7 Mellen Street. Please rsvp to Jeremy Galvin (617-349-8331 or jgalvin@lesley.edu). We hope to see you there!

Core faculty member, Dr. Rakhshanda Saleem, begins in the Fall 2007

Dr. Rakhshanda Saleem, Assistant Professor, recieved her Ph.D. from Colorado State University. Dr. Saleem is an instructor at the Harvard Medical School. She is a licensed Psychologist and maintains a praviate practice as a neuropsychologist, evaluating both children and adults for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Her work at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School focuses on evaluation of neurodevelopmental issues including learning disability, attention deficits, PDD spectrum disorders and associated behavioral difficulties. Her clinical interests include culture-specific assessment and care for patients with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Her teaching and research interests include understanding human behavior by incorporating the complex interactions between biological and psychosocial factors, with an emphasis on the impact of class, gender, race, and culture. She believes in education and counseling as important agents in promoting individual and societal change towards creating a just society.

Institute for Body, Mind and Spirituality has come to GSASS

Vivien Marcow-Speiser takes over as Director for the institute for Body, Mind and Spirituality at Lesley University. The institutue was established for the purpose of promoting inquiry, training professionals, conducting research, developing new programs and providing leadership in the area of mind-body health education.

Health is broadly defined as a dynamic process of well-being, which integrates mental, physical, social/relational, aesthetic and spiritual elements. Drawing upon our expertise in the areas of counseling psychology, creative arts, expressive therapies, education, and interdisciplinary studies, the Institute is committed to the integration of holistic principles and methods into professional practice within a diverse society. For more information, please contact Vivien Marcow Speiser at 617-349-8440, or email: vspeiser@lesley.edu.

Trauma Certificate Offered

• A 12-credit post-Master's certificate program
• Provides specialization in Trauma Studies
• Enables professionals with related graduate degrees and clinical background to practice in the trauma field.

The program offers the opportunity for post-Master's professional counselors and other post-Master's practitioners (clinical social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists) to develop expertise in trauma work. It will provide an overview of trauma theory and practice as well as focus on specific client populations and topics.

For more information contact John Gearin, Assistant Director of Advising and Student Services, 617-349-8339, or jgearin@lesley.edu

Fall Trauma Courses:

• GPSYC 6035 Psychological Trauma and Post Trauma Therapy
• GPSYC 7200 Community Crisis Intervention and Crisis Response Planning

Spring and Summer Trauma Courses:

• GPSYC 7201 Psychological Trauma in the Lives of Children and Adolescents (Spring)
• GPSYC 7202 Special Topics in Trauma Studies (not offered Summer 2008)
• GPSYC 6041 A Guided International Study in Trauma: Community Approaches in South Africa (not offered Summer 2008)

Professionalization Meetings

Holistic Studies "Professional Identity Group" Meetings

Spring 2008 Meeting Schedule (TBA)

The purpose of these meetings are to help students who are engaged in Holistic Studies to deepen and consolidate their professional identities as clinicians and educators. The meetings are open to all students in the Division of Counseling and Psychology who are taking classes, or who have interests, related to the Holistic Studies specialization. Each meeting includes a specific topic of discussion and a period for free discussion in which students can raise topics, issues, and concerns. All current students and Alumni are welcome to attend.

Discussion topics have included:

• Defining a holistic clinical orientation operationally.
• Obtaining an internship with a holistic orientation: Strategies and site-survey data.
• Using meditation, expressive arts therapies, and other holistic practices in clinical mental health counseling.
• Self-care in a profession where secondary trauma and burn-out are prevalent.
• Maintaining and deepening the process of spiritual development in the midst of a hectic professional schedule.

School Professionalization Meetings

Spring 2008 Meeting Schedule (TBA)

These will be conducted as informal meetings offered by Professor Dalia Llera. Dalia would like anyone who is new to the program or any current students who have questions about our school programs, to come to the meetings so she can meet with you as a group and answer any questions you might have.

New to Graduate Study at Lesley

Have you been away from school for a while? Are you coming from undergraduate study and not sure how graduate expectations differ? Could you use tips and support about managing your graduate coursework? Are you asking yourself any of these questions?

• How do I manage my reading load?
• How can I optimize my learning from readings, but use my time efficiently?
• What exactly is meant by critical thinking and writing?
• How should my papers be different than in undergraduate school?
• How can I effectively meet my learning goals?
• How do I have a life and do well in graduate school?

Counseling and Psychology Assistant Professor Sue Motulsky, a recent doctoral graduate, is offering small group conversations to Master's students about managing graduate study at Lesley. Sessions will provide tips and suggestions on selected topics of interest as well as support and feedback from other students. Come share your concerns, challenges, and strategies and receive tips and ideas to help you be more effective and successful in your learning.

Please contact Jeremy Galvin at 617-349-8331 for more information.

Calendar of Events

For the full academic calendar, please go to www.lesley.edu/calendar.html.

Faculty Advising Hours

To make an appointment during scheduled advising hours, please call Jeremy Galvin at (617) 349-8331. Appointments are for one half hour. If you need more time, please mention it when you call. If you need an appointment outside of the posted advising hours, please contact the advisor directly.

Resources and Projects

Student and Alumni Networking Initiative

ALUMNI CAREER NETWORK - NEW ONLINE

If you are an alum who is willing to receive an email from a student or a graduate of Lesley with questions about the type of work you do or your career path, please click on the link below.

By filling out the form below, you will be included on the new online, password protected, Alumni Career Network. While we have had a paper version of the ACN for years, the new online ACN will be much more useful to students and alumni.

The only contact information shown online will be your first name and e The Network will not go live until 200 alumni have signed up. It is a very short form! Please click on: https://www.lesley.edu/services/crc/acn/register.html

Job Search Opportunities for All Students

Please visit the Career Resource Center (CRC) Job Search and Career Change Resources Web site. The Lesley JobLink, an on-line database of off-campus job listings, can be accessed from this site. On-campus recruitment for educators (school counselors) will begin February 3. Please go to www.lesley.edu/services/crc/ocr.html for more information.

Useful Links

• American Counseling Association (ACA)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Lesley Certification Office (school counseling licensure)
• Massachusetts Department of Education
  • Information on MTEL
• Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure (LMHC)
• Massachusetts Mental Health Counselor's Association
• National Board for Certified Counselors
  • State credentialing boards list

If you have announcements to share with fellow students or alumni, please email John Gearin.