Mentorship
Participating in the Interactive Mentorship Program (IMP) is extremely different than what I originally thought it would be like. When I first agreed to participate in IMP, I did not know what to expect. In my mind, a mentor/mentee relationship was similar to the relationship Professor Charles Xavier had with the X-Men or Mr. Miyagi had with the Karate Kid. Luckily, my mentorship relationship has not involved battling mutants or incredibly intense karate tournaments. Much to my enjoyment, it has consisted of a lot of meetings in coffee shops and ample feedback on graduate school applications. I have had a truly exceptional mentorship experience, and I hope all members of Dr. Barchard’s lab, both current and past, choose to participate in this incredible opportunity.
Before I get too carried away about with how much I have loved my experience with the IMP, I should mention that I did have some anxiety around the idea of having a mentor. For starters, I worried about who my mentor would be! Would I be paired with any random former member of the Interactive Measurement Group? What would I actually gain from the experience? Would they expect me to do everything they did as an undergraduate, exactly how they did it? Do they actually want to work with me? Luckily, my anxiety quickly melted away when I met my mentor, Michael, for the first time.
As you might have guessed, my first meeting with Michael took place at a coffee shop close to the UNLV campus. That first hour, we talked about our professional goals, his experience in graduate school, expectations for our professional lives, and our experiences in Dr. Barchard’s lab. However, what we bonded over the most was our mutual love for the field of marriage and family therapy (MFT). At the time of our first meeting, Michael was finishing his masters in MFT and applying to PhD programs, while I was completing my bachelor’s degree and starting the process of applying to MFT master’s programs. I was amazed by how sincerely interested he seemed in working with me and at how committed he was to helping me reach my goals. By the end of that first meeting, I already knew that my mentorship relationship with Michael was going to be very beneficial.
Since then Michael and I have met in person about once a month and have kept in touch through texting and email. He has helped me with my grad school applications, provided me with feedback on my personal statements, and has given me constant support and encouragement throughout the entire application process. Having his guidance and insight into the application process and graduate school as a whole was invaluable. Meeting with Michael has also given me the opportunity to ask a ton of questions! He gave sincere and honest answers to all of my questions, while offering significant insight into graduate school, what life is like as a therapist-in-training, and how I can best prepare myself for the demands of a MFT master’s program.
Working with Michael has been in incredible experience, and one I am very thankful for. From the constant support he has provided, to the endless guidance and feedback he has given me, Michael has helped me confidently pursue my professional and educational goals. Moving forward, there is no doubt in my mind that I will continue to work with him throughout my professional life as both a mentor and a friend. I hope that those who choose to participate in this program have a similar experience to mine and are able to create meaningful relationships with their mentors/mentees!
As you begin your mentor/mentee experience keep these tips in mind:
- Go into your mentorship relationship with an open mind. Every mentor has their own unique style of mentorship, and if you are open to working with them, you will learn a lot.
- Go to your meetings prepared. If you want to have your mentor look over your CV, print it out, and email it to them to glance at before the meeting. If you are nervous you will overwhelm them with questions, write your questions down, and allow them to get back to you with responses to the questions you don’t cover in your meeting.
- Don’t feel guilty about turning to them for help or advice on topics related to your career. They signed up to be your mentor and are looking forward to help you succeed.
- Have fun! This experience is incredible and will help you tremendously as you finish your schooling and venture out into the professional world. If you want to get involved in the Interactive Mentoring Program – either as a mentor or a mentee- just contact Dr. Barchard.
I have been a member of Dr. Barchard’s lab since the summer of 2016. As a member of the lab, I have completed multiple comprehensive literature reviews that have been or soon will be presented at various conferences. I also led a team that used exploratory factor analysis to analyze the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) and its various constructs. The resulting paper will hopefully be presented at a professional conference this spring. I have also led workshops on SPSS, Captivate, Qualtrics, APA formatting, and removing bias from writing.
In addition to the work I have done in Dr. Barchard’s lab, I have also been an undergraduate teaching assistant, studied abroad in Spain, and volunteered as a CARE advocate through the Jean Nidetch Women’s Center.
After graduating with a BA in psychology in Spring 2018, I will pursue a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. After completing my master’s degree, I will go on to get a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy or a closely related field. I also plan on getting my supervising license, and ultimately would love to work in a university as a professor, therapist, and approved supervisor.