We interviewed counselor education MA student Emma Doran about her experience in the program and her advice for prospective students.
What are your research interests?
My research interests lie in the areas of grief/loss and trauma counseling. Grief is something everyone will encounter in a lifetime, and I am particularly interested in the common behavior patterns we experience that help or harm us in the grieving process. I am very drawn to helping clients create meaning through their losses and adjusting to their new normal. Furthermore, many individuals may experience some sort of trauma throughout their development and I take interest in how childhood trauma plays a role in adult development and behavioral diagnosis associated with such childhood experiences.
How did your path lead to the Department of Educational Psychology and your particular major?
I was originally in a different master’s program and left due to unforeseen circumstances. Through research trying to find a better fit, I learned of the Counselor Education program through the Department of Educational Psychology at the U of M. As someone who graduated from the U of M, I had not heard of the program in undergrad and was excited for the opportunity to return to the university. The more I learned about the program, the more I realized it was a perfect fit for me. The department was open and welcoming and went out of their way to help me get adjusted and started on my next journey. Entering the semester, I had never felt like more a part of a family. My hope through continuing along the way is to further promote the program to undergrads to know what a great opportunity they have right around the corner.
What surprised you along the way?
The biggest surprise was being in a community that had the same interests and passions I have about counseling, helping people, and overall making the community a better place. I have made lifelong friends and look forward to learning something new every day to better me (and the clients I will serve) in the future.
What is something you’ve most enjoyed about your experience?
I have most enjoyed the community experience. My classes don’t feel like class but rather a learning experience to prepare me for my future in this field. It is so refreshing to be surrounded by people who are just as driven to succeed in the field as you are. It becomes less work and more of career training.
What is most exciting about your work?
The most exciting thing is knowing I will have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. Whether it is working through a loss with them, overcoming an event they still can’t wrap their head around, or simply relieving stress through mindfulness practices, I am being given the chance to make a difference in life, and nothing motivates me more than that.
How would you describe the student experience and what does that mean to you?
For me, the student experience feels like a community of individuals driven to learn and make a difference in their community. We look out for each other and care about seeing others succeed. It is reassuring knowing my classmates have my back and are supportive of seeing each other learn and grow through the process. I have experienced several different school/education settings but I have never felt more of a community than I do with my cohort. The department has been willing and open to listen to our needs and concerns and makes conscious efforts to create change and assist us through our education.
What has been most challenging?
I think the biggest challenge for me has been preparing for practicum and licensure. I am very nervous to begin my first opportunity to put my skills to work, but finding the right placement was definitely a process. However, the department and my teachers were a huge help in providing resources but reassuring my abilities. Licensure is a topic with a lot of confusion, but through my questioning many individuals in the department have been open with assisting me through the process, answering my questions and helping me best prepare myself.
How have your professors helped you along the way?
I cannot stress enough how much my professors have helped me. Never have I ever felt more comfortable and able to communicate with someone of that status than I have now. They are open and receptive to our needs and concerns and always take the extra step to make a difference. Not only do I enjoy going to class, but also being able to reach out to them when I am struggling. There’s nothing more they want than to see us succeed. It is extremely reassuring to know they have our backs. There were times that I was struggling in life due to outside events and they were understanding and receptive to helping me through this event and helping me stay on track with school. Again, they want to see us succeed more than anything.
What would you like prospective students to know?
If there is anything I could tell prospective students it’s that this program changed my life. While that may sound cheesy, through this program I learned essential skills to not only help clients, but I have made tremendous progress in myself. As someone who has struggled with mental health my whole life, being in this program has proven growth in my own wellbeing and ability to learn problem solving skills that prove applicable in my own life as well as a counselor. On top of that, I have a newfound support system in the community created through my cohort. The environment this program has provided me fuels my passions for learning every day on top of granting me friendships that will last a lifetime. If you are someone who wants to go into counseling but is unsure of yourself, take the leap. I did and doing so provided me with a whole arsenal of support and resources that have allowed me to succeed and learn something new every day.
How has your cohort helped you along the way?
My cohort has helped me in ways I can’t even describe. When you spend so much time with people, bonds form. You care about each other’s wellbeing and success. It is less of competition and more of a group effort to continue education and make a change in each other and our community. My cohort is a great sense of strength I have gained and one of the many aspects I am thankful that this program has presented me. It is so refreshing to have people to rely on and turn to in times of distress. We know we have each other through this journey and that makes all the difference.
What are you looking forward to with graduation?
I am so excited to start my career in counseling. Being in school for many years now, I am excited to start the next chapter of life with the many tools and skills I have learned over the years. I have been preparing all my life for the moment to be able to practice and make a difference in my community and this program has equipped me with the skills necessary to do so.
How do you plan to use what you are learning/your degree?
I am planning to graduate and take the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) to become a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). I am undecided as to which state I will practice in, but I know that those in my department are willing to help me explore my options to do so. Through clinical mental health counseling, I hope to work as a therapist with individuals experiencing distress (grief, trauma, anxiety, etc.) in a variety of age groups. I have experience in Animal Assisted therapy that I hope to incorporate through my work, as well as mindfulness training, art therapy and a variety of skills learned through this program.
Why did you chose the counselor education program at the University of Minnesota?
I chose this program because of its location in Minnesota to be close to my family during this time. Just as well, I chose this program for the education and classes offered. As someone who went to the U of M in undergrad, being able to continue my education in a familiar setting was also very important for me. I felt like I was returning home when I came to this program.
Any additional information you would like people to know?
Making the decision to go to graduate school can be daunting. I was terrified before I began, millions of thoughts running through my head about not being good enough or being able to handle it. But, inside me I knew that I was about to enter the journey of a lifetime. My experience with this program has allowed me to gain confidence in myself that I didn’t know I had. As someone who is passionate about learning, that desire in me is filled everyday through my education and supplemental research in areas I am interested in. I am provided with a sense of community that undergrad never brought me, and I am surrounded with people who want to see nothing but my success. You may be unsure of yourself now, but I can tell you this program will help you develop into a strong, confident person with the abilities to make a difference in the world. Apply yourself to what you’re passionate about and you will be rewarded in ways you couldn’t imagine.
