Students gain real-world experience
The University of Indianapolis Psychology Club hosted a mock-therapy session in Good Recital Hall on April 17. Focusing mainly on the psychotherapy aspect of psychology, the mock-therapy event was proposed by Psychology Club President Abigail Krug.
Pyschology majors (left) Timothy Davis and (right) Tanner Hammock participate in mock therapy sessions on April 17 to practice real world experiences. Photo by Kelbi Ervin
“This is the first time we are trying this out. I just liked the idea,” Krug said. “I got the idea from one of my psychology classes.”
Krug thought that the hands-on experience would be a fun and interactive way for students to gain familiarity with a topic many of them find interesting.
“That [psychotherapy] is something that a lot of people think about when they think psychology, and that’s what a lot of us want to do when we graduate,” she said.
The session began with a ‘how-to’ explanation by Faculty Adjunct Matthew Grant. Grant is also a clinical psychologist for NorthStar Health Center.
Grant explained to the audience the different types of therapy. He described the ethical guidelines of psychotherapy, the mannerisms a psychotherapist ought to have and the many different ways a psychotherapist conducts his or her work.
After Grant’s presentation, officers of the Psychology Club then played the role of clients with personal issues. Members of the audience were given the opportunity to use the knowledge they had gained from Grant’s lecture by acting as therapist to the different officers.
According to Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences Jacqueline Hess, mock therapy sessions often are used in psychology classes at the graduate level. She believes that it is appropriate for the undergraduate students as well.
“Even if there is a student who is too shy to do that [mock therapy], I think that they will still learn just from observing their peers and Dr. Grant and listening to him,” Hess said. “I think that it can be successful for different students in different ways.”
The mock therapy session was open to all students as a lecture/performance event, but it was advertised as intended more for psychology majors. Some professors in the department offered extra credit for students who participated.
Krug believes the event went very well. Over the past year, the Psychology Club has had numerous events along the same lines, from psychoanalysts talking about dreams to art therapy techniques.
“We’ve been trying really hard to do more interactive events,” Krug said. “As opposed to just sitting and listening to someone talk.”
