Our Graduates
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PSYD FRESNO GRADUATES
Our graduates are employed in virtually every employment setting where psychologists contribute to the well-being of society. The vast majority are licensed within 2 years of finishing their degree. They provide psychotherapy, assessment, supervision and consultation in community mental health settings, military medical centers, HMO’s, hospitals and medical centers, Veterans Affairs hospitals, correctional facilities, academic departments, university counseling centers, private practices, state and county hospitals, private group practices and private psychiatric hospitals. Some have developed opportunities to provide services as private providers in nursing homes and correctional facilities. Considering the diversity of students' backgrounds and training opportunities available through our Program, it is not surprising to find equal diversity in their career paths. We are excited to note that our graduates are combining:
- Psychotherapy Practice (89%)
- Assessment (61%)
- Consultation (48%)
- Supervision (50%)
- Administrative/Leadership Roles (54%)
This is very positive support for our practitioner-scholar model of training with its mix of clinical practice, consultation, administration and supervision.
OUR ALUMNI/AE’S PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR TRAINING
Our alumni overwhelmingly feel the program prepared them to work in diverse mental health settings with multiple skills. In a recent survey of the last seven years of our graduates (78% completion rate) the alumni/ae suggested that the program prepared them effectively or very effectively to:
- Complete Psychological Assessment and Diagnostics (95.8%)
- Provide Clinical Supervision (90%)
- Provide Psychotherapy (81.6%)
- Serve as a Consultant (75.5%)
FEATURED GRADUATES
Dr. Maria A. Brooks graduated in 2005 from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program in Fresno; she contributes
her professional achievements to the dynamic curriculum and training that CSPP provided.
She explains, although the program provided specialty tracks, she took great pleasure
in exploring diverse field electives offered at CSPP. Additionally, she states, “I
had the choice to personally tailor my education and training to what interested me.
From health psychology and women studies to learning various therapeutic treatment
approaches when working with children and adolescents, I always knew whatever course
I took would be significant to my career. I can honestly say I often incorporate aspects
of my diverse curriculum and training into my day to day professional duties.” In
addition to the experienced instructors and diverse curriculum, Dr. Brooks highlights
the “eclectic practical training” as another instrument towards her professional accomplishments.
Specifically, she states, “Every instructor, practicum site and supervisor I had has
contributed to my clinical skills and my overall professional development. At the
end of the day any doctorate program can teach clinical theories and different clinical
approaches to treatment. However, CSPP taught me the value of being a professional.
Professionalism is something acquired through experience not through a text book.
The pride the Fresno Psy.D program takes preparing an ethical and competent professional
is by far The Best in the field.”
In addition to being an Adjunct Professor at Keiser University, Maria A. Brooks proudly
works for Armor Correctional Health Services, Inc. as the company’s Corporate Clinical
Coordinator for Behavioral Health. Armor is a physician and minority-owned enterprise,
which provides comprehensive medical, dental and mental health services exclusively
for patients in jails and prisons. The company currently services thirty nine correctional
facilities in various states throughout the country. Specifically, Armor works directly
under the direction and consultation of the Chief Behavioral Health Officer in matters
concerning the delivery of services to all their correctional facilities. Armor’s
commitment to building continuity of behavioral health services is reflected in all
aspects of their facility-based evaluation and treatment approach. They support early
and comprehensive assessment of detainees from the time of admission to the correctional
facility through on-going relationships with jail diversion, court liaison, and community
mental health programs.
Dr. Kristin Marvin, graduated in 2009 from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program in Fresno, while a graduate
student, she was able to take a variety of clinical courses geared towards helping
her achieve her academic goals of being a Clinical Psychologist. The professional
instructors at CSPP taught her ways of better helping her clients and generally being
a better clinician, while also presenting the most up to date and informative research
and best practices. CSPP offered her many great practicum training sites and a fantastic
internship site where she ultimately stayed for her postdoctoral internship year,
as well. Through classes taught, professional instructors offering first- hand information
and knowledge on relative clinical matters, and fitting practicum and internship sites,
CSPP prepared her to be not only an informed clinician, using the best practices for
my population, but also helped me hone in on her basic clinical skills that really
mean the most when in session with clients.
Since graduation, Dr. Marvin stayed at Fresno City College to complete her post-doctoral
internship year and then worked abroad in England for 3 months, upon her return she
worked for the State prison system. In 2012 Dr. Marvin started her own private practice,
started supervising interns at Fresno City College and CSPP and started working as
a Behavioral Medicine Consultant for a chronic pain management company using holistic
and integrative methods to treat chronic pain. She had very rewarding and extremely
amazing opportunities as a Psychologist and has worked in a variety of settings with
many different populations. Starting January 2013 Dr. Marvin will be back at CSPP
teaching in the program she graduated from Clinical Psychology PsyD Fresno and two other local graduate programs.
Dr. April C. Owens, graduated in 2007 from Clinical Psychology PsyD program in Fresno, states that CSPP played a pivotal part in her career goals and achievements, and that she was trained to be competent in both the science and the practice of psychology. She found a great amount of appreciation for the scientific scrutiny that was taught in the classrooms. She constantly reflects back on the things that she learned as it relates to the Cultural Diversity courses and the direct clinical interaction that she gained from The Psychological Service Center. She feels very prepared and competent when teaching students due to the training that she received in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology Program at CSPP. She has been employed at Alcorn State University as an Assistant Professor of Psychology for the last 5 years. Dr. Owens was recently appointed the Coordinator of the Psychology program and as the Internship Supervisor in the school of Education & Psychology. In addition, she serves on many leadership committees at the university. Dr. Owens has been fortunate to serve as the advisor for the Psi Chi, International Honor Society, Chairperson of the Faculty Assembly as a Faculty Senate Representative for the Department of Education and Psychology.
Dr. Shilpa Trivedi, graduated in 2010 from Clinical Psychology PsyD program in Fresno, states she has
gained valuable clinical training that encouraged me to continue thinking critically.
Dr. Trivedi entered the program as an experienced master’s level clinician, she was
challenged to rethink former ideas in the area of psychology and to be open to new
ones all of which well-prepared him for her current work as a psychologist. After
graduation Dr. Trivedi began her postdoctoral training at MHMRA-Harris County in Texas
as a clinical team lead where she continue to employed as a licensed psychologist.
In her capacity as a clinical team lead, she directs and guides clinicians in their
clinical work and provides administrative supervision to the entire clinic. In addition,
she has established her own private practice, focusing on providing individual therapies
and psychological evaluations.
Dr. Ghia Xiong, immigrated as refuges at 10 years old with not know a word of English, after 30
long years of education and hard work, he received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology
from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program in 2010. While a graduate student at CSPP,
Dr. Xiong was a fellow in the CSPP Mental Health Service Act program and in the American
Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program-Psychology Summer Institute.
Recently he was also the recipient of the 2012 Mental Health Loan Assumption Program
award.
Now, Dr. Xiong works as a Registered Psychologist with the Fresno Center for New Americans’
Living Well Program. He provides psychotherapy and develops culturally and linguistically
appropriate health and mental health educational materials, workshops, and training
to the community. Also, Dr. Xiong has successfully written many grants and helped
to secure over more than $2 million in mental health funding for the organization.
Also, Dr. Xiong is teaching part-time as an adjunct faculty at Reedley Community College
in the Hmong Health Interpreter Program and works as a consultant on Hmong cultural
issues, and Hmong language interpreter and translator services.