Our Students
MEET OUR CURRENT STUDENTS
Fulviu Mihai Fodoreanu
I feel honored to be a graduate student at CSPP Fresno in the Clinical PsyD program.
After talking to licensed psychologists throughout my years in undergraduate studies,
I found a common theme to be present when inquiring about graduate programs in Psychology:
a deep respect and appreciation for the quality of education offered by CSPP, which
stood out from other universities. One of my undergraduate professors said, “If you
want a Business degree, you go to Harvard because they are the best in that field;
and if you want a Psychology degree, you go to CSPP because they are the best in that
field.” My experience here is amazing; from qualified doctors teaching the classes,
to amazing opportunities offered within the specialized program; from highly trained
and qualified staff, to a professional and high-paced environment, they all exceeded
my expectations. CSPP professors are not only educators, but licensed psychologists
working in the applied field, and I feel privileged to be taught by them. CSPP has
transformed my weaknesses into strengths through their approach towards education
and I am grateful for it. CSPP has enriched my life, my professional skills and stance.
I am a better student now, and I will be a better Psychologist because of CSPP. I
plan to go into Private Practice after my graduation, and I am confident that my training
here will prepare me for what is to come and more. CSPP raised the bar in doctoral
studies.
Christa Johnson
I am a Clinical Psychology PsyD student at CSPP; I graduated from University of California,
Berkeley with a major in Psychology. After obtaining my Bachelor’s degree, I worked
in various crisis and inpatient settings in the central valley. I chose to pursue
a PsyD at CSPP for many reasons. First, I was impressed with the emphasis CSPP places
on cultural sensitivity, as I believe practicing as a competent clinician is not possible
without this knowledge. As a result of this emphasis, I feel confident in my ability
to conduct psychotherapy as a sensitive clinician who takes special care to respect
the unique beliefs and experiences of my clients. I was also impressed with CSPP’s
emphasis on the integration of theory and applied practice, taking care to highlight
the importance of evidence-based therapeutic interventions. Through the use of vignettes
and role-plays in class and the core faculty’s abundance of knowledge and clinical
experience, CSPP has provided me with wonderful support in conceptualizing cases and
implementing appropriate interventions with my clients. At CSPP, my clinical work
has included conducting psychological assessment and individual psychotherapy with
adolescents in school settings, therapy with individuals with co-occurring substance
abuse disorders and mental illness, and trauma-based work with recently victimized
women and children. The program has also afforded me the opportunity to conduct psychological
assessments in forensic and rural settings with adolescents and adults. My clinical
interests are in work with adolescents and families, and clients with persistent and
severe mental illness.
Catherine Padilla
As a Clinical Psychology PsyD student at CSPP, I have been afforded the wonderful
opportunity of pursuing my goal of becoming a licensed clinical psychologist. I have
been honored to receive the CSPP Dean’s Award of Excellence each year that I have
been at CSPP. CSPP has also allowed me to study child psychology, an area of interest
I hope to pursue further as I progress through both the program and my career. The
support and reception I have received while beginning the difficult dissertation process
has exceeded my expectations and allowed me to focus on a topic that is both interesting
and exciting. Although I entered CSPP with limited clinical training, I have since
developed a level of competency and confidence that has allowed me to work well with
various populations and different settings. I chose this program because it serves
my community, as a life-long Central Valley resident, it was important to me to remain
local while also having access to the tools necessary for serving this diverse population.
CSPP strives to incorporate knowledge of diversity into each course, providing students
with a wealth of knowledge to draw upon while working in various placements. Ultimately,
I chose CSPP after talking with a number of mental health professionals who spoke
highly of the program and its graduates. Working in the community through practicum
placement, I have also had the opportunity to discover the positive reputation graduates
of the program have created for the university. I look forward to continuing their
legacy!
Nicole Preiss
I am a Clinical Psychology PsyD student at CSPP. I chose the program in Fresno because
I was interested in clinical practice and smaller class sizes where I could receive
one-on-one attention. I also chose the Fresno campus because of the location, which
provides a low cost of living and a diverse community. The diversity of the Central
Valley has strongly benefited my clinical training. While attending CSPP I have been
awarded the CSPP Dean’s Award of Excellence Scholarship twice. During my second year
I was a Teaching Assistant for Intellectual Assessment and continued in that role
the following year. This was a wonderful opportunity that allowed me to strengthen
my assessment skills. In my third year I had the privilege of working with Dr. Jack Kahn, Professor and Program Director of the CSPP Fresno Clinical Psychology PhD program, on a book chapter regarding Dialogical Self Theory. It was a new experience
and area of study that I thoroughly enjoyed learning about. Regarding my clinical
experience, I have had the opportunity to work at California State University, Fresno
and the Psychological Service Center at CSPP, which helped me be a good fit for my
internship at Santa Clara University Counseling and Psychological Services. I have
found that I enjoy working with adult populations and have clinical interests in anxiety
disorders, trauma and LGBT psychology.
Kellie Sulier
I am a three-time CSPP Dean's Award of Excellence recipient. My current clinical training
is in the Batterers Intervention Program, working with probationers who have been
mandated to treatment for issues regarding interpersonal violence. Previously, my
clinical work was with clients who had developmental disabilities, traumatic brain
injuries, and learning disorders. My dissertation research is examining quality of
life perception among aging clients and clinicians who treat aging populations. I
hope to eventually work in a VA setting and am currently focusing my internship applications
on such sites. Choosing CSPP was easy. I was fortunate to have met two CSPP graduates
who were teaching at the school where I completed my undergraduate work. They demonstrated
such strong clinical and teaching skills. I was impressed and decided to apply to
the program that delivered such a fabulous product. The Clinical Psychology PsyD program
in Fresno has not disappointed me. My academic journey has been well-rounded. The
collegial environment has helped me develop a strong set of clinical skills. The faculty
has played an important role in helping me discover clinical interests that were unknown
to me. I feel privileged to have spent these three years here, and am confident that
the PsyD program has prepared me for the next phase of my professional journey.
Israel Wajda
I am a Clinical Psychology PsyD student at CSPP; I graduated with my Bachelor's degree
from California State University in Fresno. After considering the options for graduate
study in addition to my career goals, CSPP at Alliant was the clear choice to continue
my education. The Clinical Psychology PsyD program seems to be tailor-made for me.
My interests lie much more in the practical areas of child psychology, and the program
provides a top-notch education emphasizing exactly that. I had the opportunity to
have a few Alliant professors instruct some of my undergraduate courses, so I was
already looking forward to obtaining my education from individuals who are not only
experts in their field, but also are currently in practice. As I met more of the faculty
and staff, it became apparent that each and every member is invested in my success.
I spent a good deal of my vocational history working in both a psychiatric office
and as a group counselor. These experiences instilled in me a love of the science
of psychology, and when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance to
continue my education and pursue a career in the field. Opportunities abound for growth
and learning beyond scheduled classes, as students are afforded the ability to attend
lectures and presentations from highly respected individuals in the field as well
as immersion opportunities for multicultural experiences. I truly feel that every
chance for success is given at CSPP and I look forward to maximizing the benefits
that membership in the student body allows.