Testimonials

Student Testimonials (Full text)

Alum Testimonials (Full text)

To read the complete testimonial, please click on the name.

"The clinical training offered within this program is unlike that of any other program to which I applied. From hospital settings to outpatient clinics, residential programs to school settings spanning primary to university levels, students within this program have myriad opportunities to explore and receive intensive clinical training at many different training sites throughout each year in the program."

- Ariel Applebaurm

"The opportunity to specialize in the Child Track was another main attraction for me. I knew I wanted to work with children, and the opportunity to take specific child track courses coupled with specialized practicum and externship training opportunities confirmed my decision to attend the program."

- Clara Bradley

"Another great aspect of program is the Backhome Preceptorship. Even though each placement has strong field supervision I feel that the Backhome meetings are extremely valuable because it provides a space for students to discuss their experiences and feelings about therapy in an intensive and thoughtful way. I think that the Backhome Preceptor experience is definitely helping me to find myself as a therapist and explore what my style in therapy may be."

- Naisha Craigwell

"I love to be challenged intellectually, and one can certainly receive that from the program. While seeing clients early in my training has been challenging at times, it has also been great to have clinical experiences simultaneous with academic learning."

- Laura Gumbiner

"I really like how the many facets of the program come together - it's exciting when connections can be made between coursework and the Backhome Preceptorship - and particularly when those ideas can then be worked into our training experiences at our fieldwork sites."

- Steve Hall

"The amount of clinical experience provided in the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology makes the program unique and differentiates it from other programs in the area. The fieldwork experiences provide therapists-in-training the valuable hands on experience they need to begin cultivating the skills necessary to be an effective therapist."

- Damon Krohn

"My experience in the program has been life changing. I entered the program seeing the world in black and white. Being a student here has taught me to see not only shades of grey, but to appreciate the incredibly colorful range of possibilities for our lives. I learned to think critically yet fluidly about the complexities of the human mind and soul. I cannot overstate the support that I received from the faculty members who genuinely took the time to invest in my personal and professional growth. They took the time to get to know me. They are more than academic teachers; many of them are personally committed to preparing the best clinicians to enter the field. They are professional role models and I am so proud to have learned from them."

- Helena Lee

"What I enjoy most about the program is its collaborative nature; among students, but also between faculty and students. To a large degree, I feel that this centers on supervision. The small groups present the opportunity to obtain feedback from supervisors and peers alike. Although the coursework is extremely challenging, I've found that its applicability to my interests and fieldwork makes it manageable, stimulating and engaging."

- Jasmine Watkins

"The program emphasized and delivered a curriculum that promoted individual growth channeled by looking inward. This program is set apart by its outstanding faculty as they provide a superior platform for learning, are invested in being mentors and are approachable."

- Swati Bakre

"Northwestern's policy of providing two years of clinical training (as opposed to the one that most schools require) really prepares you for the realities of working with clients face-to-face. You can listen to a classroom lecture or read books about how to do counseling all day long, but until you're sitting there, in the room, witnessing someone's pain firsthand, you can't begin to understand how the process truly works."

- Rebecca Hamilton

"I found it helpful and impressive that our professors were practicing clinicians with long-term clients and connections to the counseling and academic community at large. I was also pleased with the quality of training placements in the community, including the location of our placements, the clientele, and the overall communication between placement supervisors and our program's Clinical Director."

- Anne Han

"I was also drawn to the program because it offered a "career track", and I knew going in that I wanted to focus specifically on career psychology. I have found that although my work today is focused on career and leadership development, I draw on the foundation of basic skills I learned in the counseling program every day... from knowing how to simply "be present" with another person to setting and maintaining boundaries to being purposeful in choosing what to say or not to say when. The program has given me a solid core of skills and knowledge that inform my daily interactions with others, both personally and professionally."

- Bob Langewisch

"Having received two years of rich, direct counseling experience greatly increased my preparedness to work in the field clinically, professionally and administratively. The program taught me the theory and challenged me intellectually to examine myself and the world around me with increased psychological awareness and insight that helps me personally and professionally on a daily basis."

- Joyce Marter

"The Counseling Psychology Program at Northwestern provided me with a foundation that I have used in both clinical and administrative settings. Throughout career changes and new job responsibilities I have relied on my training from the program to be successful."

- Maureen Stimming

"This program helped me change my life, establish myself professionally and provided a solid foundation for a career that has been very fulfilling."

- José Rodrigo Niño

"From the very outset I felt completely supported, and sensed that the program faculty, administrators and staff were genuinely interested in my personal and professional success"

- Darryl Turner

Student Testimonials

Ariel Appelbaum, Two Plus, Child Track

My name is Ariel Appelbaum and I am a 25 year old student in the Two-Plus curriculum with a Child Track specialization. I am originally from Berkeley, California, where I received my B.A. in Art History, with a minor in Spanish language, at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Master's program in Counseling Psychology at Northwestern University immediately distinguished itself from other graduate programs I considered, primarily due to its incredible emphasis on clinical training and its Two-Plus curriculum, designed specifically to provide a comprehensive introduction to the field for students entering the program with educational and professional backgrounds outside of Psychology. The clinical training offered within this program is unlike that of any other program to which I applied. From hospital settings to outpatient clinics, residential programs to school settings spanning primary to university levels, students within this program have myriad opportunities to explore and receive intensive clinical training at many different training sites throughout each year in the program. This training diversity, along with the experience of my Backhome Preceptorship, an entirely unique supervision experience offered only within this program, are among my favorite aspects of the Master's program. If you are looking for a training program that fosters the development and identification of trainees' clinical interests and prioritizes both the personal and professional growth of its students, this program is a great place for you!

Clara Bradley, Standard, Child Track
My name is Clara, and I am 27 years old from Eugene, Oregon. I completed my undergraduate work at Colorado College where I double majored in French and Psychology. Post graduation, I spent a few years exploring other career options including Government Relations and Public Relations. Ultimately, I decided to return to Psychology as I always knew I would.
I explored many Masters and PhD Psychology programs, before deciding where to apply. Northwestern University has an incredible reputation, and the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology at The Family Institute clearly stood out due to the varied and top-quality training opportunities and the program's connections within the community. After meeting with the program administrators, I was certain that this program was my number one choice. The program administrators genuinely care about the well-being of their students and are very supportive of student development. During the interview, I had the chance to meet with current students which was very helpful. The opportunity to specialize in the Child Track was another main attraction for me. I knew I wanted to work with children, and the opportunity to take specific child track courses coupled with specialized practicum and externship training opportunities confirmed my decision to attend the program.
A unexpected, but wonderful part of the program has been the friendships I have made, and continue to make as I move toward completion of the program. The social and academic collaboration with faculty, supervisors, administrators and classmates have made my experience invaluable.

Naisha Craigwell, Standard, General Psych
My name is Nyaisha and I am originally from Southern California. I graduated from California State University with a B.A. in Psychology. I am a Two Plus student in my second year of the Counseling Psychology program and I am currently training at The Family Institute. When searching for graduate programs I was drawn to Northwestern primarily because of the quality of the practical training. I was excited by the fact that I would leave the program with three years of well-rounded clinical training under my belt. I particularly enjoy the Two-Plus program because I was given the opportunity to work specifically with groups in my first year of training. Through this experience I discovered the power of group therapy and may even pursue work in this particular field upon graduation. Another great aspect of program is the Backhome Preceptorship. Even though each placement has strong field supervision I feel that the Backhome meetings are extremely valuable because it provides a space for students to discuss their experiences and feelings about therapy in an intensive and thoughtful way. I think that the Backhome Preceptor experience is definitely helping me to find myself as a therapist and explore what my style in therapy may be. The additional guidance from the second and third year students creates a welcoming atmosphere for new students and certainly made my adjustment and move to the Mid-west smoother.

Laura Gumbiner, Standard, General Psych
I am 29 years old and received my Undergraduate degree (BA) in Psychology from Judson University in Illinois. My previous career was in psychological research and I worked as a Lab Manager/Research Assistant in a cognitive neuroscience lab at Stanford University as well as a Research Coordinator/Research Assistant II at Rush NeuroBehavioral Center. Having worked in research for five years, I still enjoyed it, but realized I needed additional education to continue and advance in my career. My goal was to gain more clinical experience. After looking at nearly all the Master's programs around Chicago, I narrowed my focus to three. My visit to the open house at Northwestern's Master's Program in Counseling Psychology made me decide that this was the best place for me to pursue my graduate education. I was impressed with the intimate academic setting and the exciting intellectual classroom discussion. I immediately got the sense that I could continue building on my research experience, receive a stellar education and gain invaluable clinical instruction and training. The open house showed me that Northwestern's program was clearly the right fit for me. I love to be challenged intellectually, and one can certainly receive that from the program. Concerning fieldwork, students are definitely thrown right in! I was initially nervous about that, but figured if the program had run that way for over thirty years then the administration trusted I (we) could do it and we'd be fine. And that was true. While seeing clients early in my training has been challenging at times, it has also been great to have clinical experiences simultaneous with academic learning.

Steve Hall, Standard, General Psych
I am a 25 years old and received my undergraduate degree from Kenyon College. My major was Neuroscience. After graduation I taught ESL in Japan. There were a number of factors that influenced my final decision to attend The Master's program in Counseling Psychology at Northwestern University - but the intimate classroom environment (due to small class size), the wonderful support and guidance provided by both staff and faculty, and in particular, the unique Backhome Preceptor model of training, set it apart from other programs I considered.
I really like how the many facets of the program come together - it's exciting when connections can be made between coursework and the Backhome Preceptorship - and particularly when those ideas can then be worked into our training experiences at our fieldwork sites. Do plenty of research into your graduate program of study! Before you make a decision, be sure to find out which licensure exam you will be eligible to sit for upon graduation. Also, it can be mind-boggling sorting through the many counseling-related degrees out there, so do your homework and make sure you choose the program that is the best fit for you. And be sure to contact our program directors if you have any questions - they are knowledgeable, experienced, friendly and approachable!

Bo Kim, Standard, Career

Damon Krohn, Standard, General Psychology
My name is Damon Krohn and I am 25 years-old. I received a BA in Psychology from Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Before applying to Master's programs, I worked for a year in the marketing field. I selected the Master's program in Counseling Psychology because of Northwestern's strong academic reputation. Furthermore, I wanted a program that included a strong psychodynamic focus and that provided students with an immense amount of clinical experience. The amount of clinical experience provided in the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology makes the program unique and differentiates it from other programs in the area. The fieldwork experiences provide therapists-in-training the valuable hands on experience they need to begin cultivating the skills necessary to be an effective therapist. In addition, the Backhome Preceptorship experience offered through Northwestern's program is unique and invaluable. Having an experienced clinician that has been in the field for years provide information, support and clinical supervision has really improved my therapeutic knowledge and skills in the treatment room.

Helena Lee, Two Plus, General Psychology
My name is Helena Lee and I am a 38 year old, married mom with three school-aged children. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 with a BSN (Bachelor Science Nursing). After working as a nurse at both the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, I decided to become a full time mother and raise my children. In 2007, after meeting with a student who was in the CPSY program, I decided to apply to the Two Plus program. The decision to apply was easy. I finally had the space and time to pursue my dream of returning to school. The task of applying to graduate school was daunting as I had to study and take the GREs, write essays for the application, and gather enough self confidence to enable me to return back to an academic setting after so many years away. My experience in the program has been life changing. I entered the program seeing the world in black and white. Being a student here has taught me to see not only shades of grey, but to appreciate the incredibly colorful range of possibilities for our lives. I learned to think critically yet fluidly about the complexities of the human mind and soul.

The process of returning to school after a 12 year hiatus has been challenging both mentally and emotionally. However, the friends that I made in my cohort along with the incredible support of the faculty made the transition a powerful and exciting learning experience. I cannot overstate the support that I received from the faculty members who genuinely took the time to invest in my personal and professional growth. They took the time to get to know me. They are more than academic teachers; many of them are personally committed to preparing the best clinicians to enter the field. They are professional role models and I am so proud to have learned from them.

The most powerful aspect for me in this program has to be the relationships. The small size of the cohort makes it possible to connect with your peers. I am certain that I have not only found future professional colleagues but lifelong friends. As a Two Plus student, I have been fortunate to have had three clinical internships. At each of my sites, I have had the pleasure to work with students from various other programs in the Chicagoland area. Time and time again, I was extremely grateful for the support that Northwestern students have when it comes to clinical placements. Many, if not all, the students that I met from other schools often discussed the lonely odyssey of trying to find a placement for themselves - something that our program is uniquely structured to provide for each student in personal and individualized ways.

Jasmine Watkins, Standard, General Psychology
My name is Jasmine Watkins and I am 23 years old. I attended Northwestern University where I earned a BA in Psychology. Prior to beginning the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology, I was working as a case aide on the Parenting Assessment Team of Thresholds Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. In this position I assisted in assessing the parenting capacity of mentally ill parents who were involved with DCFS. I am currently in the Standard Curriculum, specializing in children and adolescents.

I selected the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology at Northwestern University because of the two years of practical clinical experience that it provided, the academic rigor of the school, the Backhome Preceptor model and the proximity of the program to a major city. Of all the programs I researched and applied to, this program was one of a very few that afforded students the opportunity to participate in clinical training experiences for two years. In addition to the academically rigorous classroom work that I knew from experience to expect from Northwestern University, I was excited by the opportunity to augment my theoretical education with clinical experience. The Backhome Preceptor model is unique to Northwestern University and was an additional draw for me. The opportunity to work on my skills as a clinician in a setting that was separate from clients seemed invaluable to me. Finally, to me, proximity to Chicago meant plentiful opportunities to work with a diverse clientele.

What I enjoy most about the program is its collaborative nature; among students, but also between faculty and students. To a large degree, I feel that this centers on supervision. The small groups present the opportunity to obtain feedback from supervisors and peers alike. Although the coursework is extremely challenging, I've found that its applicability to my interests and fieldwork makes it manageable, stimulating and engaging.

Alum Testimonials

Swati Bakre, Graduated: June 2009
After I attended the open house for Northwestern's Master's Program in Counseling Psychology, I did not for a single moment consider any other program. I was impressed by the fact that the program was small which meant it was more intimate and personal. The program emphasized and delivered a curriculum that promoted individual growth channeled by looking inward. This program is set apart by its outstanding faculty as they provide a superior platform for learning, are invested in being mentors and are approachable. Today, even after graduating, I continue to maintain those relationships.
I believe that one of the most valuable lessons I learned in this program is the continuous journey of self-reflection and a quest for being mindful. I am confident that these lessons can only lead to success in whichever path I choose to pursue.

Keesha Burch-Simms

Jean Firestone

Rebecca Hamilton
My name is Rebecca Hamilton Nino and I graduated from the program in 1997. Northwestern's Master's Program in Counseling Psychology turned out to be an ideal training ground from which to launch my career in college counseling. Although I didn't realize this until later, Northwestern's policy of providing two years of clinical training (as opposed to the one that most schools require) really prepares you for the realities of working with clients face-to-face. You can listen to a classroom lecture or read books about how to do counseling all day long, but until you're sitting there, in the room, witnessing someone's pain firsthand, you can't begin to understand how the process truly works. The two years of field experience also make you more marketable to future employers, and can literally double the number of networking connections you have by the time you graduate. Since networking is one of the best ways to get a job, this can be a huge advantage.

Anne Han
My name is Anne Han and I graduated from the program in 2007. I am currently employed as a Mental Health Clinician at the Fred Finch Youth Center in Oakland, CA. When I decided to switch my career, I selected Northwestern University's Master's Program in Counseling Psychology program because it best supported my career transition. The Two Plus curriculum is designed for career-changers; allows for extensive hands-on clinical training, which fits with my learning preference; offers a variety of specializations which allows room to explore the field; and lastly, the proximity of the program to Chicago and the reputation of Northwestern University provides high quality and comprehensive resources as a student and future alumni. It has all proved true and successful. The highlight of this program is, without a doubt, the extensive hands-on training paired with constant supervision of our clinical skills; our clinical skills were honed via classes, professors, practicum supervisors, Backhome Preceptors, and program directors. I found the hands-on training most helpful to my current success in my career. The range of experience I accrued working with different populations in my clinical training experiences opened up countless post-graduate job opportunities for me. In addition, the program's intensive psychodynamic education and training has given me a solid foundation across all client and clinical work. I have found myself prepared and confident when applying for a variety of positions. I found it helpful and impressive that our professors were practicing clinicians with long-term clients and connections to the counseling and academic community at large. I was also pleased with the quality of training placements in the community, including the location of our placements, the clientele, and the overall communication between placement supervisors and our program's Clinical Director.

Bob Langewisch
My name is Bob Langewisch, a 2005 graduate of the program. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in IL and I am working as an independent career counselor. I have a small private career counseling practice, but the majority of my work is providing contracted services to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. For Kellogg, I provide individual career counseling to alumni and students enrolled in their Part-time MBA program. I also serve on their Leadership Initiatives team and teach a leadership coaching course as an adjunct professor. I selected the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology program at Northwestern because I knew first-hand Northwestern's commitment to quality education, having completed my BA there over 10 years prior to returning to graduate school. I was also drawn to the program because it offered a "career track", and I knew going in that I wanted to focus specifically on career psychology. I did not know it at the time I chose the program, but as I experienced the program as a student, I quickly came to appreciate the unique structure of the program that allows students to blend fieldwork with coursework during each year in the program. That fieldwork was also unique in that it fed into an unprecedented combination of learning platforms blending the instruction of field supervisors and classroom teachers with a personal "Backhome Preceptor" thus allowing for an amazing learning experience focused on blending theory with applied practice and self-care/awareness. I have found that although my work today is focused on career and leadership development, I draw on the foundation of basic skills I learned in the counseling program every day... from knowing how to simply "be present" with another person to setting and maintaining boundaries to being purposeful in choosing what to say or not to say when. The program has given me a solid core of skills and knowledge that inform my daily interactions with others, both personally and professionally.

Joyce Marter
My name is Joyce Marter and I graduated from the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology in 1996. I am currently a psychotherapist & Co-Founder of Urban Balance, LLC, a group psychotherapy practice with several locations thrughout the Chicagoland area. I chose this program because of the caliber of the faculty and the fact that Northwestern is internationally recognized as a premier university. I preferred this program over a doctoral program because I was interested in direct clinical work, rather than research, psychological testing or academia. I greatly appreciated the practicum and externship experiences. The program places its students with the top community mental health and psychological service providers in the Chicagoland area. Having received two years of rich, direct counseling experience greatly increased my preparedness to work in the field clinically, professionally and administratively. Having the practicum and externship experiences on my resume helped me to be a competitive candidate for employment upon graduation. Receiving superior supervision on-site as well as through the Back Home Preceptors was an extremely enriching growth experience.
The program taught me the theory and challenged me intellectually to examine myself and the world around me with increased psychological awareness and insight that helps me personally and professionally on a daily basis.

José Rodrigo Niño

I arrived to Chicago in 1998 in search for a graduate program providing training in psychotherapy. I was not very clear about the requirements and available programs. I sent letters and made phone calls to several schools including the psychology programs at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Roosevelt University, Loyola University, and The Chicago school of Professional Psychology. I received brochures and invitations from all universities, but one at Northwestern caught my eye for their detailed and down-to-earth description of the program. I was very interested in a terminal master's degree, with an emphasis on clinical training experience and a focus on psychodynamic theory.

One aspect of this program that I highly valued and was grateful for was the emphasis on clinical supervision and the diversity in practicum and externship experiences.

This program helped me change my life, establish myself professionally and provided a solid foundation for a career that has been very fulfilling.

Maureen Stimming
My name is Maureen Stimming and I graduated from the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology at Northwestern University in 1994. I currently hold the position of Director, Professional Development Program & Marketing at The University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration. At the time I decided to return to school I had recently completed a year-long volunteer program working in a residential mental health facility and knew that I wanted to continue working in the field. My supervisor helped me evaluate clinical, research, and policy programs and I felt that a direct practice clinical training program would be the best fit. Knowing I wanted to relocate to Chicago, I explored several schools and found Northwestern's program to have the best faculty, experiential opportunities, and post-graduate employment options. The Master's Program in Counseling Psychology has a framework in which the individual is viewed within the context of his/her environment- this perspective matched my orientation and brief practice experience.

My practicum and externship were wonderful opportunities and allowed me the chance to implement what I was learning as well as challenge the theories presented in class. The supervision I received in those settings, as well as the supervision I received from my Backhome Preceptor was exceptional and I utilize what they taught me to this day. The Counseling Psychology Program at Northwestern provided me with a foundation that I have used in both clinical and administrative settings. Throughout career changes and new job responsibilities I have relied on my training from the program to be successful.

Darryl Turner
My name is Darryl A. Turner and I graduated from the program in 2003. I am currently employed as a psychotherapist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. I accepted the offer to attend Northwestern University and to matriculate into its Counseling Psychology Master's Degree program because of the University's reputation for academic excellence and because the program offered exactly the type of programmatic content and degree that I was seeking. Additionally, I was impressed by the warmth with which I was received at my initial meeting with the program's faculty, administration, students and staff members. From the very outset I felt completely supported, and sensed that the program faculty, administrators and staff were genuinely interested in my personal and professional success. Throughout my two-year experience, my feeling of being supported was only enhanced by the fair and consistent manner in which I was treated. By the time I completed the program, I left feeling fully prepared for the work force, and proud to have attended Northwestern University.
There are many strengths of the program, which translate into rigorous educational and rich clinical experiences for student therapists. An example of one such strength is the variety of settings in which one may engage in clinical work, which includes schools, community mental health centers, hospitals and clinics. Another is the accessibility of the clinical staff members, who are always available to provide guidance and support. Finally, one of the greatest strengths of the program is that the students have a voice. If there are legitimate concerns expressed that are program-related, they will be taken seriously and responded to in a respectful manner.