Celebration of Division 17 Fellows Talk, August 2008
Roots and Wings
Counseling Psychology Fellows Talk
Karen M. O’Brien
August, 2008
Counseling Psychology Fellows Talk
Karen M. O’Brien
August, 2008
I am rooted in the traditions of counseling psychology and the scholars who have gone before me and thus am honored to be named a fellow of the American Psychological Association through Division 17. My work in this field has enabled me to contribute as a scholar, therapist, and teacher/mentor.
Within counseling psychology, I have found a home in vocational psychology. My most significant scholarly achievement has been developing and implementing a theoretically-based and empirically tested vocational intervention for young adolescents who are at risk for academic and occupational underachievement. With my colleagues and students at the University of Kansas, we have provided hundreds of youth with skills to succeed in school and at work.
As a therapist, I have been humbled by walking with clients as they struggle to make changes despite profound obstacles. For me, belief in the efficacy of therapy occurs in relationships with clients who develop the strength to improve their lives – I am often in awe of their courage.
Interestingly, I now believe that of all my contributions to our field, the one that will be most lasting is that of teaching and mentoring undergraduate and doctoral students. I admit to being surprised by this as I had thought that my writings would be read broadly (however I realized that some of my scholarly works, as noted by one of my sisters, are read when she just can’t fall asleep).
My favorite course that I teach at the University of Maryland is a two semester sequence that I developed where students learn, in the first semester, about research and theory related to domestic violence. In the second semester, students run groups in shelters in Washington DC. Their struggles and greatest learning tend to be related to race, privilege and seeing life’s inequities. Many of these undergraduates have pursued careers in counseling psychology and are making salient contributions to our field.
From the time of my first academic appointment, my doctoral students have brought many joys (and challenges). I remember being so excited that someone would pick me as an advisor that I questioned myself when she questioned my requiring hypotheses for her study. WOW – how things have changed since those early days.
For the remainder of my talk, I would like to share some of what I have learned in the hopes that students and new professionals in our field may garner the courage to fly in new directions that will make contributions to counseling psychology for the betterment of society and our world.
1. Carefully and thoughtfully root yourself. In counseling and vocational psychology, I have found a welcoming home, a perfect match for my interests and skills. My deepest roots are in the love and traditions of a large and lively immigrant Irish Catholic family; as well as my chosen family. I always tell my students that their most important decision – more so that what field of study to pursue or where to go to graduate school or whether or not to have children - is the decision regarding with whom you will partner and spend your life. I chose very carefully and got very lucky as my life partner, Davo, firmly grounds me and generously enables me to pursue my dreams.
2. Build communities that support you; for me, having heart friends like Kathy Zamostny, Ruth Fassinger, Mary Heppner and Tom Krieshok have provided needed encouragement and enjoyment. I also have been surprised by how many former students have become lifelong friends and sources of much support.
3. Find your wings - as scholars and individuals, discover your passions and honor them. Do what you need to get inspired – read broadly, attend APA conventions, try new things. In all of this, I hope that you will go your own way. There are many who would like to chart your path or advise you to do it their way or the “Right Way” – meaning the same old way that it always has been done. For you to thrive and for our field to continue, we need for you to take flight in ways that even we have never dreamed.
4. Work hard. I believe that to achieve, we must focus and give, really give to our work. For scholars, take and honor your research day. Persist despite obstacles. As we all know, the question is not whether or not there will be obstacles, but rather how we will handle them when confronted by them.
5. Finally, focus on the big picture. Dream all of what you want your life to be and then doggedly pursue your dreams. The big picture becomes clearer to me sometimes when my children, Tommy and Annie, drop balloons from the ceiling when I return for a conference or when our family takes a bike ride or hike in beautiful surroundings.
To conclude, I stand before you, grateful to be rooted in the traditions and people of counseling psychology and rooted, deeply rooted, in the love of my family of origin, my chosen family, and my heart friends, who have enabled me to take flight and pursue my dreams.
Within counseling psychology, I have found a home in vocational psychology. My most significant scholarly achievement has been developing and implementing a theoretically-based and empirically tested vocational intervention for young adolescents who are at risk for academic and occupational underachievement. With my colleagues and students at the University of Kansas, we have provided hundreds of youth with skills to succeed in school and at work.
As a therapist, I have been humbled by walking with clients as they struggle to make changes despite profound obstacles. For me, belief in the efficacy of therapy occurs in relationships with clients who develop the strength to improve their lives – I am often in awe of their courage.
Interestingly, I now believe that of all my contributions to our field, the one that will be most lasting is that of teaching and mentoring undergraduate and doctoral students. I admit to being surprised by this as I had thought that my writings would be read broadly (however I realized that some of my scholarly works, as noted by one of my sisters, are read when she just can’t fall asleep).
My favorite course that I teach at the University of Maryland is a two semester sequence that I developed where students learn, in the first semester, about research and theory related to domestic violence. In the second semester, students run groups in shelters in Washington DC. Their struggles and greatest learning tend to be related to race, privilege and seeing life’s inequities. Many of these undergraduates have pursued careers in counseling psychology and are making salient contributions to our field.
From the time of my first academic appointment, my doctoral students have brought many joys (and challenges). I remember being so excited that someone would pick me as an advisor that I questioned myself when she questioned my requiring hypotheses for her study. WOW – how things have changed since those early days.
For the remainder of my talk, I would like to share some of what I have learned in the hopes that students and new professionals in our field may garner the courage to fly in new directions that will make contributions to counseling psychology for the betterment of society and our world.
1. Carefully and thoughtfully root yourself. In counseling and vocational psychology, I have found a welcoming home, a perfect match for my interests and skills. My deepest roots are in the love and traditions of a large and lively immigrant Irish Catholic family; as well as my chosen family. I always tell my students that their most important decision – more so that what field of study to pursue or where to go to graduate school or whether or not to have children - is the decision regarding with whom you will partner and spend your life. I chose very carefully and got very lucky as my life partner, Davo, firmly grounds me and generously enables me to pursue my dreams.
2. Build communities that support you; for me, having heart friends like Kathy Zamostny, Ruth Fassinger, Mary Heppner and Tom Krieshok have provided needed encouragement and enjoyment. I also have been surprised by how many former students have become lifelong friends and sources of much support.
3. Find your wings - as scholars and individuals, discover your passions and honor them. Do what you need to get inspired – read broadly, attend APA conventions, try new things. In all of this, I hope that you will go your own way. There are many who would like to chart your path or advise you to do it their way or the “Right Way” – meaning the same old way that it always has been done. For you to thrive and for our field to continue, we need for you to take flight in ways that even we have never dreamed.
4. Work hard. I believe that to achieve, we must focus and give, really give to our work. For scholars, take and honor your research day. Persist despite obstacles. As we all know, the question is not whether or not there will be obstacles, but rather how we will handle them when confronted by them.
5. Finally, focus on the big picture. Dream all of what you want your life to be and then doggedly pursue your dreams. The big picture becomes clearer to me sometimes when my children, Tommy and Annie, drop balloons from the ceiling when I return for a conference or when our family takes a bike ride or hike in beautiful surroundings.
To conclude, I stand before you, grateful to be rooted in the traditions and people of counseling psychology and rooted, deeply rooted, in the love of my family of origin, my chosen family, and my heart friends, who have enabled me to take flight and pursue my dreams.