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Mentoring in Clinical Geropsychology. American Psychological Association Annual Meeting Washington, DC August 4, 2011 Amy Fiske, PhD Associate Professor of Psychology Director of Undergraduate Training West Virginia University.
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Mentoring in Clinical Geropsychology American Psychological Association Annual Meeting Washington, DC August 4, 2011 Amy Fiske, PhD Associate Professor of Psychology Director of Undergraduate Training West Virginia University
Source: Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics (2010)
Clinical Geropsychologists Needed • In APA survey (n = 1227; Qualls et al., 2002) • 3% identified older adults as main target of their practice • 69% provided some services to older adults • overall median hours per week was between 2 and 3 hours • amount of service provided falls short of projected need • The pipeline for the geriatric mental health researchers is also “endangered” (Bartels et al., 2010)
How Mentoring Can Help • Attracting new students to the field • Enhancing training outcomes • Higher level of satisfaction with training • Greater productivity • Higher level of professional success Source: reviewed by Zimmerman et al., 2011
Symposium Presentations • Mentoring within Doctoral Training Programs – Amy Fiske, PhD • Mentoring Geropsychology Interns and Fellows – Michele J. Karel, PhD • Postdoctoral Fellows and Junior Faculty – Patricia A. Arean, PhD
Definition: Mentor • “A person who acts as guide and adviser to another person, esp. one who is younger and less experienced. Later, more generally: a person who offers support and guidance to another; an experienced and trusted counsellor or friend; a patron, a sponsor.” (Oxford English Dictionary, downloaded August 2011)
Definition: in Graduate Training • Mentoring is a personal relationship in which a more experienced faculty member acts as a guide, role model, teacher, and sponsor of a less experienced graduate student. A mentor provides the protégéwith knowledge, advice, challenge, counsel, and support in the protégé's pursuit of becoming a full member of a particular profession. Mentorships are reciprocal and mutual by design, and the ultimate goal of the relationship is development of a strong professional identity and clear professional competence on the part of the protégé. (Johnson, 2003, p. 130)
“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” - Life and Death, Woody Allen
A Word about Undergraduates • Mentoring undergraduates can inspire, encourage and set onto path to study geropsychology • Possible opportunities to mentor: • teaching • advising • research experience(McNair scholars) • field experiences • A little attention goes a long way!
What Doctoral Students Need • Attitudes, knowledge and skills required for work with older adults • But also… • What do I want to do? • Balance of research, clinical, teaching, service? • Psychology department, VA, psychiatry dept?
How are Graduate Students Mentored? • Grad students generally admitted to work with a particular faculty mentor. • Also receive mentoring from other faculty members and the director of clinical training. • Other mentoring arrangements include: • pairing new students with more advanced “big siblings” • meetings to address professional development topics • various forums for students to present their research formally and receive feedback (e.g., mock job talks, mock research conferences, etc.) • annual reunions with program alumnae and interactions with visiting scholars. Source: Mentoring Committee review, thanks to Forrest Scogin
WVU Psychology • Professional Development Seminar • Plan of Study • Deadlines for major milestones • Yearly evaluation • self-rating of competencies • progress toward milestones • Multiple research mentors encouraged • Multiple clinical teams required • Junior Colleague model
Examples of Opportunities Mentors Can Provide in Doctoral Training • Introductions • Writing projects (e.g., chapters) • Writing reviews • Speaking engagements • Teaching • Grant writing • Mentoring more junior students
A Few Thoughts • Get to know each student’s special strengths, needs, interests • May need to remind them that they don’t need to reflect your interests exactly • Be open to learning from your protégés • Boost confidence • Compliment sandwich • Countering the imposter syndrome • Change approach to match student’s developmental level • If you like your job, let your students know • If you share frustrations, also share successes • “Best job in the world.”