UAA prepares the state’s next psychologists and counselors

On the second floor of the Social Sciences Building, in a cozy office with comfy chairs, with the glow of soft lamplight and a sunny view, you'll find assistant professor in UAA's Department of Psychology and director of the university's Psychological Services Center (PSC), Dr. Grant Sasse. Sasse has worked at UAA for five years and is going into his second year as director of the center.

Sasse oversees the PSC, which provides a training site for M.S. students in clinical psychology and Ph.D. students in clinical-community psychology. At any time, the PSC provides mental health services to about 50 clients from the greater Anchorage area. The PSC is unique in that it not only provides services to UAA students, faculty and staff, but also to the public, and is one of the only "sliding fee scale" mental health clinics in the city.

"The clinic is a wonderful place and I think we see a lot of people who need help who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it," Sasse said, explaining that the PSC charges a minimal fee based on income. He said that everybody's financial situation is different and if a client is unable to pay, they are not turned away for services. "That's one of the biggest values we have here."

The PSC

The PSC serves as the training clinic for UAA's students in the master's of clinical psychology program and the Ph.D. program in clinical-community psychology. The center provides a real-world clinic experience for students. All students are supervised by a UAA Department of Psychology faculty member who is a licensed clinician in psychology or counseling.

"This is kind of like the safety net before students get sent out into the community," Sasse said. "Students get at least three hours of supervision a week, two in a group setting and then an individual one."

Sasse said students who are experiencing acute issues or crises should go to the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center first, as they have trained clinicians to help students with physical and mental health concerns (see SHCC website for hours of operation), and for emergencies, to call UPD. For those in the community seeking more advanced psychological help, he recommends consulting with one's primary care physician. But for those who are needing day-to-day services, Sasse said the clinic is a great and affordable option.

"We do everything from improving stress management and coping skills to strengthening relationships and enhancing one's well being," he said. "We do a lot here. The only group we don't have the capacity to see right now are young children. But, other than that, we see everyone from teens on up."

Sasse also stressed that although the PSC is a hands-on learning experience for students, the clinic operates according to the same rules, ethics and confidentiality standards followed by community counseling centers.

Real-world experience

Amber Frasure, a UAA master's student in the clinical psychology program, is originally from Arizona. She started working at the PSC this past summer and said she's gained a lot of confidence since her first day on the job.

"Overall, it was an amazing experience and really eye-opening," said Frasure. She said that some of her classmates had already experienced working in a clinic seeing clients, but for her, this summer was the first time she'd sat with a client one-on-one. "The first time was absolutely terrifying, but then it was just amazing." She loved getting to know her clients, having them open up to her so she could help them work through issues and through the entire process, learning herself what kind of therapist she wants to be.

While in the U.S. Navy and stationed overseas, Frasure received her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland University College. While transitioning out of the military, she began applying for graduate programs.

"I had some interesting experiences in the military that also guided me to continue my education and help me decide that this is really what I want to do - to help people get through the hardships that life can offer sometimes," Frasure said. "Overall, psychology is about helping people, but there's also the challenge of the profession that every day is not the same thing over and over, and this is all about focusing on people."

So Frasure started searching for graduate schools and after coming across UAA's program thought, "Alaska will be a great adventure." She was thrilled to be accepted and to have the opportunity to continue her education at UAA. She said her experience has been great.

"I feel significantly more confident in my ability to be with people, and I like that there's still tons of room for growth and for me to learn," said Frasure. The clinic has served as Frasure's stepping stone - a safe environment under the watchful eye of her professors and supervisors to hone her skills as a therapist. After she completes her work at the PSC, she will take the next step at an internship site, where she'll experience cases that not only include the delivery of counseling but medical treatment as well.

"There is a lot to remember and the PSC offers us an opportunity to learn with less severe cases," she said.

Frasure said she's slated to start her internship as soon as some paperwork goes through and will be at Providence Alaska Medical Center - which Sasse said is a great community partner in providing UAA Department of Psychology students with internship opportunities. Frasure is excited about her upcoming internship that will provide training in behavioral medicine and afford her the opportunity to work at different sites within the facility. She'll be there for two semesters, logging 300 hours with 80 hours of direct contact with clients. Frasure is unfazed; she's used to the hours at this point since it's the same workload required for all students working at the PSC.

"During the semester it's about 20 hours a week and in the summer it's about 25-ish," said Sasse of the students working at the PSC. "We're really trying to help them get to their hours in a term with 80 of them being direct client contact - it's a lot."

The 20 hours a week internship does not include coursework like homework, studying and exams. It's a rigorous program, but for Frasure, this is her passion. She acknowledges it's a lot, but she's loving what she's doing. But she said the PSC is such a great learning environment and that the Department of Psychology is a close-knit community of students and professors all willing to provide support from homework to casework at the PSC.

Frasure is excited for her next step and grateful for the opportunity the PSC provided to help dip her toes into the career path she's chosen. She knows it will be a lot of work in the years ahead as she pushes forward to finish her master's degree and then on to her Ph.D. She's not sure if she'll stay in Alaska, but she knows that UAA's Department of Psychology and the PSC gave her the foundation and confidence she needs to take the next steps.

Written by Catalina Myers, UAA Office of University Advancement

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