By Joan Edens
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer
SMYRNA, Tenn. – Five Motlow Psi Beta Honor Society student members and their sponsor attended the 2022 Tennessee Psychological Association (TPA) Conference in Nashville on Oct. 28, 2022, enabling them to engage directly with psychology professionals.
Motlow Smyrna attendees included sponsor Psychology Professor Katherine Hayes, Psi Beta President Emily Alvarado, Vice President Joan Edens, Secretary Ellen Seifert, and Liberty Sexton. One Motlow Moore County Psi Beta member, Monica Rodriguez Varas, joined as well.
The students started the day by attending their choice of professional continuing education seminars. They then rejoined for lunch at the TPA annual business meeting. These events allowed the students to interact with and learn from psychology professionals in a wide range of practice types and focuses.
“I hope that the conference excites interest in psychology,” Hayes said. “I hope they get to form connections and network with other professors and professionals.”
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Pictured (L-R) are Ellen Seifert, Liberty Sexton, Emily Alvarado, Joan Edens, Professor Kate Hayes, and Monica Rodriguez Varas. |
Hayes saw her wish for her students come true at the conference. Attendees Sexton and Alvarado both reported that their biggest interests included wanting to learn more about psychology in the presentations and taking advantage of the networking opportunities.
“I’ve never been to something like this. I like to learn. I’m working toward a career in psychology, so the prospects for networking are exciting,” Alvarado said.
“I’m interested in hearing professionals speak about subjects I don’t know much about,” Sexton said.
Three of the five students attended the seminar, “Including People with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities into Practice: Treatments that Work,” presented by Dr. Susan Redmond-Vaught. Redmond-Vaught is the director of psychology at Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Two students attended a seminar given by J. Christopher Young, who has a doctorate in neuropsychology, “Dementia Toolbox: Essentials for Clinicians Working with the Diverse Population of Older Adults.” Young is a clinical neuropsychologist who practices at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation in Chattanooga.
All attendees joined in the foyer of the host hotel, Sonesta Nashville Airport, during a break in the three-plus-hours-long session to network. The students engaged attendee, children’s mental health author, and licensed clinical psychologist Christine Manley of Nashville in a conversation about the pros and cons of private practice.
Manley identified several paths to careers in psychology and left as many questions as answers for the students. A suggestion was made to set up a public panel of TPA professionals to be held at Motlow for all interested students to help answer some of them for a broader audience. Hayes agreed to the plan and proposed that the students coordinate a panel with the TPA for Spring 2023.
Once the seminars were completed, the group moved to the TPA lunch and business meeting. Lunch comprised three courses including salad, chicken and vegetables and a raspberry cheesecake dessert. The banquet tables sat eight each and seating was mixed. Three attendees sat at one of the round tables with a group of professionals and their spouses while the rest sat at another.
The table arrangement promoted networking and the students engaged in more personal conversations with doctors, psychologists, neuropsychologists and their spouses as they ate before the general meeting. Shared stories ranged from experiences with the TPA to gardening tips.
“What stood out the most to me was the conversations at the table. I was sitting with three past presidents of TPA. One of the ladies at the table continuously tried to involve us in the conversation, which I appreciated,” Alvarado said.
The final presentations of the day were provided by the TPA officers who had coordinated the conference. The students learned about laws being discussed at the state level that may have an impact on psychiatric practices, how the TPA lobbies on behalf of member psychologists and their patients, continuing education opportunities provided by TPA and how professional members can serve fellow members and contribute to the health of the association.
After the business meeting, Hayes introduced the students to TPA Executive Director Elise Oehring, a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Nashville. Oehring invited the students to contact her with any questions they might have about obtaining their doctorates or about the TPA. She was excited to see Motlow participate in the conference. Other students had participated in Thursday’s poster presentation events, but the students from Motlow were the only ones to attend Friday’s seminars and TPA meeting.
A couple of days after returning home, Edens approached Oehring about potential involvement in the suggested psychology professions panel. Oehring agreed, and Hayes gained approval for Psi Beta to co-host the panel during the spring semester with Motlow Smyrna campus. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 28.
TPA panel members have been selected to represent a variety of psychology career paths and certifications to best answer a broad range of student questions. The event will be free and open to all interested students currently enrolled with Motlow or Middle Tennessee State University. Speakers, faculty and special guests will be available to network with the students following the panel. Box lunches will be provided to those who pre-register.
To learn more about the club, contact Instructor Katherine Hayes at khayes@mscc.edu. To learn more about the Professional Pathways in Psychology speakers’ panel and obtain the link to pre-register, contact Psi Beta Vice President Joan Edens at jedens0106@mscc.edu.
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