SCIENCE UPDATE!!

I suppose it's time for a dissertation update. Proposal not quite done. IRB submitted. I feel like I have jumped a major hurdle. Nearly time to have the proposal approved and the comittee picked. The areas of research highlighted in the study are mood disorders and working memory.

Science....it works, bitches. (One of my favorite T-Shirts of last year).

I have a new clinical job working with a forensic population and I love it. I have already documented treatment successes in all five of my long term clients.

Other than that, it's coming up to my year long anniversary of having my own appartment. It has been so rewarding to live on my own and I have learned to enjoy my own company. Beta Band (the best fish ever) and I have had quite a time in Palolo Valley....besides maybe the constant fireworks :D

Lastly, my radio show "Stories from the City, Stories From the Sea" is coming to an end. In order to increase my chances of matching for internship I decided to clear the decks on my extracurriculars. I know I can take it up again if I want to, but right now it's time to graduate and move on with my life.

Aloha For Now,

Rach

The End and The Beginning....

Summer's end nearing....it feels like change is on the horizon. I truly hope the next school year brings challenges, joy, and a dissertation proposal success. I am coming to the end of my classes and the beginning of research. I am frightened, and worry that I will not be able to make it as a scientist-practitioner. However, I know that if I truly push myself to do good work, and do not allow myself to get overcomitted and careless, then I will certainly succeed.

Change is hard and I have dealt with it in maladaptive ways for most of my life. These strategies worked at the time but they no longer suffice. I need to be OK with the anxiety of science and allow myself to master it without aid or distraction.

Wish me luck.

AMHD Conference Tomorrow!

Oh dear lord, why does my poster look like a sixth grade science project?
Seriously though, I'm so excited to be presenting my poster at the AMHD "Best Practices" conferences at Ala Moana Center tomorrow!
This will be my first poster ever presented at a scientific conference.
It is about persons on conditional release status living in the Hawaii community. Generally we see them having more severe psychopathology than the rest of the AMHD population. Sadly, they have less contact with their families too :(
Here's hoping I do well!