cpsylist: Program Process Updates

[Benedict McWhirter]

Hi all-

I wanted to send a quick reflection after our small group meeting of students and faculty from last Wednesday and then some subsequent conversations I have had with a few of you since then.

1. Process. I wanted to mention again the steps for problem resolution that appear in your student handbook. I know this is “ideal” and not always possible because of sometimes multiple roles with faculty along the way. So there are reasons to bypass a step or two.  But it's important to keep in mind as we keep moving forward as a program community in order to attend to some of our fears, concerns, and problems.

The problem-solving steps and processes to follow as part of standard professional practice include first and foremost, discussing your concern with the source of the problem. This is usually the hardest step, especially when you need to confront someone with power over you, like one of us faculty members. The next step is to discuss the problem with your advisor or another faculty member who may be able to help you. When that appears to be unsuccessful, your next step is to meet with the CPSY Program Director and/or with the CPSY Clinical Training Director to try to resolve the problem. If that is not satisfactory, then meet with the Department Head, and then ultimately with the COE Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. All along you have other resources available, such as the University Omnsbudperson, and sometimes, in consultation with your advisor you may determine another plan of action. I know this is easier said than done, especially when using your power to “speak truth to power”. And as I said, there are sometimes reasons to bypass the steps. There are many reasons for these steps - especially in clinical training programs with the added dimension of faculty and students alike being responsible for the welfare of vulnerable clients and the populations that we serve. 

2. Many McWhirters. Also, I have been remiss in acknowledging what may be a systemic roadblock. I want to thank one of your students colleagues for highlighting this: There are many McWhirters in our environment. In the past Ellen and I have had more direct conversations about multiple roles and identifying what you might need to do if you have a conflict or problem with one of us (obviously, you would bypass the step of talking to the training director or clinical director). But this year, with Eric Garcia continuing as the practicum training coordinator at the Counseling Center, Dr. AnnaCecilia McWhirter as a post doc in Hedco with Dr. Wendy Hadley, and now with Marielena being a Prevention Science student, there are a lot of us McWhirters in the training environment. We have an ethical obligation to set limits and boundaries, which we do. And this comes second nature to all of us in our clan, and we have specific discussions about boundaries, but I still need to - and should have - mentioned awareness of this to you all. Yes, we discuss work, but we are particularly judicious to not discuss students when we do discuss work. We take our ethical responsibilities seriously. I apologize for not laying this out more explicitly and placing this on the table for conversation. 

3. Next steps. Regarding our steps for community improvement, faculty have a meeting this Thursday the 14th on our clinical training and CPSY faculty will discuss student-faculty problem solving and debrief the themes from our small student-faculty meeting from last Wednesday and the insights gleaned from the helpful (masked) conversations I have had since then. Also, I have talked with Dr. Dianna Carrizales and I think she is on board to attend our Combined Doctoral Seminar on April 22 to highlight options, such as how you might go about utilizing the Omnsbudperson and other systemic supports—including those within program and how to set boundaries in the way we engage peers. 

I will update you again before our combined doctoral seminar on the 22nd. In the meantime if you have any concerns please contact me: 541-337-7224.

Best to all of you and have a great week 3 of the final term of the year!
Benedict