
Nicki Aghayeva
Child and Family Therapy Clinic Undergraduate Trainee, Kennedy Krieger's Child Family Therapy Clinic
Major: PSYC
Class Year: 2023
What was a typical week like in your internship position?
A typical week as an undergraduate trainee at KKI included attending one of the several supervision meetings led by my site supervisor, Dr. Jobe. Fortunately, my peers and I had the opportunity to provide our input in the discussions surrounding the weekly cases of each post-doctoral candidate throughout the semester. Our main priority as interns comprised of completing, scanning, labeling, recording, and submitting the appropriate psychometric assessment(s) to a post-doctoral candidate. Teamwork allowed me to work alongside other trainees and thoroughly discuss our thoughts about the patients we observed in sessions. We also presented a list of our compiled questions to the therapist leading the individual or family sessions.
What do you enjoy most about your current position?
I initially intended on attending and dedicating at most ten hours to my role in the Child and Family Therapy Clinic. However, I appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed observing recorded therapy sessions and discussing the utilization of Functional Family Therapy (FFT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment process. As a result, I began to allot 14 hours a week of on-site attendance to maximize my experiences. Additionally, I ensured to read chapters of books I had previously forwarded to myself about Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, etc. As we approach the end of the semester, I am continuously impressed with the resources each therapist at KKI provides to patients and their families.
How did your coursework help you in your internship?
The coursework I have completed in PSYC389 has allowed me to monitor my objectives, goals, and future professional endeavors. For instance, at the beginning of the semester, students created a learning development plan that thoroughly outlined everything necessary for an active undergraduate to accomplish in a short period. Additionally, one of the wild card assignments required for the course allowed another student and I to connect on individual milestones and similar experiences throughout our time at KKI.
How did you locate your internship position?
I learned of the available internship position through professor Steven Young's email blast to students in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Per the guidelines explained in the body of the email, I contacted supervisors and interviewers Dr. Jobe and Dr. Culpepper. The site supervisors replied to my application by providing me with a time to meet for group and private interviews. I was thrilled to receive an email that outlined the responsibilities of my then-prospective position and the days of first-day orientation.
Advice for students:
In terms of advice, I suggest dedicating an equal amount of effort to presenting yourself as a suitable candidate and ensuring to commit to researching the company of interest. I was eager to learn about the field of clinical psychology. The experiences and knowledge garnered at KKI will allow me to strive and apply the required skills necessary for graduate school and Applied Behavioral Analysis companies. I also suggest keeping an open mind throughout any internship experience, as people may realize their potential could become of use elsewhere.
Anything else you want to share with students?
I am genuinely thankful to my site supervisors for providing every opportunity possible to succeed and experiment with various fields and learn about a slew of disorders. I was unfamiliar with a lot of patient and familial dynamics before my time at KKI.