10 THINGS
YOU DIDN’T KNOW
“Marquette taught me that even little changes make a big difference.”
Top reasons why the counselor education and counseling psychology programs are popular among professionals around the nation
KIM O’BRIEN
Grad ’12 Family counselor Behavior Clinic
When Kim O’Brien, a Carroll University graduate who had been working with children in before- and after-school programs for the Milwaukee Public Schools, made the decision to pursue graduate work in counseling, Marquette was just one of the institutions on her list. “I was actually admitted to a doctoral program in Chicago,” she says. “But, then, lo and behold, here’s Dr. Fox doing research on how to serve inner-city families right here in Milwaukee.” Marquette’s master’s program allowed O’Brien to do two years of hands-on work with the Behavior Clinic, a partnership between Marquette and Penfield Children’s Center. “I think the biggest draw for me is that I’m working with families and giving quality care to families who don’t always have access to quality services. Being able to break down those barriers and have impact is a really powerful thing.”
“We’re seeing so many children who’ve experienced trauma, like sexual abuse,” O’Brien notes. “It’s really hard to listen to 3-year-olds tell you about some of the things they’ve experienced. But it’s gratifying to see a child progress from being obsessed with a horrible, horrible incident to the point where they’re just wanting to play.” O’Brien, who works full time as a family counselor for the Behavior Clinic, says she learned the meaning of social justice while working through Marquette’s program. “It feels good to be able to provide resources and services to the people who need them most, who are often entirely overlooked by the system,” she says. “Marquette taught me that even little changes make a big difference.” n
90%
of parents whose children are treated at the Behavior Clinic report greater confidence in managing children’s behaviors.
Celina Pauly’s schedule can fill up fast. Each week, she spends 20 hours in classrooms teaching students social-emotional learning topics such as friendship, bullying, violence prevention and academic success. That’s in addition to organizing community meetings, supervising interns, connecting students and mentors, and meeting with students. However, the school counselor at Irving Elementary School also assumes the role of respected leader, largely by mirroring some of the professors she had in Marquette’s master’s program. “The professors in the department respected our questions and constantly challenged us to think on a deeper level,” Pauly says, adding that the program was “the most challenging and most supportive educational environment” she had ever experienced. Not only did professors assist by preparing students for job interviews, but they also worked to mitigate weaknesses in students that emerged during their internships.
CELINA DABROWSKI PAULY Grad ’12 School counselor West Allis–West Milwaukee School District
10 College of Education 2015
Pauly strives to apply the same standard of personal care with the students at her school. Her leadership style of “listening and following through” has made her an asset to them, their families and fellow school staff. She uses this style in her position as the team coach overseeing mentors as part of a behavior-based counseling system. Pauly analyzes student data and office referrals to understand the needs of a student and correctly match the student with a mentor. During the year, she reanalyzes the data and meets with the student and mentor to be sure goals are being met.
CREDENTIALS? WE’VE GOT CREDENTIALS: Our clinical mental health master’s program is one of only three programs in the state of Wisconsin that is CACREPaccredited, and is the only one in the metro Milwaukee area.
MUCH IN DEMAND: Our school counseling program boasts a 100 percent placement rate after graduation, and most are employed before the fall after graduation from the program.
THAT CERTAIN JE NE SAIS QUOI: Our doctoral students routinely match at some of the top internship sites in the country, regularly securing post-doctoral positions at similar institutions.
IN GOOD COMPANY: Faculty members Dr. Alan Burkard (school counseling, multiculturalism, supervision), Dr. Lisa Edwards (Latina/o psychology, positive psychology), Dr. Robert Fox (infant mental health) and Dr. Sarah Knox (qualitative research, training, supervision, therapy process) have national and international reputations in their areas of research, making them attractive to prospective doctoral candidates who want to work with them. In addition, two past presidents of the American School Counseling Association, Burkard and Mark Kuranz, teach in the Marquette program.
NO STUDENT LEFT BEHIND: In the past five years, 100 percent of admitted master’s degree students graduated from the program in the expected time period.
The education and guidance Pauly received in Marquette’s master’s program prepared her to step immediately into the leadership position. “I had a strong understanding of multicultural practices, mental health conditions, legal-ethical matters and leadership strategies,” she says. “Most of all, I knew how to use the data in a way that would improve student behavior and school climate.” n 11 College of Education 2015
FAILURE — NOT AN OPTION: Since the introduction of the PRAXIS II: Professional School Counselor examination to Wisconsin, our graduates have registered a 100 percent pass rate.
MORE REALLY IS MORE: Our 60-credit Community Mental Health Counseling program allows for a balance of core course work, as well as electives, including unique courses such as Trauma Counseling, Addictions, Advanced Techniques in CBT, Psychopharmacology and Family Counseling.
ONLY THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS: The West Allis–West Milwaukee School District, a partner for counseling internships and practica, is widely considered the strongest district for school counseling in Wisconsin.
HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO: Both master’s and doctoral students benefit from a reciprocity agreement that enables them to take courses at the University of Wisconsin– Milwaukee and Medical College of Wisconsin.
THE CREAM OF THE CROP: Counseling students routinely score above the national average for clinical mental health counseling programs on the CPCE, a national exam based on core counseling areas that many programs use as a comprehensive examination for those receiving master’s degrees.