Interview with the DMU Ladies: Marie, Emily, and Pham | A snapshot of Catholic women as graduate students in the Counseling field

@All2beholdyou · 10mo ago · 0:10

So the first question to kick us off is tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from and how do you show up in this world?

@fiat2023 · 10mo ago · 1:31

You. Hey, Diana. Thanks for having me here. This is Marie. I am originally from Tempe, Arizona. Grew up in typical neighborhood, I suppose. I have a younger sister, two and a half years younger than me. She still resides in Arizona, as does the rest of my family. I moved to Texas in 2006 with my late husband, and we had two children at the time, and we went on to have three more children here

@Shmimly · 10mo ago · 2:01

It's a faith based program integrating the Catholic faith into the graduate school. So I'm showing up as a student in that capacity and then also, um, treading water into my church community. And that has become a growing aspect of how I'm showing up in this world of supporting that church community. But, yeah, that's where I hail from and kind of where I'm at right now. Thank you

@kaitlynpham · 10mo ago · 1:50

You. Hey, guys. I am so sorry for being late to the game, but he's surprised, right? I am Kaitlyn. Caitlin FAM, and my friends call me FAM. Let's see, I'm from Oklahoma. I was raised here, grew up here, and after I graduated college, moved and did ministry for a few years, then stayed in the nonprofit world. And I think that's a little bit of my niche now

@All2beholdyou · 10mo ago · 0:09

Inquiring minds would like to know, how did you end up choosing the counseling profession as a career path?

@fiat2023 · 10mo ago · 3:28

You. As I talked about in the last question, I came upon this career path through much discernment with my spiritual director, my own therapist, and spending time with Jesus and the most holy sacrament of Adoration, just sitting in Adoration and praying. Yeah. Around the time of February 2020, I just really began soul searching

@Shmimly · 10mo ago · 3:41

And it was like I walked into a wall. I remember the moment specifically of being in a supervisor meeting with my supervisor, and I was like, this is it. I need to be a counselor. So from that day on, I Googled online counseling programs because I couldn't do in person because my previous Master program was not faith based. I wanted my next one to be faith based. And so googled Catholic Counseling graduate studies and found Divine Mercy University that way

@kaitlynpham · 10mo ago · 4:39

I was saying, you can either let me go, or you can very kindly let me stay and figure this out altogether. I just remember my supervisor being like, you know, FAM. That is absolutely not a surprise at all that you feel like you're being called to that field of work. And that in and of itself is so reassuring. Right? To hear that the people in our lives recognize our callings even when we hadn't come to terms with that

@All2beholdyou · 10mo ago · 0:17

You? What does it mean to you to be a Catholic woman? Why do you feel that your faith helps you when it comes to being a mental health professional?

@Shmimly · 10mo ago · 3:18

People from all walks of life, all walks of life. And it's so beautiful to witness many of my friends, their growth that they've gone through in the midst of struggle, in the midst of pain, but showing up for them as their friend, as what I hope has been a loving, kindness person to walk with them. I think that's part of my Catholic identity is showing up in that way of loving and kindness

@fiat2023 · 10mo ago · 5:00

And I also am very even surprised at times with some of my clients who do not have a relationship per se with God and don't really study or think about perhaps the virtue as the same way as a practicing catechized Catholic as we're being trained in our own program. And again, just those themes or virtues of hope, the virtue of self control, even, and perseverance. And perseverance is the one virtue that I truly see the hope and see my clients learn and lean into

@kaitlynpham · 10mo ago · 4:43

And I think that manifests a lot in the way that I view counseling because I hope that I can help nurture someone, right? Like, I hope that I can help care for someone in a way that provides them enough support and encouragement to believe that, yeah, someone in this world does care for me and will my good in that capacity. And I think even in terms of faith, right. I grew up Catholic, I've always been Catholic

@All2beholdyou · 10mo ago · 0:20

At this stage of life? Your identity and your formation and background? What is your personal mission? What would you like people to know about what you do?

@fiat2023 · 10mo ago · 3:00

You? Wow. It's a great question. My personal mission in life, I spoke to it a bit in my other answer, although having such a life changing event happened in my life as I spoke about my husband's passing four years ago. We were married 17 and a half years

@Shmimly · 10mo ago · 1:59

You. So my personal mission is for clients to feel seen, to feel heard, to feel not alone with the intent to walk alongside for healing and eventually flourishing. I think one lesson am currently reflecting on learning is what does flourishing look like for each person? What does healing look like for each person?

@kaitlynpham · 10mo ago · 4:31

Because not only does that relieve some worry of being alone, but I think the Lord has just given me a lot of grace to be able to see how he shows up for me through other people and through just the circumstances of my life. And so I just hope to do that and hope to be a reflection of that for not just the clients that I see, but just in general for the people in my life

@All2beholdyou · 10mo ago · 0:17

Given that, what are the greatest challenges to being a grad student right now, especially in the mental health field that you experience?

@fiat2023 · 10mo ago · 4:05

Although living in this life currently where I'm at, teaching a few hours a week, internship hours, raising my family as a single parent, the other challenge is self care. And so self care like these first couple of months was just kind of on the fly

@Shmimly · 10mo ago · 2:32

You. Okay. So in real time, I've had to record this several times because my kids are in the background. So one challenge is time management. And I laugh because our program is so structured, our Master's program. So the semester is divided up into two eight week courses and assignments are always due on Saturdays and Tuesdays. So that piece is consistent, but it's life around it that's not consistent as is life

@kaitlynpham · 10mo ago · 4:38

And so navigating schedules with the kids and making sure that kids are fed, put to bed, up on time at school, whatever it is, we're all just juggling a lot right now and I think kind of reiterating what Emily says, just that time management piece of it. But I think for me personally, I am really feeling that ache of recognizing that I need a good social community. I just need a good community. Right

@All2beholdyou · 10mo ago · 0:25

You. Why do you think having community in this field is so important? Whether it is in support of your faith or if it is just how you are expanding your network as a professional, why is it important that you're able to connect with people on similar paths? I

@fiat2023 · 10mo ago · 3:18

So I'm just really, really grateful for all of the people God has placed in my path as I've been pursuing this field. And my hope is that I can continue to tell myself and remind myself to remind myself not to walk it alone and that it's very, very important to lean into community and to have this community of other counselors. Around me no matter where I go in the future with this field to never feel alone and never think that I have to be alone

@Shmimly · 10mo ago · 3:03

@All2beholdyou @fiat2023

So walking along this field or walking in this field with people who are on similar paths, I love that question because reflecting on my previous Master's program, I remember a supervisor once said that this is the best time of your life. Never will you be surrounded by people who are so similar to you and that we're celebrating, which I agree 100%. However, that was not the case for me, the last program

@All2beholdyou · 10mo ago · 0:20

It. Last but not least, do you have any insights or highlights that you have being a part of this program and any hopes that you have for yourself in the future and for your future work out there in the field?

@fiat2023 · 10mo ago · 3:45

I have been blessed in my lifetime to been a part and experienced great retreats and pilgrimages and just life in general to do life with good Catholic friends. And this was just, I think, such a different experience of bringing to light different parts of our faith and just the way that the Holy Spirit was weaved through our experiences and dialogue with our friends, with our cohort, with our colleagues. And so that was just really a beautiful surprise

@Shmimly · 10mo ago · 2:59

So I think my insight is to really just ask questions, get to know your cohort because that has made for such a rich, deep experience. Yeah, it's such a rewarding experience, is really getting to know the cohort and your colleagues because they are our future network. Which leads me to answer that next part of the question of hopes for the future. And I hope to continue those relationships moving forward. I think it seems common for many counselors to have their own practice

@All2beholdyou · 10mo ago · 0:28

You. Bonus question do you have any funny stories or unexpected experiences? Just things you didn't realize you were going to encounter in this field. And, of course, mind you, with proper disc closure guidelines

@fiat2023 · 10mo ago · 4:29

And so, again, the hard situations, I guess that's been a big surprise, that even though those really hard situations, just to practice that empathy and the best way I can, and to be just and to be present and to hold space for my clients. But, yeah

@Shmimly · 10mo ago · 2:48