Northcentral University

Fueling a Passion I transferred to Northcentral University's Psychology PhD program in March 2019 as a dissertation student from Argosy University. The dissertation process can be long and grueling, while also fueling a passion for learning and a sense of accomplishment. Northcentral has been a fantastic place to continue my educational and professional pursuits. Tools, strategies, and feedback have been available to me at every step of my journey here. Taking advantage of them has contributed to my success. I recently finished Chapter 1 of my dissertation with the guidance and support of my committee. Regular contact with my chair (Dr. Pitchford) via email and meetings, utilizing the resources in the Library, Dissertation Center (webinars, templates, and rubrics), the Academic Success Center, and most vitally, making time to care for myself and manage stress have been essential. You cannot rush research. Because the process can be arduous, it is easy to lose sight of why you started and get lost in the work. Finding ways to stay connected to why I embarked on this journey, reminding myself that feedback is a tool for growth, and that my timeline for finishing is my own have been my guiding lights. I have worked in mental health for over nine years. I spent the first half of those years working in intensive outpatient and community-based settings utilizing Motivational Interviewing and CBT to treat clients living with mental health and substance use issues, as well as providing crisis intervention services on a suicide hotline. For the last four years, I have worked exclusively in digital mental health providing therapy, coaching, and content development services on mental health apps. In 2018, my colleagues and I published a paper about how digital interventions are changing access to care. The possibilities that can come from the intersection of mental health and technology are exciting! DISSERTATION STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Geralyn Dexter, MS, LMHC 2 The Psychology Bulletin

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