Oakland Veg Week invites Dr. Milena Esherick, MA Program Director, to speak about the benefits of a plant-strong diet

Dr. Milena Esherick, the Director of the Wright Institute's Counseling Psychology program, was the kick-off speaker for this year's Oakland Veg Week. Veg Week is a weeklong celebration of a plant-strong diet and its benefits on human health, animal welfare, and the environment.

Alum's work with Bay Area Community Resources Commended

Master's Program alum and Multicultural Awareness and Sensitivity course co-instructor, Katherine Bruce has received an achievement award through her work with Bay Area Community Resources. The annual award is given for "contributions to the mission and values of BACR and commitment to practicing and modeling BACR's best practices". Katherine's work is profiled here.

Katherine Bruce approaches her work as a Mental Health Counselor at King Elementary School in Richmond with warmth, initiative, and commitment. For instance, recognizing that many of families in the Gateway counseling program struggle during the holidays, Katherine organized a successful gift drive to help make the holidays a little brighter for her clients.

Faculty to offer training at Alternative Family Services

Full-time Master's Program Faculty member Dr. Bernadette Torrez will give a training with Alternative Family Services' Gathering Place Center in Oakland on Thursday, April 24. Dr. Torrez will lead a discussion on "Differential Diagnosis for Children and Adolescents."

Wright Institute Participates in Annual California Psychological Association Convention

Several Wright Institute faculty members and students participated in the California Psychological Association Annual Convention, April 10-13, 2014 in Monterey, CA. This year's theme was: Innovative and Inspiring Practices in Psychology.

Dr. Gilbert Newman, Dean, presented on "Integrating Psychologists into Healthcare Settings in Your Backyard: Lessons and Visions from Thought Leaders in California." Other participants on this topic included: Christine Nicole Runyan, PhD, ABPP, Dept. of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester, MA; Michael G. Ritz, PhD, clinical psychologist, Irvine, CA; Lori A. Futterman, RN, PhD, psychologist/clinical researcher, San Diego, CA; and Susan McDaniel, PhD, Director, Institute for the Family, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.

Program Assistant Nominated for Book Award

Alli Warren, Wright Institute Master's Program Assistant, has been nominated for two book awards for her poetry book Here Come the Warm Jets, published by City Lights Books in 2013.

MA Student Beth Greivel Petitions CAMFT

Beth Greivel, a second-year Master's student at the Wright Institute, has garnered 850 signatures for a petition to the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT) to denounce sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) like reparative or conversion therapies that attempt to change the sexual orientations and/or gender identities of LGBTQIQA individuals. Ms. Greivel plans to present the petition at CAMFT's September board meeting in Berkeley.

Among others, the petition has the endorsements of Gaylesta, the LGBTQ Psychotherapy Association, and the GLBT National Help Center, and has been signed by the Deputy Executive Director and Director of Communications of PFLAG National. Over 500 of those who have signed are licensed Marriage & Family Therapists, interns, or trainees. Ms. Greivel is currently seeking additional endorsements from educational institutions.

Dr. Milena Esherick, speaks at the East Bay Women's Conference

The Wright Institute's Counseling Psychology Program Director, Milena Esherick, Psy.D., was a featured speaker at the eighth annual East Bay Women's Conference. The aim of the conference, which was attended by over 500 people, is to "provide women an opportunity to come together and participate in a program of personal and professional enrichment, development and networking activities and provide the tools they need on their journey to their personal best as individuals, team members and leaders in family, community, political and business arenas." Dr. Esherick's presentation, "Extreme Networking," was an interactive session designed to inspire conference attendees to connect with their female peers on a more substantial, genuine level.

MA Student Paula Averruz awarded by ACBHCS

Paula Averruz, a second year Master's student at the Wright Institute, has been awarded a $6,000 stipend from Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (ACBHCS). Developed as a component of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the stipend aims to address occupational shortages in the public mental health field by recruiting individuals into "county-operated programs and contracted, mental health community-based organizations." To receive a stipend, students must demonstrate expertise in resiliency, recovery, and wellness models, as well as experience working with underserved populations in integrated care settings.

Eric Samuels, PsyD Student, Selected for APA Presidential Internship Panel

Eric Samuels, a PsyD student at the Wright Institute, has been selected to participate on the Presidential Internship Panel on the Internship Crisis at the August 2014 APA Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. The panel of five students and one Early Career Psychologist was chosen at the request of Nadine Kaslow, current APA President. The goal of the panel is to bring together students with six leaders in the training community. Each panelist is charged with proposing a creative, progressive solution to ending the internship crisis, and leaders in the training community will respond to these suggestions. The panel is designed to foster a critical dialogue and represent a working through of potential actions and solutions.

Wright Institute Students Engage in CPA Leadership and Advocacy Day at State Capitol