USM Marriage and Family Therapy Student Organization

09/02/2023

Hey MFT’s,
Great job opportunity and a chance to work with Marie Murell Woods, one of our outstanding MFT graduates! Please share!

Job Opportunity: Meadows Behavioral Health – Hiring Outpatient Therapist

The Meadows Behavioral Health is hiring therapists for their new outpatient center in Atlanta, GA. The program is an 8-week IOP and PHP program providing treatment for primary trauma, mental health, and addictions. The ideal candidate would be fully licensed, have experience in a residential/inpatient/agency setting, experience running group therapy, and experience treating trauma and/or addiction.

Please use this link to read more about our available positions and apply https://www.themeadows.com/outpatient-careers-atlanta-chicago/.

Anyone interested can also reach out to the Director of Outpatient Services for Atlanta – Marie Woods at [email protected].

04/03/2023

Hey everybody, MFTSO is doing a fundraiser!

On Wednesday, April 5th from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Pyro's Fire Fresh Pizza at 3002 Hardy Street is donating back % of sales from Dine-In, Takeout, Drive thru & Pick up orders to Marriage and Family Therapy Student Organization!
RSVP & all details here: www.groupraise.com/events/242578
Why we're raising: The MFTSO at The University of Southern Mississippi is the Graduate student organization for members in the MFT Master's program at USM. This organization was established to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all individuals, couples and families in Hattiesburg and the surrounding area, with special emphasis on improving the quality of life for families.
We hope you can join us in eating out for a good cause!
P.S. Please feel free to invite -- and share this event with -- your friends and family.

04/22/2022

Hey all! We’re having another fundraiser - this time selling MFTSO mugs! Mugs are white with a USM MFTSO logo (a picture of the logo is attached). They are $10 each.

The money will go towards service projects that the MFTSO does, and/or putting together a graduation ceremony for our graduating class this summer. Any order helps!

To place an order, please send a direct Facebook message to Mamie Albritton, whom I will tag in the comments!!

Thank you all!! Take care!

MFTSO

04/15/2022

Okay, we're back again! Today we are highlighting one of our amazing MFT faculty members: Dr. Michael Fitzgerald!
Dr. Fitzgerald (or “Mike,” as the students call him) earned his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. According to him, at first he was an accounting and finance major, but after realizing he didn’t enjoy that, he changed his major, eventually earning a his B.S. in Psychology. After finishing his degree, Dr. Fitzgerald applied to various psychology programs, and the first program he was admitted to was the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Syracuse University. And the rest was history. Dr. Fitzgerald finished his degree at Syracuse University, and then went on to receive his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Florida State University.
Dr. Fitzgerald was hired here at USM in the Fall of 2019. So far, his favorite part about the MFT program at USM is “the people and the relationships: we focus so much on personal growth and we can’t do that if students and professors have tension (or if there is tension between the faculty). Also, people are available for support when there are questions or stress.” While he is proud of his productivity in research, teaching, supervision, and clinical work, he is particularly proud of getting hired at USM.
Dr. Fitzgerald is from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. His favorite food is a tie between eating McDonald’s for breakfast, or steak and garlic mashed potatoes. He has two dogs (Dakota and Oreo), and his favorite hobbies include doing anything related to his dogs, reading, working out, and being outside.
Finally, Dr. Fitzgerald was asked to describe himself, to which he asked that the students describe him instead. Collectively, they described “Mike” as passionate, dedicated, "considerate but sassy," a workaholic, and “like the awkward uncle that’s too young to be your uncle.” 😊 Clearly, Dr. Fitzgerald is well-loved by his students!
We’re so lucky to have Dr. Fitzgerald in our faculty! We love you Mike!
Take care everyone!
MFTSO

04/14/2022

Hey everyone! After a month or so, it’s time to break the silence again! This week we will be highlighting two people – a faculty member and a student, so look forward to another post later this week.
In the meantime, today we have a special announcement to go alongside our highlight: MarLee Mitchell, one of our second-year students, has been chosen at the USM MFT Student of the Year! This honor is chosen based on skill in clinical practice, excellence in academic performance, and strength of character. We are so proud of her and are excited for where she will go in the future with her career!
Here are some fun facts about MarLee: her favorite foods are Pho, Tex-Mex food, and anything with chocolate; she loves running, hiking, pickleball, and binge-watching sitcoms; she comes from both Utah and Nevada (she lived in Ogden, Utah before coming to USM); and she has a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies with a minor in Child Development from Weber State University. When asked what three words she would use to describe herself, she said “committed, purposeful, engaging.”
MarLee chose Marriage and Family Therapy because she thought it would be a challenge for her and would keep her interested in further learning. She remembers watching a role play of a therapy session in an undergraduate class, and thinking it was so interesting how the professor made seemingly unconnected events work together and make sense of the chaos. “I was hooked from then,” she said.
MarLee’s favorite part about the MFT program at USM is the relationships she has gained with faculty and other students. She says that they have made a very difficult program so much more enjoyable. She has also enjoyed the experiences she has had in the MFT Center, and feels very grateful for the clients and the faculty supervision she has had there.
When asked what achievements she was most proud of, MarLee said this:
“I am proud to have been accepted into the program and for the opportunity I have been given to be at my placement in the Pine Grove system. I am proud to have had the opportunities I had before USM, including having an athletic scholarship that funded my education so I could follow my passions. I’m proud to have been the first in my immediate family to graduate with my bachelor’s and get accepted into a master’s program. Most importantly, I’m proud to have married way up and snagged my amazing husband!”
We are SO proud of MarLee and her accomplishments, and are so grateful for all the people she has influenced here in our MFT program. Congratulations MarLee!!
Take care everyone!
MFTSO

03/01/2022

Hey everyone!! We have another student highlight today, but this time with something a little extra. In addition to highlighting our student, Alana Malone, we are also proud to announce that she will be presenting her work this week at USM’s 2022 Race, Gender, and Sexuality Research Symposium!! This is a significant accomplishment, and all are invited to see her present! More details for that will be at the end of the post.

Alana Malone is one of our first-year students in the MFT program. She comes from McComb, Mississippi, and she enjoys kayaking, fishing, playing guitar, and eating Tex-Mex of any kind. Recently, she went on a camping trip to Big Bend National Park. Located in West Texas, it is one of the most isolated and least visited National Parks in the country. She says that being able to “unplug from the world and do a lot of self-reflection” while on this trip changed her life. Alana, who describes herself as gregarious, ambitious, fun-loving, and altruistic, said that making the trip alone while hiking some of the hardest trails in the country was a big accomplishment for her.

Alana received her bachelor’s degree in Family Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi, graduating with honors. After working for 10 years in neuropsychology in Houston, TX, she decided it was time for a career change, and applied to USM again for an MFT master’s degree. When asked what inspired her to pursue MFT, she said that during her undergrad degree, she took a marriage and family therapy class, which she said “felt like a great culmination of all the areas I found interesting (Psychology, Philosophy, Social Studies, Child and Family Studies).” Further, she says that MFT “fulfills my desire to do a job that helps others.” She hopes to work in private practice one day, with a special emphasis on LGBT issues.

When asked if she had anything she wanted to say to those reading the post, she said “I think everyone should go to therapy at some point in their life. To me, it’s as necessary as making sure you go to the doctor,” and “after having left the Hattiesburg, MS area for about 10 years I am excited to be back. This is a great city to raise a family in, as well as to pursue my career options.”

We’re so proud of you Alana!! We’re blessed to have you in the program.

Here are some more details on Alana’s presentation this Friday:

Name of Paper: Contextual Issues in Therapy for LGBT Individuals

What/Where/When: The University of Southern Mississippi's 2022 Race, Gender, and Sexuality Symposium. The paper will be featured in the "Healing and Empowerment" category. Alana will be speaking at 1pm on Friday March 4, 2022 in LAB 208 (LAB is Liberal Arts Building) on Hattiesburg campus. All featured work for the symposium - including her own - is currently being showcased at the following website: https://aquila.usm.edu/rgss/

Paper summary: The paper addresses the contextual factors (mental health, daily living, and relationships) affecting LGBT individuals that must be considered highly significant when a therapist is treating one of these clients. Also discussed are the possible barriers that LGBT individuals face when seeking therapy, such as prejudice and discrimination - both personal and legal - within the mental healthcare field.

02/18/2022

Today, we’re going to highlight one of our incredible first-year students, Kristina Weaver! Kristina is from Gulfport, Mississippi, and chose to stay in her home state for both her undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s in Public Health with an emphasis in Policy and Administration) and her MFT master’s degree – both here at USM! She loves hiking, dancing, and traveling, and tells us that her favorite food is sushi. When asked to describe herself in three words, she said “caring, loyal, and warm.” And we completely agree!
Kristina is a first generation college student, an accomplishment she is very proud of. When asked why she chose to pursue Marriage and Family Therapy in particular, she said “I want to make a difference in the lives of those who face trauma and help eliminate the stigma on mental health.” She loves the MFT program at USM because of “how personal it is! All of the faculty really care about each student and they know that grad school is deeper than just grades. They want us to leave the program with a stronger sense of self-worth and I feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing program!”
Kristina has been an integral part of the program here, and continues to uplift the students and faculty around her. We feel blessed to have her! We love you Kristina!

02/03/2022

Hi everyone! It's been a little while, but we're back from Christmas break and getting into the swing of things.
Today, we want to highlight one of our second-year students, Elvia Hernandez! Elvia was born in Mexico, but was mostly raised in Mississippi. Despite her Mexican heritage, her favorite food is Asian food! Her hobbies include playing the ukulele, writing music, doing crafts, and spending time with her husband, her dogs, and her cats. When asked to describe herself with three words, she said “kind, friendly, and happy.” (And anyone who knows her would agree!)
Before Elvia started the MFT program, she received a bachelor’s degree from USM with a major in Spanish and a minor in criminal justice. She asked why she decided to pursue Marriage and Family Therapy, she said “I have always been interested in becoming a therapist, but I wasn’t sure which field. So when I learned about MFT, I knew that’s what I needed to pursue.” Her favorite things about the MFT program at USM include “how it’s personal growth oriented and, despite all the work we must do, at the end of the day I know that this is what I want to do. I also like that our professors are very committed and invested in the program, while at the same time they take care of themselves and their families.” She is proud to have learned so much in this program, and is grateful that she can use the information in her personal life.
As one last thing, Elvia wanted to send this message: “I encourage that if anyone is thinking of pursuing a masters in MFT, this is the right program. I believe this program is so rich in so many areas. I also encourage our future cohorts to enjoy their time at the program. I know it sounds crazy to think that, but it is absolutely a great program.”
We love Elvia, and are so grateful that she is in the program. Proud of you Hernandez
Take care everyone!

12/07/2021

The USM Marriage and Family Therapy t-shirts are finally here!! We have two different designs, each in green, black, and blue. See the pictures attached.
These t-shirts are great, but they are also an excellent way to support the program here! Any money we make on the t-shirts goes towards the MFTSO budget, which is used for outreach efforts, service projects, and putting on a graduation for our second year students at the end of their time in the program.
If anyone would like purchase one or more t-shirts, please send a private Facebook message to MarLee Bradley (she’s tagged in the post, and also in the comments), and she’ll get everything related to payments, etc.
Here’s the pricing details:
Shirts with the dome on the front and clinic on the back are $20.
Shirts with the USM logo are $18.
If you order 3 or more shirts, each shirt is $2 cheaper.
(If 3+ shirts are being bought)Dome/Clinic = $18
(If 3+ shirts are being bought) USM = $16
Take care everyone, and thanks for your support!!

11/28/2021

It’s time for another social media highlight! This week, we are highlighting one of our newest faculty members: Dr. Leslie Anderson! Dr. Anderson is from Canton, Mississippi, and is a proud alumna of Tougaloo College (one of the oldest historically Black colleges in Mississippi), where she received her B.A. in psychology in 2009. After getting her bachelor’s from Tougaloo, she went on to get her Master’s of Marriage and Family Therapy degree from our very own USM, followed by a Ph.D. in human development and family science with an MFT emphasis from the University of Georgia in 2020. She was hired as a faculty member for the USM MFT program in 2020.
When asked why she wanted to pursue marriage and family therapy, Dr. Anderson said: “I chose to pursue a career in MFT because of my own curiosity about relationship dynamics and how they can influence our overall quality of life. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a helping professional and MFT has afforded me more opportunities than I could have ever imagined to do just that!” When asked about her favorite part of the MFT program at USM, she said: “My favorite part about the MFT program is undoubtedly the emphasis on personal growth and self-reflection for students. The first step in effectively practicing as a therapist is looking at self and being keenly aware of who you are and how you show up to others.”
In addition to her career as a therapist and faculty member, Dr. Anderson loves to travel, try new recipes, and spend time with her amazing family. She is also a sucker for good Greek cuisine!

Take care everyone, and hope y'all had an excellent Thanksgiving.

USM MFTSO

11/15/2021

Howdy y'all! It's been a little while since we've posted anything, but as of now we will starting up our student and faculty highlights! The hope is to highlight two students and one faculty member per month.
And who better to start off the year than our very own Kaitlyn Lunt! Kaitlyn Lunt is one of our first year students in the MFT program. When asked to describe herself with three positive words, she said that she is “caring, expressive, and fun,” and the rest of faculty and students in the program would readily agree! She is from Spanish Fork, Utah - the same state where she attended university, graduating with a bachelor’s in Family Studies from Brigham Young University. When it comes to food, she loves anything with avocado and anything chocolate-peanut butter. Her hobbies include dancing, singing, hiking, and anything outdoors. When asked which accomplishment she was most proud of, she said: “I just earned the title of…… AUNT. I am so excited my sister had her first baby and she’s the cutest thing ever.”
Kaitlyn decided to enter the field of Marriage and Family Therapy because she wanted to “improve the therapeutic world.” She feels that therapy treatments are greatly needed in society, but it needs to be “good, effective therapy.” Her favorite part of being in the MFT program at USM is the amount of supervision the students here receive, and the fresh perspective that comes from living out-of-state. We love having Kaitlyn in the program, and feel confident she will become an excellent therapist.

Take care everyone! Keep in the loop for more highlights to come.

USM M.F.T.S.O.

06/20/2021

Please be sure to congratulate first year student Kayle Fox who has had not one, but two research presentations accepted. The first presentation is entitled, “Don’t forget about me: Effects of COVID-19 on older persons in long term care facilities” and it was accepted for presentation at the NCFR National Conference this year. In order to be accepted, Kayle’s proposal had to undergo a stringent peer-review process. The second presentation is entitled, “Surviving Pandemic Together” and will be presented at the University Council on Family Relations’ state conference this year.

Again, congrats Kayle! We’re so proud of you.