Practical experiences and field work are a vital part of any psychology training program, allowing students to gain skills, connections, and clarity for their future. The University of Tulsa’s Department of Psychology Community Practicum is one such opportunity.
“This course is designed to give psychology undergraduates experience with community agencies that provide services to people with various needs associated with mental health, prevention, and psychological well-being,” said Lauren Holt, an adjunct psychology faculty member. “Through the course, students can transcend the traditional classroom experience and, through supervised experiences, understand how the concepts they have learned in their classes apply to working with people in the community.”
The course has seen increased enrollment each semester since resuming post-pandemic. Students are matched with participating sites where clients may be infants or adults, inpatients or outpatients. Students may choose from military recovery and reintegration, school-based sites, or other areas of interest.
“Some students come into the psychology program uncertain of what track they want to apply to: industrial organizational or clinical” said Holt. “This experience allows them to test the waters in a safe environment under supervision, while also advocating at their sites to make the experience their own.”
Psychology alumna Kendall Brown (B.S. ’23) worked with UTulsa’s True Blue Neighbors Behavioral Health Clinic, a training location for clinical psychology students, and recommends the experience for current students. “Participating in the practicum course allowed me to apply classroom knowledge to real-world settings within the mental health field,” she said. Brown spent her time on-site shadowing assessments and therapeutic sessions and practicing essential skills like active listening, case conceptualization, and empathy.
The smaller class sizes allowed for a more close-knit learning environment. “I was able to meaningfully engage with my peers and learn from their diverse practicum experiences,” Brown said. “The course structure allowed space for personal and professional growth, and Professor Holt served as a great mentor to each student.”
Several participating students have been recognized by their sites and offered opportunities to apply for employment, additional specialized training and certification, scholarships, or secured job placement.
“Collaborating with the True Blue clinic director, trainees, and clients solidified my commitment to entering the mental health field after graduation,” said Brown, who went on to work with Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health as a care coordinator while pursuing her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at the University of Oklahoma.
“There are not many opportunities in psychology-related fields that offer such a supportive, enriching, and hands-on learning environment,” she said. “Not only does this course allow space to practice and grow in important clinical skills such as empathy, patience, and cultural competence, but it also serves as an incredible opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.”