Identifying The Unconscious

For Amanda Parsons, a third-year doctoral student in the psychology department at Baylor, earning a degree is more than an academic calling -- it's a personal one. "I think I was born to do this," she says. "It's fascinating to think about the things that motivate us, the things that unite us as human beings and also the things that separate us. I think I could spend a whole lifetime studying it and still not get enough." 
A graduate of the University of Alabama in 1998, Parsons came to Baylor in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and counseling. The choice was a "no-brainer," she says, noting that the University's PsyD track is one of two such programs in the nation ranked in the top 100 by U.S.News & World Report. The four-year program, which combines master's and doctoral degrees, is 33 years old and has the longest history of accreditation by the American Psychological Association. "It was a pretty clear choice in terms of the quality of education," she says. 
Because PsyD degrees are designed to prepare people for clinical practice, a large part of the program is dedicated to training. At Baylor, students get 3,000 hours of clinical experience before going into their fourth-year internship, compared to 2,000 at most schools. Before graduation, students also must complete a yearlong APA-approved internship. Parsons, who worked as a graduate assistant counselor in University Ministries on campus this past year, says having the extra training "is a big confidence builder." 
Her placement with UM last year was a direct result of her interest in the spiritual aspect of her discipline. "This is a place where I can talk about how my faith is integrated with my professional life -- for example, how issues of spirituality and religion impact the clients I serve," she says. 
As part of her practicum, she counseled students one-on-one and spoke in women's residence halls about body image. Parsons taught seminars on mental health and crisis situations to resident chaplains -- seminary students who live in residence halls and provide pastoral care to undergraduates. 
"College students are so willing to look at their lives and introspect," she says. "The world has been blown open to them and there's so much new information to process. They are deciding what to incorporate into their own identities and what to discard. It's such an exciting process to witness."
Jim Marsh, director of Counseling Services and Integrated Life and Parsons' practicum supervisor, says the arrangement benefits the graduate student and the University. "These students are bright and well-trained," he says. "They provide a much-needed service for us -- they help us meet the demand. Plus, they get tremendous hands-on clinical experience."
Marsh and the other counseling center staff members review all of the notes practicum participants take and dedicate at least four hours a week to individual and conference training sessions with the PsyD students.
Research also is an important part of the doctoral program. Parsons is studying implicit social cognition with Mahzarin R. Banaji, a Harvard University professor of social ethics with whom she previously has worked, and with her Baylor adviser, Wade Rowatt, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience. The premise of the study states that all people have unconscious attitudes, or underlying biases, about others that affect their social interaction. "Especially as Christians, we want our attitudes to be consistent with how we treat people. That's Christ's call," Parsons says. "Most of us have more unconscious bias than we are willing or able to admit, but becoming aware of our blind spots is the first step to making positive personal and social change." 
In addition to her practicum, Parsons has been asked to participate in three search committees, one in the department and two for the University. "I think that communicates how much the student perspective is valued," she says. 
Psychology is an ongoing fascination for Parsons. "I really enjoy working with people. I'm continually inspired by the courage people have and the authenticity that they bring to counseling settings. It's an honor to be in a position to learn about the experience of others."