The human brain is like a maze, it shifts in many directions and the only way to navigate through it would be to dive right in.
1. List the contact name, phone number, and organization of the person with whom you volunteered.
My mentor is named Maureen Burney, Ph.D.
- (909)247-9630
- Chino Mental Health Associates - Counseling and Mediation Center
2. What qualified this person as an expert in your topic choice?
My mentor, Dr. Burney has years of experience in different areas within psychology, ranging from university research, to working with disturbed children, and presently as a psychologist with a specialty in clinical and health psychology which is all detailed below.
Dr. Burney, began her educational career in Pitzer College where she received her BA in Psychology with an emphasis on Physiological Psychology with Highest Honors. Afterwards Dr. Burney attended the California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles where she achieved her M.A. then her Ph.D. in Clinical and Health Psychology.
From there she moved onto working as the Supervisor of the Crisis Intervention Team at the Los Angeles Suicide and Prevention Center. As time progressed she moved herself into various jobs to gain experience in different aspects of psychology. She went onto working as a Senior Research Assistant and as the Physiological Psychology Laboratory Supervisor at Pitzer College. She moved onto working in the LA County Department of Mental Health as a Masters Level Practicum, and moved onto being the senior program specialist and counselor at La Palma Hospital. She spent some time as a Psychologist at UCR and now finds herself as the Director of her individual practice as a psychologist at Chino Mental Health Associates.
3. List three questions for further exploration now that you've completed your summer hours.
In what ways does an individual committing suicide affect those they are aware of?
Why is reaching the crux of a patient useful in helping them solve their issues?
How does the physical presence of a psychologist affect the growth of a patient, versus having sessions over the phone?
The photo above is of the desk in which I performed most of my hours with various tasks of printing client statements and looking into past office records.
From the time that I have spent with my mentor so far, the most important thing that I have gained so far would have to be the concept that the more an individual allows themselves to experiment, the easier it will be for an individual to find their passion. Although this concept is not necessarily tied into the topic of psychology, it has given me some hindsight for my future.
My mentor has told me many stories of how she finally decided that being a psychologist is what she wanted to do with her life. In college she spent time in many different locations working in branches of psychology and traveling, while simultaneously getting one step closer to her true passion. As one becomes more willing to experiment, more doors open, and that is
Ultimately, learning to take advantage of new experiences has been the most important thing I have gained so far, because it is motivating me to grow as an individual.
5. What is your senior project topic going to be? How did mentorship help you make your decision? Please explain.
The topic which my senior project will be based upon, is psychology. My mentorship has assisted me in making my decision because speaking with my mentor alone has given me the opportunity to understand how much of a difference one person can make in the life of another, and their loved ones.
When one person suffers from emotional or mental distress, then they begin to slowly have a trickling effect upon their family members, friends, peers and even co-workers. Different illnesses cause distinct reactions, and when one is able to work with a patient in such a manner, you are able to touch the lives of many, and that is what I would like to do with my life.
