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Student Profile: Vicki Owen

Vicki Owen

Since my first undergraduate psychology course at Southern Methodist University, I have been interested in learning more about mental health and the interplay between our minds and human behavior. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, I pursued an opportunity in research working with children and families at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Through my time working as a research assistant, I found myself drawn to a more clinical role working with this population, which prompted me to pursue an advanced degree in clinical psychology.

One of the many strengths of the UT Southwestern program is the abundant clinical training opportunities available to students. Housed in a major medical center in the heart of Dallas, UT Southwestern offers opportunity for comprehensive exposure to diverse population groups, treatment facilities, and training opportunities. I completed my second-year practicum training at the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center where I was trained in assessment, psychotherapy, and crisis intervention with detained adolescents.

I am now completing my first internship rotation at Children’s Healthâ„  Children’s Medical Center Dallas where I serve as a member of the Psychological Services Consult Liaison team. In addition to completing consultations throughout the hospital, I have been fortunate to rotate through many specialties, including solid organ transplant, gastroenterology, and hematology, as well as hospital clinics, such as the low birth weight clinic, and the hospital trauma clinic.

During the 2016-2017 academic year I will complete my second internship rotation at Spectra Therapies and Evaluation Center, a multidisciplinary clinic that offers psychotherapy services for individuals with a broad range of need such as anxiety and depression, and assessment for autism and learning differences.

Alongside the extensive clinical opportunities, the Ph.D. program at UT Southwestern provides plentiful research opportunities. For my dissertation, I am completing a components analysis of a randomized controlled trial of a cognitive behavioral relapse-prevention program for children and adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder. Through this project I hope to contribute to the adolescent depression literature by identifying specific treatment components and dosages that prove most effective for this population. I am working under the generous and exceptional mentorship of Betsy Kennard, Psy.D.

I feel truly privileged to serve as Co-Chief Resident for the UT Southwestern clinical psychology program for the upcoming year. I am proud to be a member of this community and would be happy to share more about my experience here with those of you who are considering applying to this program.

Best,

Vicki Owen
Co-Chief Resident and Doctoral Candidate