鈥淪omething that I feel really resonates with me at the 91精品 is the power of community,鈥� shared Erin McQueen, a second year student in the 91精品鈥檚 Counseling Psychology Program. 鈥淭o be in one place with one group of people for a period of time, and to move through that experience together can be really supportive.鈥�
Erin was born in Connecticut and grew up in Livermore, California, not far from Berkeley. She attended a mixture of public, private, and charter schools for her PreK-12 education in Livermore. When Erin was in 2nd grade, she experienced a traumatic brain injury and spent a few years being homeschooled while she was undergoing rehabilitation. 鈥淚t was challenging,鈥� she recalled, 鈥渁nd I think that, early on, I developed a quietly adaptive orientation.鈥� As Erin went through this experience and the challenges of readjusting to school afterwards, she gained a deeper appreciation for the resilience of life and value of community, which has stayed with her to this day.
For her undergraduate studies, Erin attended the , but began her undergraduate experience at a local community college. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really know where I wanted to land,鈥� she reflected, 鈥渟o I gave myself time to explore what I wanted to study.鈥� During her time in community college, two classes in particular stood out for her: Introduction to Anthropology and Introduction to Women鈥檚 Studies. When she transferred to UC Berkeley, she decided to double major in those two disciplines. 鈥淏ringing an intersectional lens to both of those topics felt so important to me, both personally and professionally,鈥� Erin shared, 鈥渁nd I think that laid the foundation for the work I'm doing now as a counselor.鈥�
As she was leaving Berkeley, Erin had a plethora of theoretical and conceptual information and was seeking a way to apply the themes and frameworks she had studied and 鈥渕ove from theory into practice.鈥� After graduation, she began to volunteer at , founded in 1971 as the first rape crisis center in the country, as a Sexual Assault Counselor on their call center hotline. 鈥淚t was really influential to train there and be able to serve survivors of sexual assault, their loved ones, and families,鈥� she reflected, 鈥渁nd hopefully make a positive impact in the community.鈥�
From 2020-21, Erin worked with the . Initially, she was hired as a Peer Support Counselor, answering calls on their 鈥渨arm line,鈥� helping people with 鈥渓ived mental health challenges access reliable, consistent support.鈥� She enjoyed this role, but it quickly transitioned as the COVID-19 pandemic arose and lockdowns began. At that time, MHASF received funding through FEMA to coordinate a COVID-19 response line called . Erin was trained through FEMA鈥檚 crisis counseling training program and shifted into the role of COVID-19 Emotional Support Line Counselor, which she described as 鈥渕ore crisis-oriented, responding to emergency situations people were going through.鈥� She was later promoted into the position of COVID-19 Emotional Support Line Coordinator, where she supervised the line鈥檚 counselors and peer support team. 鈥淚t was really eye-opening,鈥� Erin shared, 鈥淓verywhere you look, compassion fatigue and burnout are very real risks, and I think as a supervisor, I was able to help resource our team of counselors in a way that felt really gratifying.鈥�
Ultimately, Erin decided to 鈥渂uckle down and go back to school for psychology鈥� because she found the work she was doing in the field very 鈥渋nteresting and powerful.鈥� When she was researching graduate schools, she was drawn to the 91精品鈥檚 Counseling Psychology Program because it is very strengths-based and community-oriented. Erin appreciated the collaborative nature of the interview process and found that the values embodied by the 91精品 were in line with her own.
During her time at the 91精品, Erin has made connections with several of her professors. One of her favorite courses was Counseling Theories and Techniques with Dr. Clarke. 鈥淪he set the tone for what we were to expect throughout the rest of the program,鈥� Erin reflected, 鈥渁nd really instilled a lot of hope in me.鈥� Erin also loved Family Therapy I with Professor Dorsey, who she found to be 鈥渟o engaging and empowering.鈥� Professor Dorsey was one of Erin鈥檚 professors during her only semester on Zoom, yet Erin still described her as 鈥渃aptivating, engaging, and able to meet students where they are.鈥� The most valuable lesson Erin has learned at the 91精品 is 鈥渢he power of warmth, of presence, and of being with somebody.鈥�
鈥淭his work, in general, and this program, specifically, asks a lot of us. It requires a lot of academic and personal work,鈥� Erin shared. 鈥淭hat can be really challenging but also very gratifying and eye-opening.鈥� She has sought out a variety of coping resources throughout her time at the 91精品 to help her balance her practicum and classes, but has found the overall experience to be one of growth. The challenges of the program helped Erin recognize the importance of community and inspired her to want to give back.
In her second year in the Counseling Program, Erin applied and was selected as a Student Mentor. Erin鈥檚 happiest memories at the 91精品 have been her own orientation day and this year鈥檚 orientation day, where she served as a mentor. 鈥淚 wanted to offer support to my peers and incoming students who are orienting to the landscape and figuring out what this journey is going to look like for them,鈥� she reflected. Erin鈥檚 favorite part of being a mentor is connecting with her fellow students and normalizing their experiences. The part of the job that she finds most challenging is not having all of the answers. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a hunger to get in there and fix things and problem solve, but we have to step back and empower the people we鈥檙e working with to make those moves for themselves,鈥� she shared.
For her practicum, Erin has been placed at in San Francisco. In her roles at MHASF, Erin gained her first experience working with older adults. 鈥淎 lot of our callers were older folks who were isolated, or families who had lost their parents or grandparents,鈥� she recalled, 鈥渋t really attuned me to the work of grief and loss.鈥� Erin shared that this experience 鈥減lanted the seed鈥� for her desire to work with older clients. At her practicum placement, she currently works primarily with elderly adults, which she greatly enjoys. 鈥淚鈥檝e really appreciated the work and I think, long term, that I want to work with older adults,鈥� Erin shared. 鈥淚 feel an affinity for the population and there鈥檚 a need there.鈥�
At the 91精品, Erin has developed strong bonds with members of her cohort. 鈥淚 think the cohort format is really beautiful in the way that it facilitates connections,鈥� Erin reflected. 鈥淎s I move toward graduation, I鈥檒l be taking with me some really deep and meaningful friendships and professional relationships.鈥� She explained that she intends for her cohort members to be a network of professional support for her as she enters her counseling career.
After graduation, Erin plans to pursue a career in the field of grief and loss. 鈥淚 think grief and loss is a big part of the landscape of our human condition and it touches all of us at some point, in different ways and at different times,鈥� she reflected. Erin plans to apply to a few hospice agencies in the Bay Area and other places that focus on care for older adults. She expressed some trepidation about life after graduation, but she feels 鈥渢he Professional Development Seminar course is designed in a way to really support students through the transition from school into the workforce.鈥� Erin also expressed her gratitude for the field placement department at the 91精品, who have guided her throughout her time at the 91精品 and she trusts to guide her as she heads into her career.
Despite her busy schedule, Erin tries to always carve out time for her hobbies 鈥渋n the spirit of self-care.鈥� She enjoys bird watching, spending time in nature, playing piano, and writing music. 鈥淏eing able to lean into the creative side of my life is really stabilizing and sustaining,鈥� Erin shared. She鈥檚 inspired and moved by the work of seventies songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, and Judy Collins. 鈥淚 think I鈥檝e always answered to the same calling either as a musician or psychotherapist, endeavoring to connect with people and explore the challenges and beauty of the human condition,鈥� Erin reflected. 鈥淭hey are two different vehicles for the same calling.鈥�