Clinical Psychology Training Programs

A Trainee's View: Support Five Ways

One resident's experience of feeling bolstered by a community of supervisors, fellows trainees, and mentors.

Breadcrumb

A Trainee's View: Support Five Ways

One resident's experience of feeling bolstered by a community of supervisors, fellows trainees, and mentors.

Megan Parker, PhDHaving help you can count on is critical in clinical psychology training. In her experience at Brown – first as a child-track resident and now as a postdoctoral fellow in the Research Fellowship Program – Megan Parker, Ph.D., felt that support from many people, in many different ways. 

Sincere Supervision

While applying, I anticipated that internship would be a tough year where I’d have to just put my head down and see as many patients as possible. But the program didn’t just throw a bunch of patients at me. My supervisors had a real emphasis on training and helping me learn how to best support patients. They cared about how we were doing.

Work-Life Balance

I’ve had role models here in terms of balancing family, life, and work, which made me think, “Oh, I could do that.” They care about finding a way for us to manage seeing patients while being a person outside of work. I hadn’t seen that in other clinics before. 

In my life outside of work, I love Premier League soccer. (My dad’s from England and my mom from Germany, so we’re a big soccer family.) Sometimes, I do Premier League brunches on the weekend with friends in the program and their partners. The Easy Bay Bike Path is five minutes from my house, so I bought myself a bike. I’ll bike to the beach or to coffee shops. Sometimes, I’ll bike to work, which is 10 minutes away. When I lived in Washington D.C., I was terrified to bike on the roads. But here in Providence, everything feels so well-connected: I can bike on the back roads, through Brown’s campus, and across the Pedestrian Bridge. 

Camaraderie and Community

The people here are really great. That was one of the big factors in staying at Brown for postdoc. I’ve felt really closely connected to the Brown University Health and trainee communities in a way I hadn’t in bigger cities. In my internship cohort, I found people with similar passions in both our careers and personal lives. Sometimes, we’re doing work together on a Saturday at the Farm Fresh RI building or a local coffee shop. Every Sunday in winter, one of the other interns and I would have a beer and crochet. It was our little craft hour. When I needed to work, there was always someone to do it with. When I needed not to work, there was someone to not-work with, too. 

people with ice cream cones
1 of 4

For a little "chill" time, Parker and her fellow residents hit up her favorite ice cream shop: Sundaes.

pedestrian bridge
2 of 4

She crosses the scenic pedestrian bridge, spanning the Providence River, on her bike to work.

people in Brown University wear
3 of 4

Parker and her fellow trainees geared up to support the home team at Brown football and soccer games.

beach
4 of 4

On weekends, Parker likes to explore outside Providence by bike. She can easily hop on the East Bay Bike Path and ride to coastal communities like Barrington and its town beach.

Research Realness

The uncertainty in research funding right now makes things hard. It’s hard everywhere. But having people who are so supportive here makes it feel like this is a better place to be. My mentor [Elissa Jelalian, Ph.D.] has always been transparent and realistic with me, sharing what she knows to the best of her ability. Personally, I’m more comfortable being in a position with someone who I know will be open and honest. 

Independence

I have a research interest in figuring out how we can better help people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in terms of disordered eating and weight management. During internship, my mentor, Elissa, said, “PCOS is not something I research, but it’s something you’re passionate about.” She supported me in building my own research area, as opposed to just joining her studies. Now, I’m able to bring that new expertise to the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center.