In this Issue:
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A NOTE FROM THE CLINIC COORDINATOR.…1 ASPIRE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: WELCOMING NEW MFT COHORT…. 2
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Be A Better You!
NEW AND IMPROVED: ASPIRE CLINIC RENOVATIONS ….3-4
ASPIRE Clinic
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH: HOME LIFESTYLE ASSESSMENT….5 SUNTRUST FINANCIAL LITERACY LAB: CHANGING OUR FINANCIAL LIVES….6
Changing Seasons, Changing Clinic, Changing Lives
The ASPIRE Clinic, a collaborative unit of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia, is a unique resource that provides coun‐ seling and education services to UGA and the Athens community, as well as innovative educational and research opportunities to UGA students.
From the Clinic Coordinator
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hange is the theme this is‐ sue—and it seems that APSIRE takes it on frequent‐ ly as we grow and expand! Many of us often resist change more than we embrace it, but if there is one thing that ASPIRE has taught me, it is the power that change can affect.
I am excited to bring you a first‐ hand look at all of the wonderful changes that have taken place since the inaugural Spring issue. ASPIRE continues to strive to be an innova‐ tive and welcoming clinical entity to the clients we serve and to the stu‐ dents we teach. I often reflect on how fortunate I am to be involved in
such a wonderfully unique environ‐ ment day after day. I want to extend many thanks to our community supporters and part‐ ners, our faculty supervisors and student service providers, and also to our Dean, Dr. Linda Fox, who has whole‐heartedly supported the mis‐ sion and efforts of ASPIRE. We are growing and changing for the better and it is all due to those who believe in the work we do! Keep Aspiring!
Megan Ford
ASPIRE to improve your... SELF
RELATIONSHIPS FINANCES
HOME
NUTRITION
HEALTH
LEGAL SITUATION
acquiring strategies for personal improvement and relationship enhancement
ASPIRE Student Spotlight:
The ASPIRE Clinic Welcomes 7 New Marriage & Family Therapy Students this Fall
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t the core of the ASPIRE Clinic is one of our most popular and longest-running service areas—facilitating therapy with individuals, couples, and families. Our Ph.D.-level Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) students work diligently to assist ASPIRE clients in meeting their personal goals in an array of different areas, from rebuilding relationships to finding healthy ways to cope or de-stress. This Fall, the ASPIRE Clinic was thrilled to initiate seven new MFT students into the clinic. As they have begun their involvement, research, and work with clients, the students have witnessed how the ASPIRE Clinic’s holistic and innovative mission supports unique learning and facilitates rich educational growth.
Fall 2013 Matt Carlson Ally Degraff Cathy Grogan Lorien Jordan
Ally Degraff, a recent graduate of Texas Tech University, chose to pursue a doctorate at UGA—and she says that the ASPIRE Clinic was a large factor in selecting the university. With a particular interest in the field of financial therapy, she has been able to explore this work and education here. “I value the opportunity to work integratively with all of the student service providers. It adds to my own learning experience, as well as provides awesome services to the community!” With a Master’s of Social Work degree and a former therapist at UGA Health Center’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), Kate Morrissey Stahl, is also excited and inspired by the clinic’s approach. “I love the integrative nature of the clinic and the holistic team approach—they both
Megan Oed Shaquinta Richardson Kate Morrissey Stahl
make our learning experiences so rich and unique,” she says. “Being able to work with other professionals from a range of disciplines and perspectives serves to create enhanced education and efficient services for our clients.” Megan Oed, another new ASPIRE service provider, also sees her educational experience being elevated. “I am seeing a really diverse clientele here at ASPIRE and the clinic’s recently renovated child and adolescent therapy space is outstanding!” The new students agree that ASPIRE’s newly enhanced spaces and surroundings also contribute to their positive experiences. “ASPIRE is the prettiest clinic—so much work has gone into each room and it shows,” Oed says.
See more of the ASPIRE transformation on page 3!
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From left: Cathy Grogan, Matt Carlson, Shaquinta Richardson, Lorien Jordan, Kate Morrissey Stahl, Ally Degraff, Dr. Maria Bermudez (MFT Faculty Supervisor) Not pictured: Megan Oed
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ASPIRE Creates Enhanced, Enjoyable Environment Through Clinic Updates Before… & …After
ASPIRE, formerly the McPhaul Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, has put significant effort into updating and renovating our clinical environment. We’re excited to share photos that help to capture the incredible changes taking place.
Waiting Area: Before
Service Rooms: Before
The ASPIRE Clinic’s building in McPhaul Center has a unique, “home-like” feel and layout, as it, and the circle of McPhaul buildings, were utilized in the Home Economics era at the University.
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ASPIRE Clinic: After
During the renovations, new carpets were installed, each room was painted with fresh, calming colors, and all service rooms were updated with more modern, yet comfortable furnishings and artwork. ASPIRE clients now enjoy an inviting, relaxed atmosphere as they enter the clinic.
The largest service rooms at ASPIRE are equipped with two seating areas that can easily accommodate the variety of services ASPIRE provides—both a comfortable and traditional couch and chair arrangement, and also a friendly, businesslike roundtable and chair set-up.
One of ASPIRE’s newest service rooms, the Child & Adolescent Room is uniquely designed to be a fun, safe space for children and families.
The ASPIRE Clinic Multipurpose Room is versatile and can facilitate many things, including small meetings, supervision, and client services.
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ASPIRE Eye on Research: The Development of the Home Lifestyle Assessment Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors graduate student and ASPIRE Clinic service provider, Anna Auman, shares with us her unique research and her efforts to change the ield of interior design in this Q & A feature.
Q. Thanks for sharing with us, Anna. What is the focus of your developing research? A. My research aims to improve interior designer and client communication through adaptation of an assessment tool used in family therapy: the family genogram. My research developed and tested the Home Lifestyle Assessment as a tool used to increase communication and gather more-in depth information about the home environment from couples. Discussing and understanding patterns and events from each partner's home environment and lifestyle background increases communication between partners, and also between the couple and the interior designer. This enables the interior designer to better meet the couple’s differing needs, along with their joint needs within the home environment. Q. What made you want to pursue this research? A. Through collaboration with and observation of marriage and family therapy service providers in the ASPIRE Clinic, I became curious about the complexity of human relationships and experiences. The complex contexts in which people function influence and are influenced by many things, including the spaces in which they reside. The idea of expanding knowledge and resources for interior designers by exploring the assessment tools from family therapy made sense as a practical way in which interior
designers might better understand their clients. Q. How does this new research contribute to the mission/ practices/services of the ASPIRE Clinic? A. This research idea was sparked through collaboration across disciplines and can now provide a valuable resource for both teaching and practice within the ASPIRE. The Home Lifestyle Assessment provides an approach to interior design that takes into consideration both partners and the multiple contexts in which they function, individually and as a couple. This assessment encourages discussion of an array of topics including family structure, relationships, and finances, all things addressed by other service providers within the clinic. As a clinic focused on innovative research, ASPIRE service providers can expand upon this research through further development and testing of the Home Lifestyle Assessment. Q. In your opinion, what is the value of this research and what is the most exciting part for you personally? A. The value of this research is found in the innovative method that it provides for interior designers and their clients to better communicate and understand individual and couple needs. By promoting new topics of conversation and in-
creasing communication between partners and between the couple and the interior designer, the designer can provide environment and design solutions that better meet their clients' needs. The most exciting part for me personally is the "light bulb" effect that occurs when others start to understand how practical and helpful this assessment might be. This was a pilot study and I am excited to see how it will be further developed and applied to more diverse scenarios. If you’d like to know more about Anna or her innovative research, please contact her at aspire@uga.edu.
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SunTrust Bank Donates Financial Literacy Lab Space
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ast year, the ASPIRE Clinic was fortunate enough to receive a generous donation from SunTrust Bank for the creation of a financial literacy lab within the clinic. Financial literacy is an effort that is sweeping the country, bringing financial education and increased confidence in money handling to the masses. Like many other cities across the U.S., Athens is highly motivated to bring increased financial success and well-being to its citizens. Delene Porter, President of the Athens Area Community Foundation, even deemed 2014 as “the year of financial literacy.” The Literacy Lab is uniquely equipped with books, games, worksheets, handouts, and other financial education materials—whether you need a strategy for getting out of debt or you are interested in knowing how best to save for retirement and your future
goals. This rich library helps to create a plethora of resources, accessible to both clients and financial student service providers. Not only that, the Lab boasts some great technology for teaching and learning, including brand new computers and a wireless printer, award-winning financial literacy software programs, and a screen and projector system for larger group education and learning.
On behalf of all of us at the ASPIRE Clinic, we recognize and thank SunTrust for their donation and support of our efforts and of financial literacy education and learning in Athens.
ASPIRE Clinic
McPhaul Center University of Georgia 706‐542‐4486 aspire@uga.edu www.aspireclinic.org
What’s Happening in the Lab?
ASPIRE is hosting help sessions this November on health insurance, the Affordable Care Act, and the new health Marketplace. Join us! Sign up by emailing aspire@uga.edu.
Fall Newsletter Contributors Ally Degraff Kate Morrissey Stahl Megan Oed Anna Auman SunTrust Bank Newsletter Design/ Layout/Editing Megan Ford
© 2013 ASPIRE Clinic
Noteworthy
Congratulations to HACE Financial Planning students and ASPIRE Clinic service providers, Matt Riggins and Chase Burkhart—they, along with colleague Kelsey Brooks, were recently named the top team out of a national elite eight at the Financial Planning Challenge event in Orlando, Florida. The team developed and presented a comprehensive financial plan and also competed in a financial quizbowl as part of the competition. They spent countless hours preparing for their big win in the SunTrust Financial Literacy Lab. Dr. John Grable, financial planning professor and member of the ASPIRE Advisory Group, coached and supported the team. Way to go!
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