Day in the Windy City offers behind-the-scenes look at psychology career

Semester break for Arts mentee Christina Curtis included a visit with her mentor, Dr. Brian Brown, Arts '07 and owner of Brian Brown, Psy.D. The full-day slate included a tour his private psychology practice building, suite, and office. Christina I learned about the software used in his daily practices, conducting a session with clients and day-to-day responsibilities of one’s own practice.

According to Dr. Brown, Christina’s visit at his private practice office in downtown Chicago was a full day of activities. This included discussing the ins and outs in a "day in the life" of a clinical psychologist in full-time independent practice, with topics such as clinical assessment and treatment; the practice of self-care; record keeping; business development; financial planning; tax-related information; general approach to the work; and meeting my office partner. 

“Christina and I discussed what she imagined her future work life to be like and what steps she needed to take to get there,” Dr. Brown says. This included me connecting her with a fellow Marquette graduate at Lurie's Children's Hospital so that she could learn more about hospital-based clinical practice.”

For Christina, it was a day she'll long remember as she charts her career course. “I'm so grateful to Dr. Brown (and this program) for letting me to shadow him and learn a great deal about being a psychologist!”

2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program Resource Guide