Student Spotlight: Erin Cafaro

“Because of my size, I knew I wasn't going to be able to play the same game as the rest of my teammates. So, I became interested in performance psychology and how to work on what lies within, rather than just the physical” reflected Erin Cafaro, Wright Institute Clinical Psychology Program student and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Rowing.

Erin Cafaro grew up in Modesto, California, which was a small farming town at the time, with her parents and older brother. “The most important things in my community were farming, football and faith in no particular order,” Erin shared. Her dad and brother were her heroes, “not just because they were local sport legends but because they were good teammates, good coaches, and good humans.” Growing up, she had very supportive family and educational environments. In middle and high school, Erin recalled, “I straddled between two outward identities - the jock in my advanced classes and the nerd on my sports teams. ”

Student Spotlight: Uriel Leal Flores

Uriel Leal Flores, a first year student in the Wright Institute’s Counseling Psychology Program, was born in Mexico City, where he lived with his family for the first six years of his life. They immigrated to Fresno, California just before he started first grade, which he described as “a perfect time to learn the language.” After four years, Uriel’s family decided that Fresno was too cold and moved to the desert in the Coachella Valley, where they still live today. Growing up in the Coachella Valley, where there was a large Latinx community, was a great experience for Uriel and his sister. “I was able to speak the language I love and relate to people with the same background,” Uriel reflected.

Alumni Spotlight: Alison Hui

“People seem to be drawn to me and confide in me, so that was what piqued my interest in psychology,” shared Wright Institute Clinical Psychology Program graduate, Dr. Alison Hui.

Alison was born and raised in Hong Kong in a middle-class home with their parents and two younger siblings. At fourteen, the family relocated to Guam. “It was a big transition, especially since it was the time in my life when I had just started having a little bit more autonomy,” they reflected. “In Hong Kong, I could take the bus or the subway everywhere and then in Guam, you needed a car to get around.” In addition to the lifestyle adjustments, Alison also had to learn to speak English. “I actually watched a lot of American television and movies to kind of get myself used to the lingo,” Alison recalled. “It was a sink or swim kind of situation for me.”

Alumni Spotlight: Eric Tian Qi Lindberg, Class of 2017

“I took the scenic route, and finished my licensure process almost seven years to the day since my New Student Orientation in 2015,” shared Eric Tian Qi Lindberg. “It will take some time to integrate the new identity, but the leveling up feels nice!”

A lot has happened for Lindberg since he graduated from the Wright Institute Counseling Psychology Program in 2017. In 2019, he became a father, welcoming his son, Oliver. From 2019-2022, Lindberg held the position of field placement advisor in the Counseling Psychology Program, working with fellow Wright Institute alum Stuart Lee to guide students in their practicum experience. Along the way, he gained experience as a clinician in private practice, growing his client base each month. In 2022, he left his position as field placement advisor after passing the licensure exam. Lindberg is now a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working in private practice.

Instructor Spotlight: Latoya Conner, PhD

“Psychology first chose me, then I chose psychology,” says Dr. Latoya Conner, PhD. “As a child, I told my family that I wanted to be a doctor that helped people not hurt and that I wanted to live in NY and Africa. I took psychology classes in high school, majored in psychology in college, and minored in dance and theater.” Thinking back, she shared, “Psychology has always been a calling as much as a career path.” We were fortunate that Dr. Conner’s path led her to join the Wright Institute as an instructor in the Clinical Psychology Program this spring.

Instructor Spotlight: Nico Storrow, LMFT

“My approach is warm, client centered, and grounded in the belief that each person is an expert in their own experiences,” says Nico Storrow, a new professor in the Counseling Psychology Program at the Wright Institute. “Each client has lived their life in their body and their brain. They are the ones who really understand and know themselves best and I'm here to help them move towards their values and the things they want in their lives.”

Anita Barrows, PhD, releases new book The Language of Birds

Anita Barrows, PhD, long-time Wright Institute Clinical Psychology Program Faculty member, has just had her newest novel released, The Language of Birds. A story based in part on Dr. Barrows' work with a child many years ago, The Language of Birds is about coming to understand what seems unfamiliar and indecipherable, and of finding authentic ways to be with the people that you love.

Advance Praise for The Language of Birds:

"This novel contains passages so deep that they will literally take your breath away, and you will think: You must remember these words forever."
– Jeffrey Masson, New York Times best-selling author of Dogs Never Lie About Love

Clinical Program Alumni Publish Dissertations in Asian American Journal of Psychology

The Asian American Journal of Psychology recently published its first special issue on Filipino American Psychology. Three Wright Institute Clinical Psychology Program alumni published their dissertations in this peer-reviewed journal.

Sthefany Alviar '20, PsyD, contributed "'You should pray about it': Exploring mental health and help-seeking in Filipino American Catholics." Alviar's study examined the relationship between religious identity, mental health, and help-seeking in Filipino American Catholics.

Alumni Spotlight: Andre Jackson, Class of 2019

"It took a lot of introspection and exploration for me to figure out what I wanted to do," says Andre Jackson, "but once I started to feel the connection to the mental health world, everything fell into place."

Before coming to the Wright Institute Counseling Psychology Program, graduating in 2019, and embarking on his journey as a clinician, Jackson spent time in a few different careers. His first career was in studio art. "I really loved it, but I never had the courage I needed to become a professional artist," he says.

Get to Know Ritchie Rubio, PhD - Adjunct Faculty, Counseling Psychology Program

Ritchie Rubio, PhD, has been teaching at the Wright Institute Counseling Psychology Program since 2014. He spoke with the Wright Institute's Dalton Green about immigrating to the United States, the importance of cultural humility in the mental health field, and how he forms strong connections with students in the classroom.

Dalton Green (DG): What attracted you to the field of psychology?

Ritchie Rubio (RR): I grew up in the Philippines. Growing up, psychology was not necessarily something my parents wanted me to pursue. In the Philippines, at that time, if you enjoyed and did well in math or science (like I was), you'd try to become a medical doctor.