Dr. O'Connor in Psychology Today

Dr. O'Connor recently published an article in Psychology Today entitled "How to Live with Survivor's Guilt: It’s hard to be happy when someone you love is suffering."

"Feeling a form of survivor's guilt can be normal in daily life. The angst that grabs you when you win an award and your coworker is unrecognized, or when you realize you’re still in love with your husband while your best friend is recently divorced and certain she’ll be alone forever—that awful feeling that comes like a weight on your shoulders, pushing you down, that may be survivor's guilt. It’s so under the surface we rarely recognize it—it feels like waves of inexplicable anxiety, or depression."

Read the full article here.

Dr. Miller in the Berkeley High Jacket

"'I think that teens, especially post-pandemic, have a lot of stuff going on these days–there are so many pressures,' said Dr. Larry Miller, a licensed psychologist who has a private practice in Berkeley and is a faculty member at the Wright Institute. Miller has over 25 years of experience working with people of all ages. 'They’re getting hit with so many different things, it gets hard to differentiate if it’s the seasons or all these other things going on in their lives.' He adds."

Read the full article here.

Dr. Lamia in the Times and Democrat

"As abortion supporter, Psychology Today contributor and Wright Institute professor Mary Lamia put it recently, men "often silently suffer after abortion” because society disenfranchises their grief."

Read the full article here.

Alumni Spotlight: Graham Holoch

“The Wright Institute instilled in me a curiosity and an acceptance and excitement about continuing my own journey, learning, growing, adapting, and sometimes relearning,” shared Graham Holoch, who graduated from the Wright Institute’s Counseling Psychology Program in 2021. “In the world of mental health, there is no manual, there is no script. Everyone brings something different, clients and clinicians.”

Administration Spotlight: Dr. Alison Richardson

“Life is gonna life,” shared Dr. Alison Richardson, Dean of Students in the Counseling Program at the Wright Institute. “It's important to allow yourself to be vulnerable and to say, ‘I need some support right now. I need a cheerleader in my corner. I need somebody to talk to,’ because it’s just a patch, it’s not forever.” With sage advice like this, it’s no surprise that her path has led her to her current position, guiding students through their higher education experiences.

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.

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.”

Student Spotlight: Lena Murphy

“Continually getting to know myself more and observing myself change and grow has been invaluable,” Lena Murphy (she/they) reflected. “This program has really challenged me to practice “both/and” thinking, which is definitely a growth edge for myself at the moment.” Lena is beginning her second year in the Wright Institute Counseling Psychology Program this fall.

Lena was born and raised in Seoul, Korea for the first decade of her life while her mother worked for the Army. During her time there, she attended a Korean-immersion school where half of all instruction was in Korean. “I have some really great childhood memories of Korea,” Lena shared, “and I think that experience definitely shaped who I am today.”

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.