NEW LIFE NOTES, November, 2008

Therapists in Training at New Life Institute

I am Katherine Ann Roe Sainz. I hold a master of science degree in psychology and I did my undergraduate work in both psychology and previously in education. I am a faculty member at Temple College (teaching psychology and human development). I’ve been teaching for 19 years and the simple truth is that I am addicted to learning. I love the idea of always learning “more.” I am currently enjoying the academic path toward becoming a Clinical Psychologist at the doctoral level at Fielding Graduate Institute, and this path has led me to New Life Institute as a therapist in training.

I was attracted to the potential of becoming a student-therapist at New Life Institute when I was made aware of the caliber of staff and supervision at the Clinical Training program.  Few things are as precious to a therapist-in-training as the talent and ethics of the training environment. I have been blessed these last eight months to be under the clinical supervision of New Life Institute’s clinical director, Ray Hawkins, Ph.D.  Ray’s reputation holds great value for many people and several institutions of higher learning. Aside from his established history as a direct-care mental health provider, his academic talents have made this training clinic at NLI, one of supreme value to all of us trainees at New Life Institutes Training Clinic.

Spiritual Strategy and Counseling do not always cross paths in many mental health clinics. But here at NLI, we are encouraged to actively pursue higher ability to work with individuals who espouse various religious and philosophical faiths. This has been a liberating and enlightening process - to be “encouraged” to learn and utilize greater compassion for deep faith practices.

NLI is a place for people to grow and learn. This wonderful task is equally valuable for staff, trainees, and clients alike.  Again, this proactive attitude is not present in every clinical training environment, and I do indeed count myself to be very lucky that I was accepted into the NLI Training Clinic for this reason. I know I am growing and learning. I also know when I need to become better at the tasks at hand. The NLI Training Clinic is kind and facilitating, but it is most definitely a true training program with a great deal of oversight. This is yet another reason I am proud to be on the team. We are sincerely a “team” that continually questions, guides, teaches, and pushes one another to become the best mental health providers we can be.

Katherine Ann Roe Sainz, MS 

What Is It?

           The New Life Institute Training Clinic is designed to further the development of student therapists' clinical skills as well as to provide quality, low cost assessment and treatment for individuals in the community. The Training Clinic is staffed with practicum students (Ph.D. clinical psychology graduate students from Fielding Graduate University and the University of Texas at Austin, and Master's level counseling students from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, UT Austin, and other programs) and Licensed Professional Counselor Interns. These student therapists are closely supervised by the Training Clinic Director, Ray Hawkins, Ph.D., ABPP, Martha Brandt, LPC Supervisor, and by other NLI staff psychotherapists. The Training Clinic provides treatment for a variety of problems, psychological testing, and psychological evaluations for ministry candidates. As is the case with all the psychotherapy services and workshops at New Life Institute, we strive to serve clients in a culturally and spiritually sensitive fashion. The Training Clinic specializes in cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal treatment that is usually short-term (lasting from two to nine months) and emphasizes skills training. 

            Treatment through the Training Clinic is provided at low cost, on a sliding fee scale, but clients must make a commitment to complete the psychological assessment and treatment. This commitment includes attending all sessions and completing outside assignments (e.g., questionnaires and activities) in a timely fashion. The overall time commitment is generally more during the assessment period and at the beginning of treatment (2-3 hours per week) and less once treatment begins (1 to 2 hours per week).

In the background at the Institute

v Instead of a salaried Executive Director we continue to economize using a staff group known as the Administrative Council to perform all of the roles of that office plus help from Kenneth Sellers who is in a somewhat expanded office manager role, which we entitled simply Manager.

v We continue to explore and work in the direction of developing a role of supplying mental health services to Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a non-profit which has been active in feeding the homeless and which is developing housing in RV’s in RV parks.  Possibilities of funding for this project are being examined.

v The Institute recently received a grant from the Juanita Peterson Fund to present four programs in four different churches, focused on “Living Life Fully as Christian Women in the 21st  Century.”  Watch for announcements.

v In addition to those seeking counseling who have insurance coverage or can pay full fee, The Institute offers reduced fees to many referred by various public agencies by calling on the services of students in training and/or using scholarship funds to supplement the income of the providers.  Scholarship assistance comes from donated funds raised, for example in an upcoming mail solicitation.