1. education
2. alumni and reunions

APRIL 2015
ISSUE 3
The 2015 OKAMFT Student Board is looking forward to continuing the hard work of last year’s inaugural
OKAMFT Student Board. The Student Board is made up of MFT graduate students who were chosen by
their respective universities from around the state. The Student Board president was elected by the
membership of OKAMFT and also serves as the student representative on the OKAMFT Board. We want to
thank last year’s members for all their efforts and dedication to the field. We are excited to continue their
work of advocating for the needs of MFT students and graduate programs as well as fostering a statewide
community atmosphere for Oklahoma’s students and new professionals. More information about this year’s
Student Board can be found on pages 2-3 of this newsletter.
The Student Board is excited to continue the tradition of volunteering for OKAMFT’s Spring Conference on
April 10th. If you’re in attendance, please introduce yourself, as we’re always interested in meeting the
members of our Oklahoma community. We hope to see you there! After the Spring Conference, the Student
Board will turn its attention to the Student & New Professionals Conference, which is scheduled for
September 25, 2015 location TBD. This year, we’re working on incorporating additional networking
opportunities for Oklahoma’s MFT community. This will be a great opportunity to meet fellow MFTs and
begin building relationships, so be sure to mark your calendars and keep a look out for updates and
registration!
If you have any questions related to OKAMFT’s Student Board or other student-related issues, please feel
free to contact the OKAMFT Student Representative ([email protected]).
Sincerely,
Erin Sesemann
OKAMFT Student Representative and Student Board President
Included in this Issue:
OKAMFT Student Rep Report……………1
OKAMFT Student Board Bios………….2-3
OBU Spotlight………………………………4
Cameron Spotlight…………………………5
OSU Spotlight………………………………6
SNU Spotlight………………………………7
OKAMFT Preclinical Rep Report………..8
Student and New
Professionals Conference
September 25, 2015
Location TBD
1
Erin Sesemann, Student Board President
Oklahoma State University
Erin Sesemann is a second-year Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student at Oklahoma
State University. Erin graduated with honors in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology
from Oklahoma Christian University. Her primary research interests focus on the parent-child
relationship, specifically the effects of parents’ emotion regulation on children’s outcomes. She
has presented at the annual conferences of APA, OkCFR, and OPS. Erin is currently completing
her externship at the Warren Alexander Group, a group practice in Stillwater, OK. Erin served
as one of OSU’s representatives on the first student board in 2014 and enjoyed the opportunity
to participate in promoting the MFT field in Oklahoma. Erin will graduate from OSU in
December 2015. Her long-term professional goals include practicing MFT in a private practice
setting and pursuing a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy or Human Development.
David Delker, Member
Cameron University
David is a third year Graduate student at Cameron University in Lawton, OK, working
on a MSBS as an LMFT. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from
CU as well. He has an Associates Degree in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies
from Catonsville Community College in Baltimore, Maryland. He works full time at
Cameron and is a part-time Behavioral Health Case Manager for Focus Mental Health
Services. Lastly, David is also the SGA Representative for Cameron's Psi-Chi club.
Amanda Alexander, Member
Cameron University
Amanda is a second year Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student at Cameron
University in Lawton, Oklahoma. She is originally from Lawton, Oklahoma and
completed her Bachelor of Science at Cameron University in Sociology. She anticipates
graduating in May of 2016, and will continue to work towards her licensure. Amanda
also plans on pursuing her Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy with a focus on
Military Families.
Natalie Richardson, Member
Oklahoma State University
Natalie is from Arapaho, Oklahoma. She graduated from Oklahoma State
University in 2014 with a B.S. is Human Development and Family Science. She is a
first year student in the Oklahoma State University MFT program. Natalie’s research
interests include the impact of trauma on unique family systems, including military
couples and families and families with members with intellectual disabilities. Her
professional goals include pursuing a PhD and/or eventually working with military
couples and families in a private practice or rehabilitation setting
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Kylee Taylor, Member
Southern Nazarene University
Kylee attended high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Booker T. Washington High School. After
High School she began studying psychology at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
in Chickasha, Oklahoma. After her bachelor's degree, she completed a year of service with
Americorps serving at Positive Tomorrows, a local elementary school for homeless children. It
was there, working with children dealing with trauma on a daily basis, that she solidified her
decision to become a counselor. Specifically, Kylee aspires to be a counselor working with
children and families. Currently, she is pursuing her Master's in Counseling at Southern
Nazarene University. Kylee works at NorthCare as a Family Preservation Specialist with
children and families involved with DHS in Oklahoma County.
Deidra Nickel, Member
Southern Nazarene University
Deidra lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma and attends Southern Nazarene University. She is scheduled
to graduate in December of 2015. Deidra has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from
Northeastern State University and for the last 13 years has worked as a sales counselor for a
retirement community. Besides working with the elderly, she especially loves to work with
women struggling with relationships as well as helping them overcome additional adversities.
Leah McCurdy, Member
Oklahoma Baptist University
Leah is a 2nd year student in Oklahoma Baptist
University’s MFT program. She received her
bachelor’s degree from OBU in Psychology- Pre
Counseling with a minor in Applied Ministries.
She is originally from Lawton, OK. Her career
goals include working with parents and children,
specifically children with special needs. Leah
aspires to be a play therapist and help parents
learn how to better interact with their children in
difficult situations and
hard times in their lives.
Her research interests
include children,
particularly those with
special needs. Leah’s
passion in life is to
better serve those who
cannot speak for
themselves.
Morgan PettyJohn, Member
Oklahoma State University
Morgan is a first year MFT student at
Oklahoma State University. She is originally
from Grapevine, Texas and completed her
undergraduate degree in Psychology at Texas
A&M University. Currently Morgan’s research
interests include trauma, specifically related to
women’s issues. Upon competition of her
Masters at OSU,
she is considering
continuing
to work towards a
Ph.D.
Professionally,
Morgan hopes to
one day open her
own private
practice back in
Texas.
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OBU’s MFT program is about to graduate its first class since
2005!!! Those on the two-year plan are finishing up their critical practicum hours in order
officially be hooded and graduated in December 2015. The other students in the program
are diligently working through all the class material. This June, some of us will start our
practicum sites around the state. We are looking forward to continuing to work with the
people of Oklahoma in order to create positive change in the lives of Oklahomans.
This spring, OBU MFT added additional students to our integrated program
bringing our total to 5 students who are enrolled in this program! The integrated program
offers unique opportunities for OBU students because it allows undergraduate students to
get credit for both undergraduate and graduate classes. Most of the students seem excited
to be a part of this particular program. They may even join us as full time graduate
students next fall!!
Our second Medical Family Therapy (MedFT) class is starting this semester for
those who wanted to continue the certification process. They are meeting on a few
Saturdays out of the semester and by the end of the semester they will just need to
complete their clinical work to become MedFT certified. This certification process is a
wonderful opportunity to become involved in MedFT, one of the new rapidly growing
career fields for MFTs. Please contact us if you’re interested in the certification process!
OBU MFT also welcomed a new professor, Heather Herron. Heather graduated
with both degrees from OBU, her bachelors in 1997 and Masters in Marriage and Family
Therapy in 1999. She gained experience in our own Youth and Family Agency by
working in Hope House and then went on to Tri City Youth and Family in Choctaw.
Heather became fully licensed in 2002 and has practiced as a MFT for 13 years. She was
very privileged in going through the program with Dr. Jeske and now is encouraged to see
Dr. Crane leading the program because she believes he is striving for the same high
standards as Dr. Jeske. Heather said, “Much of the program is very similar to when I went
through it. It has changed some with time and technology of course.” Heather is currently
working with Canadian County Health Department in the Child Guidance Program. Here
she works on a team with a Child Development Specialist and Speech Pathologists to
serve families with children from birth to age 12. Her favorite part of her job is working
with ADHD kids and their families. We’re excited about the wealth of experience and
expertise that Heather brings to our program! Welcome aboard Heather!!!
-Leah McCurdy
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Cameron University’s graduate students are making big changes down here in Lawton, OK! You
may not have heard, but they are leading two Marriage and Family Therapy groups, which are
better preparing our students for success and adding to the already stellar curriculum that is
offered here at Cameron University. The student lead group, named the Monday Mentor
Meeting, is celebrating the start of its second year at Cameron University and the Master’s Series
Group is continuing this semester as it has been offered several times in the past. The two groups
help expand the knowledge and understanding of our students by engaging in an exchange of
ideas in an environment that is supportive and encouraging.
The Monday Mentor Meeting is a student-led group with a faculty liaison, adjunct
professor and Licensed Marital and Family Therapist, Mr. Clifton Nunnally. This opportunity
offers many special opportunities to its members. The group partakes in mentoring, growing
peer relationships, building networks, and gaining valuable information about Marriage and
Family Therapy. Furthermore, the group has in-depth discussions about theories and gains
insight into how to implement those theories during session. The mentoring process fosters
relationship building and allows for one-on-one assistance at every academic level at Cameron
University. For example, the group reviews and gains knowledge about the state and national
exams. The Monday Mentor Meeting has also increased students’ exposure to new information
through the panelists and speakers who presented invaluable material in the last year. We are
thankful for the licensed therapists, the individuals under supervision, and the professors who
were able to contribute to the Monday Mentor Meetings. Attendees have experienced a unique
opportunity to further and magnify their knowledge, and to better prepare themselves for the
road that lies ahead of them.
The second student-led group at Cameron University is the Master’s Series Group. The
goal of the group is to advance the understanding of theory and execution of theory as well as
help prepare students for the national exam. This group meets once a week to view the Master’s
Series videos, courtesy of Dr. Joanni Sailor. Participants learn from the creators of our field by
watching the videos, enjoying food, and engaging in academic discussions about the Master
Therapists. In addition, this group provides opportunities to network and create peer
relationships. We’re excited for these two groups to continue as a Cameron tradition.
-David & Amanda
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Oklahoma State University
America's Brightest Orange continues to shine bright in Stillwater and so do the students
and faculty of the OSU MFT program. In the fall, nine new members from all across the
country joined the program. Their welcome was followed by an exciting homecoming
reunion between OSU MFT alumni, current students, and faculty. MFT alumni were
welcomed back to their alma mater in order see how the program and Center for Family
Services continues to grow and offer their advice to students about success in the program,
careers in the field of MFT, and life after graduate school.
As the semester continued, our students explored the field
of MFT even further through research and educational opportunities. The OSU faculty believes
that investing in professional organizations is an important element of our development as MFTs.
In addition to attending the OKAMFT Conference, students attended the NCFR conference in the
fall, including Tim Welch who co-led a round-table discussion with Dr. Brosi about co-parenting
through divorce/co-parenting for resilience. Jenny Smith recently presented a poster at OSU’s
Research Symposium, titled The Impact of Repair Attempt Behavior on Negative Rigidity in
Women During Marital Conflict. Additionally, many students are looking forward to presenting
during upcoming professional conferences during the summer and fall, including AAIDD and
NCFR. The second year students are diligently working on their theses and creative components
before graduation, which include topics related to parenting and teen pregnancy, classroom environments and overall child
self-evaluation, father aggression and adolescent perception of parental support, maternal psychological wellbeing and
child BMI, motivation of clients and the working therapeutic alliance, attachment rigidity and repair attempts in marital
relationships, etc. We would also like to congratulate Erin Sesemann on recently being named the Outstanding Masters
Student for the College of Human Sciences.
In December, our program graduated seven superb students who continued their MFT
journeys in various ways, including working in agencies, school settings, and two who went on
to pursue PhDs. In February, we held interviews for the 2015 MFT cohort. We look forward to
welcoming the eight new students into our program this fall, as well as the diversity and energy
they will bring. In addition to graduating and welcoming new students, our clinic has also
undergone many changes. Before the fall semester, our clinic underwent impressive renovations,
including new, up-to-date decorations and furniture in order to create a warm and refreshing
environment for clients. In addition, we are now able to record sessions in HD and have them
automatically saved onto our clinic hard drive. At the Center for Family Services, OSU MFT
students provide therapy services to both the university and surrounding community. In addition
to individual, couple, child, and family therapy, our clinic offers parenting classes, co-parenting
classes, and premarital therapy.
In March, faculty met with cohort representatives from
the ten most recent cohorts to graduate from the program for
the program’s inaugural alumni advisory board meeting. The
alumni advisory board members provided some great
suggestions for ways to continue to improve the quality of
training in the program. The alumni advisory board will
continue to meet 2-3 times a year to discuss ways that they can
support the program, the students, and other alumni. Overall,
it’s been an exciting and successful year for our MFT Cowboy
family. Go Pokes!
-Natalie & Morgan
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Reprinted from 2014…
Last summer SNU achieved full membership to the NCAA Division II, becoming the
first private higher education institution in Oklahoma to attain membership. The MAMFT
program offered at SNU Tulsa provides students opportunities to learn from very diverse
professionals whose personal anecdotes help bring the text to life in the classroom. True to
SNU’s mission, students feel prepared to “think with clarity, act with integrity, and serve
with purpose.”
The graduate counseling program at SNU offers nontraditional semester schedules
with modularized course one night per week. It offers an all-inclusive program cost, which
includes books, to simplify the graduate school process for adults. SNU realizes that the
professional world can make overwhelming demands and so we seek to meet the academic
and personal needs of its students. For example, each student has a $500 stipend set aside to
help him or her meet the costs of personal therapy.
SNU wants not only to empower adults through education to pursue their dreams of
being a Marriage and Family Therapist or a Licensed Professional Counselor, but also for
them to serve the population they are most passionate about. SNU offers students in Tulsa a
very unique opportunity. Due to the nontraditional structure of the counseling program, the
focus of the final 12 hours of the LP track alternates between Child Therapy and Adult
Therapy. In order to ensure students are receiving education in the track of their desired
choice, SNU allows Tulsa students to attend their desired class on the Bethany campus if it
is not being offered in Tulsa. To facilitate this for students, SNU will be supplying fuel cards
and lodging for Tulsa students choosing to attend classes in Bethany.
To get more information about SNU’s graduate programs in counseling please call
Kim Roach at (918) 664-4100 or email her at [email protected].
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Change is on the horizon! An overwhelming number of licensure candidates have been
impacted by changes occurring at the state level.
Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) approved a policy that restricts licensure
candidates from providing services to individuals and families in the community unless
these services are provided through a contracted provider agency, effective October 1, 2014.
What does means for licensure candidates? Candidates previously billing for services in
settings other than contracted agency providers (i.e., under the direction of an individually
contracted LBHP) are required to discontinue services for this population they were
previously serving, negotiate alternate reimbursement, or provide referrals to another
clinician; thus, limiting their ability to serve this population in need.
Changes in procedures of the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, or the
“Board,” have also stirred up complications for candidates. In previous years, the Board
met frequently to review final paperwork submissions and completion of licensure
requirements in order to issue licenses to candidates. It is understood that the board is
currently meeting once every two to three months to determine the issuance of such
licenses. Additionally, candidates are being given an average waiting period of three or four
months to receive updated hour calculations. Understandably, the Board has experienced
changes in its members, which likely contributes to such delays; however, candidates state
wide are experiencing a delay in being issued full licensure among other problems as a
result.
There are more positive changes in the MFT Candidate world too! The MFT
National Exam is now being offered monthly, as opposed to it’s previous quarterly 3 week
block scheduling. This provides candidates greater flexibility to
sit for the exam and more opportunities to re-take exams if
needed.
- Heather
Heather is a 2012 graduate of Oklahoma State University’s
MFT program, a COAMFT accredited program. As an LMFT
Candidate, Heather has expanded her clinical experience
through work at both private and non-profit agencies in
Oklahoma. Most recently, Heather has expanded her clinical
practice at Family Solutions Counseling, a private-for-profit
group practice. Heather plans to be a fully licensed professional in May 2015 and hopes to
continue serving the community through outpatient treatment and teaching opportunities.
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