Clinical Psychology Concentration

Kara Hokes, 2024

What led you to choose to major in psychology?

During my undergraduate career I had the opportunity to work as a crime victim advocate at a crisis center in Portage County, Ohio. I worked with sexual assault, human trafficking, and intimate partner violence survivors. I found myself interested in what intersectional factors affect an individual's recovery from trauma: minority status, chronic health conditions, and access to intervention services. I realized there's limited services for populations recovering from trauma, such as veterans and crime survivors. I wanted to contribute to the creation and dissemination of care for these groups and so I chose Clinical Psychology!

What have you enjoyed so far about studying your program in psychology?

I've enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in diverse experiences: learning advanced data analysis procedures, teaching undergraduate courses, researching topics I'm passionate about, and providing therapy services to underserved community members. In addition, I appreciate my program's focus on self-care, mentorship, and collaborative research. At every step of the way, I've been supported by caring and passionate faculty, as well as my fellow graduate students.

What kind of research are you currently working on?

Currently, I'm interested in the interplay between physical trauma and emotional trauma. I'm exploring what factors predict the development of posttraumatic growth among adult burn injury survivors. I'm also collaborating with a lab member to examine how different forms of childhood maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, etc.) affect well-being in adulthood.

What extracurricular or other exciting activities are you involved in?

I'm the program coordinator for the COVID-19 Essential Workers Emotional Support Line which provides support to essential workers affected by the pandemic. We also refer to free therapy services through the GMU Center for Psychological Services. Many people are dealing with adverse mental health outcomes (such as traumatic stress) related to COVID-19, and we've been able to find a way to provide support to a neglected population. 

What are your career goals after graduation?

I hope to work for Veteran's Affairs as a Psychologist, as I would like to continue to study and treat survivors of trauma (both blast related brain and burn injuries, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder). I'm passionate about the dissemination of evidence-based PTSD treatment (cognitive processing therapy, exposure therapy, and aspects of dialectical behavior therapy) and think that Veteran's Affairs could be a good fit for me!

What advice do you have for prospective students to your program?

Find ways to get diverse experiences in your undergraduate career-- join different research labs, volunteer in your local community, and follow what interests you! I also recommend seeking out faculty members and graduate students who can answer your questions and provide mentorship to you!