MSP reaches out periodically to alumni to discover more about the work that fulfills their passion for clinical psychology. Life After MSP is our feature column that highlights the career journey of our grads.
Name: Robert Willoughby (MA ’16, PsyD ’21)
Credentials: PsyD, EMDR Certified, CAMS care certified
Job Titles: Postdoctoral Fellow, Care Pathway Program Manager, Private Therapy Office Psychotherapist, and Presenter
Describe your work in clinical psychology:
I practice from an Existential/Humanistic foundation and integrate elements of EMDR, Mindfulness, Play Therapy, CBT, DBT, The Psychodynamic, Somatic Therapies, Polyvagal Therapies, TF-CBT, CAMS, and other therapies as needed.
I work to always start with the holistic and view the entirety of the client’s world from a humanistic perspective incorporating a world view, elements of suffering, and engagement with those in life. I work to build off the client’s strengths and to help them build new ones. I work with a large percentage of children and sometimes they come with few coping skills or strengths. I also work with a lot of deep-end children who have experienced a lot of trauma and in many cases their own suicidality.
In this, I find that The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) works well alongside my EH foundation as we explore Psychological pain, Stress, Agitation, Hopelessness, and Self-hate together. I recently wrote an article on Hope and Hopelessness for our community newsletter/blog. It is a deep dive into the relationship to depression and suicide and things parents can do for their children.
As the Care Pathway Program Manager, I work to help clinicians in our agency become more proficient at treating suicide, taking the next step beyond identification and risk. I also do presentations in the community; my most recent, “An Existential Perspective on Suicide.” I also presented at MSP. That was a great joy and homecoming.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Human Connection would be the first thing! I simply Love to help people. I think that comes from my own childhood and trauma with knowing what it is like to need help and at the same time the benefit of getting that help. For me, common colloquialisms seem to bear truth in that helping others also helps me. It is a joy to see the light turn on and a child understand or to see them shed their pain as we learn to sit with their emotions together. Holding space is powerful. I am also a part of the Zero Suicide Collaborative, improving care for those in need with self-harm and suicide. This is another close thing to my heart with losing so many souls to suicide in my past life as a paramedic. Lastly, EMDR has been a great tool to incorporate into my practice. It is fantastic in how the process truly helps reduce the emotional impacts of traumatic memories and subsequently helps a client attend to their life and needs with less pain and suffering. I help clients transform pain from the past through learning to sit with it in the here and now.
You recently received the Professional of the Year award from NAMI Stark County. Can you tell us a little more about this award and what it means to you to have received it?
This award touched my heart. This award nominates from the perspective of the client/patient population and their families. I was told I was nominated by several people. To me, that tells me I made an impact on people’s lives. I guess that may be a little selfish, but realistically, it makes a difference to know that you are making a difference. It is an honor to serve others and knowing that you are a part of someone’s healing, for even the little part we can play, that is heartwarming. Lastly, I love that I am a part of our internship program. I get to mentor, assist in developing therapy styles, and teach classes to our Pre-Doctoral Interns. It is a great thing. Once licensed, hopefully soon, I will move from assisting with supervision to conducting supervision.
How did MSP prepare you for success?
Well, it is the greatest school ever of course!!! How much space do I have… Really, MSP holds such a great place in my heart for so many reasons and because of so many great people. That is the foundation, the great people that are there as instructors/faculty/administration and of course the great people it attracts as students. I was lucky enough to be a part of several cohorts and make great friends. There are obvious courses that were full of information and wonderment as I grew as a therapist. The humanistic and existential courses helped get me in touch with my soul and what you may call the soul of the therapist, sounds like a good book, but they were elemental for me and helped bring out the core of who I am as a human and as a therapist. One of the greatest parts of my experience is that the courses were not just taught, they were exemplified by the actions of those at the school. But I also learned about theory and how to apply it, as well as practical skills and how to make them my own and to adapt them to each client’s needs.
What advice would you give to current students?
TRUST THE PROCESS!!!!!, hahahaha, I have waited so long to say that! Such a simple yet true statement. But we also need to be people of action and to act on our own motivation and decisions to move forward despite the challenges at hand. These are what help one to get through and then to speak to the struggling client as they struggle with life or suffering. There are going to be some real challenges as you work through school. I had many: A divorce, friends who completed suicide, a near death car accident extending my schooling, and some school challenges. But these were truly a part of the process as the school, my friends, and my loved ones all helped me to get through. While I did this, I was also able to present at Division 32, present at the school, and even be a judge for poster presentations.
I was able to be a friend to others. We worked together to create study guides, study together, and to help and support each other when we could. Some of my friends and I now support each other with pursuing the EPPP. These are the things you can do now. Be open to growth and stand up for your thoughts in class discussion but continue to learn. Socrates was said to have stated that the more he learned the more he knew he knew nothing. There is so much knowledge out there, it is there for us to take, but we must approach it with an open mind. While we can know, we can also learn. I use this approach with my clients. While I can know psychology, they are the experts on them. Making them that integral part sets them up for success. Reaching back to my first masters core concepts class, I am going to tell you that Epoche is real, and it is helpful.
I would also say to keep living your passion. I have done so, and it has only grown. I have a passion for treating trauma and suicidality. It has helped me to grow as a therapist and to continue to connect with others on the human level.
Continue to be good humans, to encourage and support each other, and to recognize your value in pursuing your goals. Breaks are okay, but don’t give up. It is worth it to push through. This is how the process will serve you.
Take care and stay safe,
Dr. Robert Willoughby
