Dr. Maher joined the Michigan School of Psychology in August 2019 and helped create the Michigan School Psychological Clinic. Click here to learn more about Dr. Maher.
Jodie Mientkiewicz joined MSP in 2020 as ABA Clinic Supervisor. Prior to starting at MSP, she worked as a special education teacher for 13 years, as well as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in an ABA autism clinic. Click here to learn more about Jodie.
The following MSP students are completing their clinical training hours at the Michigan School Psychological Clinic this academic year.
Under the supervision of Clinic Staff, each student will provide direct psychological services to clients in need of mental health care at a reasonable cost.
My belief is that we all have the capacity to experience self-actualization, personal growth and self-healing. We all have the answers to our problems, within us, and my role as a therapist is to help my clients find the path that is best for them.
I consider myself eclectic, using a framework that I think will best resonate with the client to help them grow on their individual path. I listen deeply to clients and provide them space to process their grief or loss in a warm and collaborative environment.
From working with parents as a youth leader, I have seen the positive impact that parental involvement has on a child’s mental health care plan. I believe parent training and working with parents to help their children is just as impactful, if not more at times, than working solely with the children.
I am passionate about finding ways to improve the lives of children and adolescents with developmental disorders, as well as their families. As a student practitioner I hope to bring the experiences and skills related to empathy, patience, and communication that I have obtained thus far as a behavioral therapist, student, and person into the Clinic.
As a student practitioner, I have the ability to easily build rapport, maintain engagement with persons served, and hold hope in the face of diversity. My education, along with my work experience, has enabled me the ability to adapt and learn quickly.
We can often struggle to verbalize our struggles. Sometimes finding simple words that give voice to a complex cascade of events in our life can begin the process of becoming unstuck. We free ourselves to take joy here-and-now and look forward to the possibilities in life that await us.
I have been in the substance abuse field as an administrator for over three decades. My experience as a therapist, and administrator has provided me with the knowledge base and foundation to address different personalities types. My experience in the substance abuse field also equipped me with the ability to help individuals gain insight and awareness to their internal struggles.
With my previous experience as a Child Protective Services investigator and Juvenile Justice Specialist, I have vast knowledge of the familial and socioeconomic systems that contribute to mental health issues as well as the limitations within the system that also present challenges to families.
A therapist should encourage the client to bring their entire self into the room-- behaviors, memories, bad habits, lofty dreams, a broken heart, prejudices, triumphs...everything. It's my responsibility-- and incredible privilege-- to assure my clients that anything they say to me will be met with empathy and compassion.
I believe it is important to really understand the client for who they are, truly knowing your client leads to success. My passion and strong sense of communication have also been great skills of mine. My dedication to my clients is also important, it is not you alone, we are a team.
As a student with previous years of experience working with the Autism population using behavior analysis, I hope to be able to bring my understanding of what is needed beyond typical ABA services for families that have children on the spectrum. I am looking forward to being a part of pioneering a new opportunity for students to use behavior analysis and clinical psychology together to reach a population of individuals that are underserved.
I think that the skills I built from my experience in another culture will support me to have openness to any kind of issue that is presented to me. Also, the personal fact of building a multicultural family reinforces this openness. Lastly, considering that in therapy, a client's language plays a huge role, offering the possibility of other languages (English, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish) can be beneficial.
I believe in building a positive relationship between therapist and client; this is one way to promote and a predictor of lasting change. I provide and facilitate a non-judgmental, safe, and supportive environment to help facilitate change to live a happier, healthier, and rewarding life.
I have spent the past year mentoring and supporting individuals with mental and physical ailments in the lakeshore area of West Michigan. From this experience, I have learned the importance in allowing yourself and others to acknowledge emotion in a way that addresses feelings in the moment, while successfully using skills to cope and move forward.
I have over ten years of experience serving others through individual and group counseling, advocacy, and an array of psychological and spiritual interventions. My desire is to meet people where they are and “come alongside” to help them achieve their goals and potential. I have been privileged to be counselor to ministry and military personnel, as well as first-responders.
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