Binghamton prepares student for clinical social work career
Alumnae gains experience in crisis assessment services before graduation
Self-described as “overly empathetic,” Alice Sounthala ‘11, MSW ‘14 always wanted to be in a helping profession. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in human development, she worked in a few human service jobs. “But I always felt I was dispensable,” she says.
Seeking greater security, Sounthala chose to explore social work. She performed unpaid internships where she could shadow social workers.
“Through these internships, I got to work with people who held similar values as I do,” she explains. “These social workers were incredibly passionate about helping others; they were able to work effectively with their clients while also maintaining their emotions. I wanted to learn to do that.”
Once Sounthala decided to get her MSW, Binghamton was the only school she applied to.
“I didn’t know which area of social work I wanted to specialize in, so I was looking for a generalist program, which Binghamton offers. And after researching other schools, Binghamton made the most sense financially,” she says. “I was also extremely pleased with my undergraduate experience in the CCPA. I felt that if I chose Binghamton again, I would receive the same quality of education I received as an undergrad.”
Sounthala pursued her MSW full-time and graduated in May 2014. She quickly landed a position with The Neighborhood Center, a nonprofit agency in Utica, N.Y., that provides outreach, preventive, developmental and therapeutic human services to children and families in central New York. She joined the center’s Mobile Crisis Assessment Team, working as a crisis counselor serving Chenango County.
Binghamton’s combination of classroom instruction and field-service training were excellent preparation for the position, says Sounthala.
“My experience in the field gave me the opportunity to work with real clients in real-life situations, while my courses gave me a general understanding of the mental health population as well as taught me both specific therapeutic techniques and how to interact with clients in particular situations,” she explains.