»Practicum Collaborations

Through a collaborative partnership with Crean College's Department of Physical Therapy, students learn to provide therapeutic services to the caregivers of stroke survivors.

"Stroke Boot Camp (SBC) was a wonderful opportunity and experience I am so grateful I was able to be a part of. I was able to gain valuable experience working alongside other healthcare professionals and gather insight into various fields that allowed me to broaden my knowledge in the medical family therapy field. Not only was I able to learn important therapeutic skills from my interactions with participants, but I was also able to further develop my systemic skillset through my interactions with caregivers and family members. Additionally, being able to work closely alongside my fellow trainees was an enjoyable learning experience that has provided me with the skills to work collaboratively in the Marriage and Family Therapy field. I thoroughly enjoyed the unique opportunities SBC has provided me and am excited to be a part of it again this fall." - Katie Sy, MFT Trainee, Class of 2025

See the Daily Pilot article to learn more about this program's impact on the local community.

In this collaboration, students engage with local non-profit agency, The Wooden Floor, to provide psychoeducation and empowerment groups for at-risk youth and their families.

“The Wooden Floor was truly an unforgettable experience that I am so grateful to have been a part of. My colleagues and I were always amazed by the dedication and care provided to the students and their families by the staff and the various programs within The Wooden Floor. I even found myself wishing to have experienced the Wooden Floor as a younger student. I also felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join and support the families within the local community. I learned so much through my peers and supervisors, who all demonstrated such compassion and willingness to meet students and families where they are. Likewise, in working closely with the students and families, I witnessed how resilience and community mental health work hand-in-hand to empower lives. The Wooden Floor embodies so much hope and presents unique opportunities for growth for the whole family. I will forever treasure the memories and experiences I had participating in and leading activities with students and families at the Wooden Floor.” - Julie Koh, MFT Trainee, Class of 2025

"Participating in Empowerment at The Wooden Floor was an unforgettable experience. The Wooden Floor offers a sense of safety, connection, and vulnerability for the students and families. As a first-generation college student, I wish I had been able to participate in a program like The Wooden Floor when I was a young student. The staff is so supportive and passionate about helping their students and families. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this collaboration and I hope I inspired the students as much as they inspired me." - Julianna Franco, MFT Trainee, Class of 2025

Learn more about Chapman's partnership with The Wooden Floor.

In collaboration with Crean College's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, students provide support groups to spouses of clients with Primary Progressive Aphasia and clients with traumatic brain injury.

"The Communication Sciences and Disorders collaboration was an immensely impactful experience for me during my final year of the MFT program. I got the chance to run two different support groups: one for the spouses of adults impacted by primary progressive aphasia and the other for women who have acquired brain injuries. I feel grateful to have learned how to run these two unique groups as an adjunct to my clinical experience during my time at Chapman. I gained incredibly valuable professional skills through consulting with the Communication Sciences and Disorders students to provide the best care possible for our group participants. I found my experience to be particularly rewarding as I witnessed relationships forming between the group participants as a result of their shared experiences. To be able to facilitate these groups, provide a safe space for the participants to connect with each other, and learn more about primary progressive aphasia and acquired brain injuries was truly a highlight of my time here at Chapman!" - Jane Gilchrist, Class of 2024