After deciding to further her education in the UB School of Social Work’s MSW program, Kali Carpenter took advantage of the numerous opportunities for real-world experience afforded to graduate students in the program.
In addition to attending four project colloquia (coordinated by the faculty directors or their colleagues) that allow students to apply course content and material to field experience, Carpenter completed an evidence-based practice internship at Lake Shore Behavioral Health on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team. There, she trained to provide integrated substance abuse and mental health therapy to clients dealing with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse.
“This experience,” Carpenter says, “provided for me the opportunity to learn and apply integrated treatment using motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and solution-focused therapy in individual and group settings.”
Carpenter applies those valuable experiences in her current positions. She is a practitioner with Unity House of Cayuga County Inc. in the PROSperity Program (Personalized Recovery Oriented Services), which aims to educate clients on using “inherent strengths and supports to overcome barriers caused by a mental health condition so that they may develop the recovery skills needed to live their lives more fully.” Carpenter has also served as a residential relief counselor with Seneca Cayuga ARC since 2012 and holds certification in Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice.