This post is by Snneha Saha (https://www.instagram.com/snnsaha/) who is sharing her experience in the psychology field. After completing her undergraduate studies at Davidson College, Snneha is going to a graduate program where she will pursue a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Southern California. Congrats, Snneha!!!

Early interest in psychology

I was always inquisitive about the intricate web of the human mind and its ability to continuously analyze and conform to its unknown expanses. When I turned thirteen, my sister was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is at this point I came in the first-hand contact with the ignorance and stigma that revolves around mental health issues in India and how radically it affects the patient as well as their families.

To understand the apathy of such patients better, I began volunteering at an occupational therapist’s clinic during my high school years. After the completion of this period, I cultivated observation and critical thinking skills in a clinical setting. 

Undergraduate in Psychology at Davidson College supported getting into the Applied Behavior Analysis Grad Program

My undergraduate years at Davidson College helped me gain theoretical knowledge ranging from neuropsychology to social, child development, career development, personality, cultural, abnormal psychology as well as advanced research and design which familiarized me with software programs such as R, Jamovi, and SPSS to better analyze and interpret data. I also took a capstone course on Issues in Psychology which further reinforced my understanding of the ethical aspects of psychology and how indistinguishably social and racial justice are tied together to the field. 

Observations of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy

During the summer before my junior year, I had the opportunity to shadow a speech pathologist in Raleigh. I observed individual sessions of children with autism, ADHD, and aphasia along with visiting neighboring elementary and high schools where I learned more about diagnostic assessments and screenings. I also worked at the Cardinal Center for Behavior Analysis to help conduct individual sessions alongside highly trained Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and Registered Behavior Technicians who were dedicated to serving their patients.

Observations of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy fascinated me and taught me how essential empathy, awareness of differences, and patient communication skills are for a therapist. During this time, I utilized software functions to code and enter data from therapy sessions. Furthermore, I attended a training program to work with yet another stigmatized population: children who were once sexually abused. Throughout the length of this program in Mumbai, I honed the skills required to be actively involved in interacting with the survivors.  

Studying at Carnegie Mellon University

Additionally, I spent my junior Fall semester studying away at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where I took up classes such as Health Psychology which gave me thorough experience in presenting APA style journal papers on several occasions. I also conducted observational research in CMU’s Children Laboratory School, which allowed me to collect qualitative data on preschoolers and kindergarteners while writing a research paper on motor and language development in children. 

Choosing to pursue a master’s degree in psychology was always my plan as I want to develop a stronger foundation through valuable interactions with The University of Southern California’s highly accredited faculty members. I aim to gain practical knowledge as well as hands-on research experience and cultivate optimal problem-solving skills to prepare to take the BCBA examination post-USC. I strive to build a level of expertise needed to conduct as well as apply psychological research to better improve the lives of others and serve to help them live their most competent selves individually and as a part of the larger community.

Applied Behavior Analysis grad program at University of Southern California

UCS’s Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program excited me because of its rigorous yet flexible curriculum which allows me to explore my interests in the field while simultaneously gaining expertise in the field of behavior analysis. I am motivated to make the most of my time at USC by learning from accredited professors while simultaneously committing to gain experience by securing work experiences through the Applied Behavior Analysis practicum to further solidify my understanding and application of psychology in real-life settings.

For my first semester in the program, I will be working as a Behavior Technician at the Special needs Network in Los Angeles. SNN is an organization that not only focuses its services on underserved communities around LA but also advocates for social justice. My time at SNN will allow me to develop skills to effectively implement Applied Behavior Analysis therapy among children as well as older populations. The merge between training, implementation and research experience is very appealing to me as it allows me to explore clinical training experiences of Applied Behavior Analysis but also apply them to real-world settings to generate positive outcomes for the clients as well as their families.

Why the Applied Behavior Analysis Grad Program at USC is a good fit

The Applied Behavior Analysis program at USC promotes one-on-one interaction with professors and builds tight-knit professional and personal relationships through coursework and supervised field-based projects. This will let me utilize the theoretical principles on a real-time basis. These various offerings of the program such as its commitment to creating a more equitable world through projects like the Mindfulness-Based Coaching for Immigrant Parents, coursework like Ethics for Behavior Analysis, and the diverse yet inclusive environment match with my interests. I hope to learn abundantly and be engaged with professors such as Dr. Jonathan Tarbox and facilitate my understanding of behavioral interventions and learn from his incredible endeavor of establishing FirstSteps for Kids and understand how professionals in the field apply those concepts to serve the people. 

The gap in awareness of mental health and access to treatment is stark everywhere. I want to change that and with my knowledge and skills, by establishing myself as a cross-cultural behavioral analyst.

I believe that I can realize my dream by serving people and by changing the world, across cultures, for the better through my services. 

Various Master’s programs for Practice

Most master’s programs in psychology are focused on a specific area of psychology such as clinical psychology, counseling psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and in my case, applied behavior analysis. Psychology is a vast field so there are several options so, when they say a master’s in counseling they most likely mean a master’s in a psychology-related field. Social work however is not directly related to psychology but helps! Some other fields also included a master’s in marriage therapy or child development therapy!

Licensure to practice therapy