101 Research Reflection by Ellie Barnett

Faculty Mentor: Lee Raby (Psychology, University of Utah)

My undergraduate research experience has pushed me to grow in ways I did not even fathom were possible. Through my participation in SPUR, I have increased my statistical knowledge and become a more analytical thinker. Because science is often unpredictable, I have developed the ability to accept the unknown. Research has helped me adapt to the unexpected, whether through exploring the problems at hand, reanalyzing data, or reaching out to my mentor for support.

After graduation, I aspire to become a clinical mental health counselor for individuals who have experienced great adversity, such as trauma. I harnessed this goal as I studied the impacts of childhood maltreatment on mental health and parenting behavior. Through my research, I further realized just how important it is to provide support for individuals with mental health challenges and histories of trauma/childhood maltreatment. Research is pivotal in helping us broadly understand the impacts of psychopathology and adverse experiences. Mental health treatment builds upon research, assisting people on a more individual level, providing them with the emotional tools and support to thrive. Research and clinical practice go hand in hand, and I look forward to incorporating the two as I become a therapist.