Annual Newsletter - College of Human Ecology - Kansas State ...

Ford finds the rewards in helping others
egan Ford is a self-proclaimed helper. She says she is
M inspired daily by the opportunity to help people and
improve their lives.
Ford, who works as a full-time professional at a University
of Georgia clinic, graduated from Kansas State University in
December 2010 with a master’s degree in family studies
and human services with an emphasis in marriage and
family therapy.
“The field of marriage and family therapy views people and
their struggles, which is consistent with my own view: People
don’t exist in isolation; they are impacted by the systems that
surround them,” Ford said. “Marriage and family is a great fit
for me, and my work with individuals, couples and families is
constantly inspiring.”
After graduating from Kansas State University, Ford accepted
a position at the University of Georgia’s ASPIRE Clinic as its
clinic coordinator. The ASPIRE Clinic is a one-of-a-kind, crossdisciplinary
training clinic that brings together professionals
from collaborative disciplines to serve the needs of clients in the
Athens, Ga., area.
“The university setting just feels like a good fit for me,” Ford said.
“The career path that I have chosen allows me the freedom to
practice therapy and to explore new ideas and ways of working.
I am fulfilling my personal career goals as a therapist and
establishing myself as a leader in an innovative, collaborative
clinical environment.”
While a student at Kansas State University, Ford earned an
assistantship with Kristy Archuleta, assistant professor of family
studies and human services and the director of the K-State
Financial Planning Clinic. Ford assisted in the design and layout
of the Financial Therapy Association’s Journal of Financial
Therapy and continues to serve as a copy editor.
Ford’s time at Kansas State University influenced her
professionally and personally, she said.
“I learned more about who I am as an individual and began
to believe more fully in my capabilities as a therapist and
professional,” Ford said. “I feel that through the program, I
developed a tenacity and a greater amount of confidence. I also
began to deal more gracefully with uncertainty and failure, and
am more open and adaptable as a result.”
As the clinic coordinator, Ford has many duties, including
designing effective and collaborative training for interns
and student service providers within the clinic, coordinating
innovative research, and developing and enforcing the clinic’s
policies and procedures. She often works with students and
other professionals.
“The thing I love most about our program at Kansas State
University is how welcoming and helpful everyone has
been. I really enjoy the feel of the classes and clinical
supervision. The feedback that is provided serves to both
advance my knowledge and skills, while also empowering
and encouraging me to follow my own intuitions. As a
result, I have been able to become a more confident and
effective therapist. And I don’t think this would have been
possible without the real sense of community and warmth I
have felt within our program.”
— Lisa Blohm
2011 Master’s Cohort
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