Dear Dr. Forisha,

How quickly the two years have passed since you left Antioch University to assume the position as Chair of the doctoral MFT program at Argosy. I am so glad to hear that you and your family have settled into Minnesota life and that you thoroughly enjoy your position at Argosy University. I am writing to update you on the changes, professionally and personally, that I have undergone in the past two years-and to tell you how grateful I am that you have always been there to support and advise me.  

Professionally, in the fall of 2009, I accepted an associate faculty position in Antioch's Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) program. My time at Antioch is divided between teaching and advising first quarter CFT students. As an instructor, I am acutely aware of the onerous responsibility I feel to provide instruction at the mastery level that I received from you in my graduate training. I clearly remember sitting in your classroom for the first time and being taken back in time to the origins of family therapy in the early 20^th century. Your lectures were best described as rich storytelling that painted vivid pictures of the socio-historical context of the early times that influenced the leading figures and events that shaped family therapy as we know it today. As your student I learned that in order to teach a systems perspective in family therapy effectively, I must ground theory in a meaningful socio-historical context. 

In my position as an Antioch student adviser, I am aware that I rarely solve student problems; rather I facilitate their process. I learned how to facilitate student problems as a result of being your advisee during graduate school. When I would approach you for advice regarding my professional direction or to discuss a client case, you were clearly more interested in how I was thinking about the problem rather than the problem itself. Your "process" discussions with me followed a well-patterned format. You intensely listened to my issue, confirmed with me your understanding of the issue, inquired about how I came to my conclusions, and then offered a reframe. You repeated this process with me until I was satisfied that I had solved the dilemma. At times I felt quite stuck or discouraged and came to you for help.  Consistently I left our meetings with a strong sense of my competence; with the conviction that I could handle anything that came my way. Because of your guidance, it is this gift of facilitating one's competence that I commit to passing on to my clients, students and advisees.

I truly love working with couples and families in private practice. I learn so much about myself in every session, and what my clients find as helpful from our work together is a constant source of revelation for me. As you mentioned in supervision, the feedback from client outcomes is extremely interesting and useful. I am so grateful for all that I learned from you - a value that can never be measured. Some pragmatic pearls of your wisdom that I integrate into my academic/advising profession:

• 1. Male adolescents need a father figure;
• 2. Use paradoxical interventions as a last resort, and prior to implementing them:
• a. weigh potential negatives against positive outcomes;
• b. have a plan for how to manage negative outcomes.
• 3. Be easy on yourself.

On a personal note, thank you for your support after hearing of my diagnosis of multiple scleroses (MS) six months ago and reflecting that I am a determined, strong and competent individual who handles all obstacles that come my way. As I told you, MS does not define me. Given that, and all your encouragement, it is my intention to apply to the MFT Doctoral program this spring.

All my respect and admiration,

Kimberly  McBride, MA, LMFT, Associate Faculty Antioch Seattle, School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy

kmcbride@antioch.edu