Clinical Psychology Doctoral Researcher One of 10 Winners of the 5th Annual Beck Institute Student Scholarship Competition

Rachel Goetze, a second-year University of Maine clinical psychology doctoral student from Hampden, is one of 10 winners of the 5th Annual Beck Institute Student Scholarship Competition. She was selected from a pool of 800 applicants to attend an intensive three-day workshop on Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depression and Suicidality at the Beck Institute in Philadelphia. The Beck Institute is a world-renowned training center for mental health professionals to learn cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT is an empirically supported approach for treating a variety of mental disorders.

Goetze grew up in Exeter, Maine, and received a Top Scholar award from UMaine. From 2001–05 she earned a bachelor’s degrees in psychology and social work. She worked in the neuropsychology department at Eastern Maine Medical Center before joining UMaine’s Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program.

In her doctoral research Goetze collaborates with Emily Haigh, UMaine assistant professor of psychology. Excerpts from Goetze’s application focusing on her research follow:

Tell us about your work in cognitive behavior therapy.
The University of Maine has longstanding dedication to rigorous training in cognitive therapy through coursework, practicum experiences and research opportunities. My mentor, professor Emily Haigh, has reinforced my training and exposure to the science and practice of cognitive therapy. I have utilized a CBT framework to work with individuals with depression, social and generalized anxiety, panic and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

How do you hope to use CBT in the future?
As a scientist-practitioner, I am dedicated to using CBT in the classroom and treatment room, as well as a model to inform my doctoral research. My current research interests are in obesity, specifically in binge eating disorder and bariatric surgery candidate populations. I aim to investigate the role of perceived control as a potential target for treatment. My overarching hypothesis rests squarely on a CBT foundation: Modifying an individual’s perception of control will significantly impact binge eating behavior and associated maladaptive emotions such as sadness, embarrassment and hopelessness.

What else do you hope to gain from this training experience?
As a lifelong Maine resident, I am familiar with the constraints of seeking and receiving services in a rural area. I hope to be a part of Maine’s commitment to disseminate empirically supported treatment such as CBT by utilizing tools such as telemedicine in order to enable providers statewide. This training with the Beck Institute would allow me to gain expertise in CBT so that one day, I can be in a position to help serve the mental health needs of Maine’s rural communities.