ISPP Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Daniela Schreier, Psy.D., ABPP VOL. 15
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
If you'd like to share, please tell us about one of your most important experiences at ISPP.
T – Time Will Pass Anyway It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, or what other people tell you: Dedicate the time required to earn the degree you need to become the professional you want to be. True friends will stick around, even if you see them less frequently initially. Imagine where you will be in six years, both personally and professionally, if you don't get your degree. Now, imagine you do get it. How will your life have changed? Choose change. Dedicate the time and focus needed to study your profession, and truly own it. R – Remember Other Timelines Move Forward Too As time passes, other timelines including the lives of children, family and friends also move forward. Make time for loved ones and hobbies while pursuing your educational goals. This balance may be challenging during the first semester as you reacquaint yourself with the demands of academic life, but it is essential for your well-being over the long run. U – Unpretentiousness Fosters Appreciation Live with gratitude and seize the opportunity you are given. Realize that you truly don’t know everything about psychology yet and always remain a student at heart. Not every place or country offers the robust educational structure needed to study psychology, become licensed, and board-certified. Appreciate the chance you have to learn within such a system. E – Excellence, Not Perfection (There Is None) Stop striving for perfection. There is no such thing as a perfect grade, a perfect paper, or a perfect outcome. Don’t demand perfection from yourself, your professors, and peers. Focus instead on achieving excellence and continual improvement, which is a sustainable and realistic goal.
My most important experience at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (ISPP) was the continuation of a strong mentorship tradition that began before I even arrived and extended well into my professional career. The relationships forged at ISPP stand for excellence in education and lasting, meaningful professional connections. My academic journey began at the Seattle campus of the Washington School of Professional Psychology (WSPP). There, I met Dr. Laura S. Brown, PhD ABPP, a truly larger-than-life figure in the field of psychology. Dr. Brown was my initial advisor and mentor, inspiring my board certification in clinical psychology and believing in me when I was uncertain of my path. To this day, we meet regularly for case supervision, a relationship that evolved seamlessly from student to colleague. Key Relationships at ISPP When I transferred to ISPP, this legacy of meaningful relationships continued and deepened: Dr. Annemarie Slobig, PsyD: An outstanding professor and clinical psychology department chair who was an institution within the ISPP PsyD program. She led the APA accreditation efforts for many years and personally oversaw my coursework transfer to Chicago. Though tough and by-the- book, her support was unwavering, and I immediately recognized professional excellence in her leadership. I deeply value her guidance and ongoing support. Dr. Kathleen O’Brian, PhD ABPP: The coordinator of the Forensic Minor was inspiring, personable, and an outstanding practitioner and professor who provided valuable guidance. Dr. Leah Horvath: The Program Director at The Illinois School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University, who was my boss when I began teaching. We started at ISPP around the same time I deeply value our long-standing professional relationship and her continued support. I deeply value this network of long-standing relationships. It provides the assurance that you can always return to a true Alma Mater, a place where dedicated, intelligent, and cooperative professionals collaborate and support each other. There are no perfect universities or professors, but there are dedicated people who strive to make things work despite imperfect circumstances.
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