Graduate Counseling Student Caitlyn Mejia Published As Lead Author

I have always had an interest in abnormal psychology and, in 2017, I earned my B.A. in Psychology at the University of Baltimore.

It was during my undergrad program that I discovered I had an additional interest in research. I completed an independent research project as my senior thesis in which I researched how psychopaths engage in their romantic relationships

This senior thesis ended up being the catalyst that provided me with the opportunity to have my research published. Currently, I am a counseling intern for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse at Heartly House.

I chose Hood College and the clinical counseling program as I was very much interested in treating either psychopaths or their victims.

Since this program offers a clinical concentration, I felt that it would be the perfect fit for me. I started my journey at Hood in January 2018 and am so excited to graduate this summer!

Hood has afforded me the opportunity to participate as an intern at Heartly House, in which I am able to work with a population that tends to be under-supported.

That population is comprised of survivors of child abuse, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault and, unfortunately, survivors of such experiences still face stigma. As a result, many do not report that they’ve been victimized for fear that law enforcement and/or family and friends will either not believe them or may even blame them.

In my work with these populations, my goal is to empower and help them to view themselves as survivors, and to give them tools to heal and grow past their traumas.

I really enjoy the support from the counseling program faculty. They have taken so much time invest in me and my growth as a counselor. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a participant in this  program.

I have really enjoyed the Diagnosis and Psychopathology and the Attachment Theory courses. These two classes have really served to grow my understanding of the populations seen at Heartly House, and of those seeking mental health treatment in general. I have also really enjoyed the Creativity in Counseling course.

This class was super helpful in my professional work and I have been a much more effective counselor with my clients since implementing the creative art interventions taught in this class.

My article was published in December of 2019. I am so excited to share it with others!

The research is broken into two studies. The first study is comprised of my senior thesis project from undergrad. My mentor and co-author, Dr. John Donahue, encouraged me to replicate the study and further expound upon it; this is where the second study comes into play.

It was in this study that I learned the differences in psychopathy as it relates to sex/gender and abuse tactics. For example, we found and discuss how women who are psychopaths vs men who are psychopaths use different abuse tactics in their relationships.

We also discuss what the quality of romantic relationships with psychopaths look like.

I am fascinated with anything relating to psychopathy and I would love to one day teach or present on the subject covering the myths, the facts, and how important it is to understand the concept of psychopathy in the counseling field. When I’m not studying or working, I love going on hikes, cooking, and painting.

Inspired by Caitlyn’s story and ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn about Hood’s graduate programs, including Counseling programs, by clicking here.