Michael
Diana
Positions
- Internship Concentration: Student Mental Health
- Visiting Grad Student
Undergraduate School: University of Scranton
Graduate School: University of Kansas
Doctoral Program: University of Kansas Counseling Psychology Ph.D.
Interests & Career Goals: Broadly, I am dedicated to promoting adolescent and emerging adult flourishing! Clinically, I care deeply about applying strengths-based, solutions-focused, and third-wave behavioral approaches to the unique transitions of adolescence and emerging adulthood. My long-term career goal is to be a psychologist dedicated to culturally responsive care in both academia and clinical practice. Ultimately, I am working towards a career at an undergraduate-focused university where I can combine teaching/mentorship, research, and clinical practice. I have a passion for teaching undergraduate students as they find their place within psychology.
Favorite Pastimes: Outside of work, I love spending time with family and friends, traveling, any activity involving a body of water, movie marathons, exploring new restaurants, reading, and attending community events. I am quite social and am always looking to be around others!
Why Duke? I chose Duke because the Student Mental Health Track offers training opportunities aligned with my passion for adolescent and young adult mental health. I work between two clinics, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Duke University and the Duke Center for Adolescent & Young Adult Substance Use Treatment Clinic (CAST) at Duke University Medical Center. These rotations allow me to gain specialized experience across college counseling, substance use interventions, and interdisciplinary care. The opportunity to provide individual and group therapy, lead campus outreach activities, and collaborate on an interdisciplinary team was incredibly appealing. Duke’s emphasis on research piqued my interest as I work towards a career at an undergraduate-focused university. The combination of multiple clinical supervisors, a faculty mentor, and a faculty liaison showed me how much Duke values intern career development. During the interview, I saw how much the clinicians cared about intern success, and I knew it was the place for me!
Research Interests: My research interests lie at the intersection of positive and vocational psychology! Broadly, I am interested in the interaction between positive psychological resources, such as self-compassion and creativity, and career development. My current research agenda is two-fold: (1) investigating how self-compassion interacts with college student career development; and (2) researching how self-compassion impacts creative individuals. Throughout my career, I plan to research how creative people use self-compassion to construct and thrive in their careers. Ultimately, I aim to provide actionable findings that influence clinicians and educators.