Graduate Students Present Original Research at National Psychology Conference

Four graduate students in the College of Human Development, Culture and Media (CHDCM) attended the New England Psychological Association Conference in Newton, Massachusetts, in the Fall, gaining firsthand experience sharing their work with a national audience of scholars and practitioners. Participation in the conference provided students with a competitive professional development opportunity, allowing them to refine their research communication skills, receive feedback from experts in the field and network with psychology professionals. 

Three students in master’s programs and one doctoral student engaged in this professional development opportunity, with each student leading their own poster presentation. Sandra Lee, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy, also mentored the student researchers and supported their participation in the conference, guiding them through the process of preparing and presenting their work to a professional audience.

Angela Cabble, fourth-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program, exhibited “Mindfulness Treatment of Depression in Older Adults,” a poster presentation looking at what mind and body interventions, outside of the traditional psychotherapies, could potentially benefit  older adults suffering from depression. Cabble said she initially expected to present a poster but learned shortly before the conference that she had been selected to deliver a ten-minute PowerPoint presentation followed by a Q&A. 

“I felt nervous at first, of course,” Cabble said. “But I was confident sharing the information because I knew this research was important.” She recalled seeing audience members engaged in the presentation, nodding as she discussed the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for older adults experiencing depression.

Rachel Asham, a student in the Ed.S Professional Counseling program and Lee, co‑presented a poster titled “Talk to Me, Chatbot: Professional, Clinical and Ethical Issues in the Use of Mental Health AI Chatbots.” Their research examined emerging ethical concerns and clinical implications related to the growing use of artificial intelligence in mental health care.

Caroline Ku, a master’s student in the Psychological Studies program, shared research examining the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for PTSD symptoms among veterans. Ku added that the inspiration for the poster was grounded in the challenges veterans encounter, particularly stigma and the limited effectiveness of available medications.

Kaitlin Pasinski, also a master’s student in the Psychological Studies program focusing on Sport and Exercise, presented research on “Sport Psychology: Use of Imagery by Ice Hockey Goalies.”

When students were asked to reflect about their experience, Asham shared, “I knew a lot of people were keeping up with recent news about AI and had many stories to tell, so they had a lot of questions about our research and we were prepared to answer and discuss.” Ku added that the experience of presenting was rewarding, adding that a discussion with an attendee who shared their military experience was something she would also remember about the conference

By taking part in the conference, students strengthened skills essential to graduate‑level and professional success, including research design, public speaking, critical thinking and scholarly dialogue. Several students noted that presenting to a national audience increased their confidence and clarified their academic and career goals. Together, these experiences reflect how Seton Hall’s College of Human Development, Culture and Media prepares students to engage meaningfully in research, contribute to professional conversations and pursue advanced training and leadership roles in psychology and related fields.

Categories: Health and Medicine, Research