UC Clermont offers head start for psychology student

For Lydia Byrd, passion for mental health is a family affair — her mother has worked as a psychiatric nurse for more than 15 years.

“I grew up learning about the brain and different mental illnesses,” Byrd said. “I have known I wanted to be a psychologist since I was 15 years old. The way the brain works and learning what motivates other people’s behavior fascinates me.”

When it came time for the Milford, Ohio, resident to choose a college, she not only wanted to begin her educational journey on the right foot. Byrd also wanted to save money and immediately felt at ease in the small classes and close-knit community at UC Clermont College in nearby Batavia.

Once on campus, Byrd wasted no time. By spring of her first year, she had secured an internship at the Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Community near Hyde Park. There, she helped run an art therapy group for patients with dementia, encouraging the residents to express themselves through art projects. “The internship encouraged me to believe in myself and to listen to what others have to say, even non-verbally,” Byrd said. “I learned a lot from the resident I worked with.”

UC Clermont Psychology Professor Meera Rastogi has specialized experience in using art therapy to help patients with mental health conditions and organized the internship for Byrd after having her in class.

“Lydia learned about Alzheimer’s disease and worked with a resident one-on-one,” Rastogi said. “It was incredible to watch Lydia grow her patience and non-verbal communication skills throughout the semester.”

Following the internship, Byrd worked on a research presentation with two other students about an app that was created to reduce anxiety levels among users, looking at whether such apps are successful at decreasing anxiety. The app was given to a group of college students who played the game for a certain period of time whenever they were feeling anxious. The group found anxiety levels among users reduced after playing. The students, with Rastogi’s guidance, presented the research at the 2019 American Psychological Association Annual Convention in Chicago.

“Lydia helped to integrate research on mental health digital apps and communicated about the research to psychologists from around the world,” Rastogi said. “I saw her confidence in her own potential bloom. I am so proud of her and look forward to the future contributions she will make to the profession.”

Byrd says Rastogi’s support, like her experience at the conference, was priceless.

“Professor Rastogi has been an incredible mentor to me throughout my college career,” Byrd said. “She truly loves what she does and makes sure her students feel safe in her classroom.”

After two years as a psychology major at UC Clermont, Byrd transferred to the University of Cincinnati’s Uptown Campus and plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in 2022. She has plans to eventually earn her doctorate and has a particular interest in forensic psychology. Byrd says thanks to the early training and experiences she had at UC Clermont, she feels ready for her next steps.

“I loved the smaller classes because it allowed me to get to know my peers and professors. It was great to have a community in the classroom that offered help when I needed it. The teachers cared about my wellbeing and whether I understood the class material,” said Byrd. “I learned a lot about myself and my future career, and the psychology program only furthered my love for the field.”