Char-Koosta News – Psychology student Erin Irvine connects at Tribal Health … – Char

By Jennifer Finley

Erin Irvine's time at THD inspires her to pursue her psychology degree. (Jennifer Finley, photo) Erin Irvine's time at THD inspires her to pursue her psychology degree. (Jennifer Finley, photo)

ST. IGNATIUS — "I didn’t have a lot of mentors growing up," said Erin Irvine, 24, one of the summer student scholars at the Tribal Health Department (THD). "I was just a little native girl pursuing a higher education. It helps to meet people who’ve been in your shoes."

This summer, she has the opportunity to work with psychologists at Tribal Health in a six-week program, created by THD Director Kevin Howlett, to give CSKT members and descendents exposure to the health care field in hopes that they will return to THD after they’re done with college.

Irvine, who is in the last year of Salish Kootenai College’s psychology program, said because of her experience at THD, she now knows that she plans on attending graduate school at the University of Montana to study clinical psychology. The experience has given her direction in her future profession.

Irvine said she became interested in the field of psychology as a child when she went to counseling. Culturally, she didn’t make a connection with the person who was supposed to be helping her, and she said “How can you counsel somebody if you don’t know what they’ve been through.” She hopes that with her experiences, she can reach more people.

One of the highlights of Irvine’s time at THD has been the opportunity to do research on suicide. She’ll also be helping operate the Health Care Warriors summer camp for middle school kids to get more youth interested in health care careers.

Irvine grew up in Ronan.

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