Take a look at what some of our recent graduates are now doing in their careers.
Masters Graduates
Jimmy Bridges
Jimmy graduated from the K-state master’s program in December of 2017 and immediately transitioned into the K-state PhD program in couple and family therapy. His research focuses on sexual and gender minorities from conservative religious backgrounds, as well as program development of gay-straight alliances in school settings. Jimmy obtained his license shortly after graduating from the master’s program in May of 2018. He maintains a private practice based out of Wichita, Kansas, Symmetry Solutions, where much of his work addresses spiritual and religious trauma and relational issues around sexuality.
Caitlyn Crawford
Caitlyn graduated in May 2018, and welcomed her first daughter into the family in August. She is now a Licensed MFT working for KC Resolve where she specializes in working with LGBTQ+, couples and women empowerment.
Jordan Crosson
Jordan has been employed by Pawnee Mental Health Services in Manhattan and Marysville since January 2018 as an Outpatient Mental Health Therapist. During this time she has worked with families, couples, individuals, and school systems. However, she will be leaving Pawnee Mental Health Services in May and has accepted a job with KSRE as a 4-H Youth Development Agent for the River Valley District. Though it is different from therapy, her skills and experience as a therapist will aid in her success in this position.
Sally Hodges
After graduation in May 2018 Sally moved to the Kansas City, MO metro. She passed the licensure exam in the summer of 2018, is currently provisionally licensed in Missouri for approximately the next 2 years until she reaches her full post-graduate hours. Dr. Jared Anderson and Sally opened the Kansas City Relationship Institute in September of 2018 where she now practices. KCRI is a private practice specializing in couple’s therapy.
Aimee Hubbard
Aimee is currently halfway through her Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota in Couples and Family Therapy. Her research focuses on couples, couple help-seeking, and Google data analysis related to relational topics. Aimee has passed her licensing exam and is practicing at the Lorenz Family Clinic of Family Psychology in Rosemount, Minnesota.
SuYi (Tom) Le
Tom is currently in the MFT doctoral program at Florida State University. He is currently practicing in the Center for Couple and Family Therapy (CCFT) at FSU, and he is now a Florida state MFT intern working towards his licensure. Tom has been doing research working with his major advisor on some longitudinal dyadic data analysis. His current research interests include dyadic data analysis, couple relationship quality, intercultural relationships, and cultural minorities.
Michelle Busk (Washburn)
Michelle Washburn-Busk graduated from K-State’s CFT Program and is currently in her 2nd year of the PhD CFT Program at K-State. Michelle’s program of research focuses on power imbalances in couples, couples dealing with trauma, and on-again/off-again relationships. Michelle is also a private practitioner with Andrews & Associates Counseling and sees mostly couples and individuals with PTSD.
Thomas (Tommy) Childs
Tommy Childs graduated from the program in 2018. He is currently practicing in Utah treating substance abuse at First Step House.
Bri Craig
Bri finished her master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy in December of 2018. Since graduation, she has been working part-time on the Relationship Goals Project with Dr. Amber Vennum and other graduate students from the CFT Program and Applied Family Sciences. Bri is also in the process of obtaining licensure to practice in Texas and is hoping to move in June after finding a clinical position there.
Becky Sorenson
Becky is currently licensed as a TLMFT and is working with kids at Family Service and Guidance Center in Topeka, Kansas.
Ph.D. Graduates
Chelsey Torgerson
Chelsey N. Torgerson, Ph.D. is an Instructor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department/MS Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in beautiful Klamath Falls, OR. Since joining OIT last September, she has helped the MS MFT Program strengthen their emphasis on addiction and recovery in rural communities by creating six addictions courses to be included in the MS MFT curriculum sequence. Chelsey has become active in the community by serving on the planning committee of a grant-funded annual educational symposium offered to area helping professionals and she continues to network with community partners in an effort to support relationships between OIT and the community. She started working part-time as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor III (CADC III) at Klamath Basin Behavioral Health (KBBH) in April of 2019, where she will work towards the LMFT licensure in the state of Oregon.
Austin Beck
Austin is currently working at Gateway Academy as the therapist over the transition house. Gateway Academy is a residential treatment center for adolescent boys with depression, anxiety, and other co-morbid issues. His position focuses on helping those that are completing the program transition back to regular life with their families. Austin will be joining a private practice in the next 2 months so that he can start seeing 3-4 couples a week to compliment the work that he does with adolescents.
Lauren Ruhlmann (Oseland)
Lauren is a tenure-track faculty member in the MS Marriage and Family Therapy program at Auburn University. Lauren remains devoted to studying complex trauma, sex trafficking, and facilitating post-traumatic growth. She is passionate about helping those affected by trauma find healing through her program of research, community engagement, and clinical work. She stays busy with an active trauma-focused research program, teaching, and mentoring graduate students in research and clinical work. When Lauren is not busy at work, she enjoys traveling with her husband Eric and spending time with her new puppy, Tuck.
Denzel Jones
Dr. Denzel Jones is a professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Antioch University New England located in Keene, New Hampshire and a licensed marriage and family therapist. In addition to teaching masters and doctorate level clinicians, Dr. Jones engages in multiple other roles such as a clinician, clinical supervisor, researcher, public scholar, and a member of the New Hampshire Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (NHAMFT) Education Committee. His primary research interest is personal identity development across time and social processes that impact identity with a secondary research interest in relationships education.
Jessica High-Cless
Jessica Cless is working as an Assistant Professor at Washburn University in the Human Services Department. There, she coordinates the Trauma and Recovery Certificate program, which prepares future helping professionals to work in their respective fields using a trauma-informed practice lens. Her research focus is understanding systemic implications of trauma exposure in college students. Dr. Cless is also clinically active, and seeing clients part-time in private practice.
Chelsea Spencer
Chelsea is currently working as a research assistant professor in the couple and family therapy program at Kansas State University. Chelsea works on a variety of projects for the United States Air Force. She also continues to focus on her research related to intimate partner violence and intimate partner homicide. Chelsea remains clinically active and has started a small private practice in Manhattan.
