This week we caught up with Samira Amirazizi, a doctoral student with an emphasis in School Psychology working with Dr. Erin Dowdy in CCSP. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Chapman University. Before coming to UCSB, Samira worked for Children's Bureau in their early intervention and prevention department. Samira was a home visitor in the school readiness program, completing developmental screenings and assessments with caregivers. Samira also conducted positive parenting education and case management services. Her research interests include implementation of universal mental-health based screenings in schools for early identification, intervention, and prevention. She is also interested in the impact of parental involvement and parental intervention on a child's developmental trajectory and overall social-emotional wellbeing for children in schools.
GGSE: What drew you to the field of school psychology?
Amirazizi: I think what initially drew me to the field of school psychology is the level of impact you can have when working within a school system. As a school psychologist, you are able to impact children with varied backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses. There is also the opportunity to intervene with those who might not have the means to gain access to mental health services. I am especially interested in early identification and prevention within the school level. Mental illness and mental wellness are complimentary but separate topics that are both important to address in order to promote the psychological well-being of students. I am passionate about the role of a school psychologist to be able to target individuals through early identification, prevention services, and intervention.
GGSE: How does your experience at Children's Bureau in their early intervention and prevention department help you in your work now?
Amirazizi: Through working at Children’s Bureau, I saw the importance of early identification and prevention services. Traditionally, as psychologists, we intervene after someone has demonstrated either behavioral or academic difficulties or some sort of risk factor. I worked with parents who had children ages 0-8 to assist them with the developmental and emotional wellness of their children. I worked closely with parents to create goals, provide parenting support and education, and linkage to resources so that their children could be as ready as possible for school and future social-emotional challenges. It showed me the power of early intervention services and sparked my current research interests in adverse childhood experiences and the impact of trauma on parents. All families and individuals experience challenges in life but the better a person, including children, can get through these challenges successfully, the better they will be prepared in life to reach their full potential.
GGSE: What drew your interest about the impact of parental involvement and parental intervention on a child’s developmental trajectory and overall social-emotional wellbeing?
Amirazizi: I really enjoyed my time working with parents at the Children’s Bureau. I have discovered that when working with children it is equally important to include the parents in interventions and strategies you are working on with their child. At the end of the day, it is the parent that is with the child for the majority of the day. Then when services are over, the parent will have the tools needed to continue bolstering their child’s wellbeing. I believe parents are a huge factor in what causes longstanding change within their child! Additionally, it is also important to acknowledge the gap in accessing mental health services for minority families and the need for more diverse psychologists to provide services in client’s native languages. When involving parents, I think it very important to take these cultural and linguistic factors into consideration when providing services.
GGSE: Assuming you have any free time, what do you like to do with it [note: this question and the answers were before COVID-19]?
Amirazizi: When I have free time, I love spending time with my friends and family. I also really enjoy exploring Santa Barbara by trying out new restaurants and coffee shops. Going on walks through downtown Santa Barbara and exploring new beaches and hikes is also a go to activity on the weekends for me. Whenever I get the chance, I also enjoy traveling, especially to places I’ve never been before!