Justin Carnate is a continuing doctoral fellow in the 2022-2023 Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) class with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). He was also a master's fellow in the 2021-2022 cohort. Justin received his B.S. in psychology from Liberty University and his M.A. in couples and family therapy from Alliant International University, Irvine. Currently, Justin is a couple and family therapy doctoral student at Alliant International University and a marriage and family therapy intern in the Irvine area. In addition, he has professional experience working at various mental health, nutrition, and behavioral intervention service organizations. He is also an Army veteran and completed his 8-year military contract in March 2022, which consisted of both active duty and reserves.
Justin was initially drawn to the MFP because he wanted to cultivate and improve his cultural understanding. He shared, "I received much encouragement from my professors in addition to guidance from an MFP alumnus who was my peer advisor during the first year of my master's program. With their support, I decided to apply for the prestigious fellowship to develop my cultural awareness and strengthen my competence as a clinician."
When reflecting on how the MFP has enriched his academic career and built his professional network, Justin shared that it has exposed him to invaluable educational and networking opportunities that have helped nurture his professional work and network, in addition to strengthening his skills and confidence as a clinician. He stated, "I have been challenged through the various educational opportunities offered (e.g., webinars, trainings, and assignments). However, I am mindful that these challenges have shaped my thinking and allowed me to identify similarities and differences that will help connect me to diverse cultures and provide better approaches to serving clients with compassion and humility. They will also give me the tools and encouragement I need to be a well-rounded clinician."
After graduation, Justin plans to pursue a career as a licensed marriage and family therapist and find opportunities to conduct research focused on the mental health treatment of minority groups. He shares, "After completing my doctorate program, I would like to further my education to acquire skills and training focused on reducing mental health stigma and expand services within minority groups to support clients and positively impact their lives by understanding their worldview. I am also interested in researching the barriers individuals encounter when seeking treatment, specifically with the military population and adolescents. I want to focus on the stigma of mental health in these populations and the widespread impact of celebrities advocating mental health awareness. I want to conduct additional research on the influence of trauma related to domestic violence and substance use by systematically examining the association between violence and upbringing. My long-term goal is to have a private practice that increases access to treatment for clients from minority populations."
Justin plans to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from the MFP to his work as a clinician and researcher that is dedicated to the mission of providing culturally competent care. He states, "Multicultural and international competence is a significant component in my journey to becoming a therapist. However, through recent experiences, I have chosen to focus on multicultural humility as a clinician. I aim to work with clients and colleagues of diverse backgrounds without bias or judgment. I will continue to foster opportunities that will challenge my way of thinking and expand my worldview for this to occur. My experiences with the AAMFT MFP have demonstrated the value of having culturally diverse clinicians within the field and the importance of advocating for and helping minority populations. I know this objective will take many years, but I am determined to achieve my ambitions."
When asked what advice he had for anyone thinking about applying to the MFP, Justin said, "Being a part of MFP is a fantastic opportunity that will help mold your understanding as a clinician through a diverse worldview and compassionate approach. It is what you make of it, so it would behoove you to take advantage of what the MFP offers. Advocating for yourself will help strengthen your confidence as a clinician and allow others to see the impact you can make through your efforts. Take that chance."
He went on to share about the kindness he has experienced through the AAMFT MFP program stating, "My MFP experience has been great so far, and I hope to continue to further develop my competence as a clinician and individual. The AAMFT MFP staff have been understanding and compassionate in their approaches. They are mindful of students' various life and program stressors and offer kindness. I have felt supported throughout my fellowship journey. MFP staff has been excellent thus far, and I am grateful to have had this opportunity. Thank you, AAMFT and MFP staff members."