Dr. Maxine Notice is an assistant professor in the Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy program at Abilene Christian University - Dallas Campus, where she provides support to students with learning systemic therapy concepts, building their skills in research, and developing their clinical skills. She is an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) doctoral alumna, who received her Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from Antioch University New England in 2019.
Dr. Notice was drawn to the MFP because of the opportunities for networking and deeper knowledge of the field of marriage and family therapy and systemic therapy concepts. She shared, “I had a desire to connect with other marriage and family therapy students that had the drive to be future leaders in the field. I also wanted to connect with an organization that could provide me with a deeper understanding of how best to serve underserved communities using systemic therapy concepts.”
Dr. Notice initially envisioned her career working as a private practice therapist. She shared, “When I began in the MFP, I envisioned I would go on to create a group practice in my local community to serve families in need. As a result of the excellent training and confidence I gained through the MFP, my vision changed, and I have moved into the realm of academia. In my current role, I am able to share my knowledge with master’s level students moving towards becoming therapist and impacting change in their local community.”
Participating in the MFP afforded Dr. Notice opportunities to build and nurture her professional network. She stated, “The MFP has allowed me to make amazing connections to other systemic therapists worldwide. I have been able to create a network full of professionals focused on advocating for the future of our field. Having connections to advanced levels of support and insight has allowed me to sharpen my skills as a professional and learn many ways to advance my career.”
When reflecting on how she leveraged the skills and knowledge acquired in the MFP, Dr. Notice shared that the program provided the foundational knowledge that she applies to her professional work. She explained, “The MFP experience has fostered leadership skills for me throughout my professional development. Currently, I get to use that skill to serve as an Advisory Committee Member for the AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program. I have the opportunity to work with others to find efficient ways to advance the MFP experience.”
Dr. Notice attributes some of her professional and academic success to the mentorship provided by the MFP. She stated, “I currently sit on the AAMFT MFP Advisory Committee with my former MFP mentor. Maintaining my mentorship relationship as I move into more advanced areas of my career has led to a continuation of wealth in my growth process.”
When asked what career building advice she would offer to the current MFP fellows, Dr. Notice says, “Focus on building a network of driven people to support you in your career growth. Challenge yourself to seek out career growing challenges over comfortability. This will allow you to gain insight through experience, solidifying ideas about where you’d like your career to take you.”
Dr. Notice had these encouraging words to share for individuals considering applying to the MFP, “It is a great opportunity to support the local and national needs of the SAMHSA initiatives. It is also a great way to build leadership skills in your field. It is a unique experience that will give you the cutting-edge knowledge and support needed to become a leader in your profession.”
Further reflecting on her MFP fellowship experience, Dr. Notice shared, “Being an AAMFT MFP was one of the most amazing experiences of my academic career. AAMFT is a national leader in charting the pathway of advancements in marriage and family therapy. I am grateful for the continued support and community I have found through this professional home.”