I am a recent graduate of Forest Institute, currently doing a post-doctoral fellowship. I would like to shed some light on FIPP as I feel there is a lot of negative information out there that is misleading. I do agree that Forest has made some BAD choices in the past, how else would they get this reputation; however, there are a lot of positive attributes about their program that should also be mentioned. Forest has been working hard to improve their image. In the time that i was there, I witnessed a complete restructuring of the program, i.e. weeding out bad professors, tightening up enrollment qualifications, and improving the curriculum. I began my PsyD pursuit at CSPP, however transferred to FIPP after my first year mainly because of the economic advantages that come with living in Springfield, MO vs Chicago, IL. While I enjoyed my training at CSPP, there was a distinct difference in the quality of care I felt from the factuly at Forest vs CSPP. I felt completely supported by the faculty at FIPP and truly felt that the small ratio of teachers to students allowed for more focused attention. I also completed the MFT program at Forest and had stellar training in Systems Theory and marriage and couple's therapy. Yes, there were students with whom I worked that I felt should not have been allowed in the program and I was angry that they would be representing my alum; but I also think that there is a lack of positive information out there b/c people tend to not comment when they are satisfied, rather they are more likely to comment when they are dissatisfied. As such, I would like to request positive comments from other FIPP alum, internship sites, etc. etc. that could comment on the quality of their training at Forest. My internship had nothing but positive things to say about my professional skills and have since sought out FIPP as a site to continue acquiring interns. I have had no difficulties applying for jobs and feel like my training has been quite comparable to other schools, if not better. In particular I interned with a PhD student who was well below what should be epxected. Her therapy skills were subpar and her clinical experience was questionable. In summary, there will always be poor students, or individuals with whom we question their academic and professional integrity. it is unfortunate that their reputation speaks for the majority of the students. I certainly do not feel that
Forest's reputation accurately reflects my training or my professional work ethic. I am proud to be a Forest Alum and would recommend this school to anyone.
