Current MS Counseling student, Hunter Bradford testimonial
Hunter Bradford, a full-time MS Counseling student roughly halfway through the program, on why he chose Divine Mercy, studying John Paul II alongside psychology's founding thinkers, and how residencies bring the online coursework into in-person practice.
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0:04My name is Hunter Bradford. I'm 28 years old. I'm a full time, student here at Divine Mercy. I was originally attracted to Divine Mercy in part because of the many people I have met that have graduated from it. When I was in seminary, I knew some guys who discerned that and then went on to study counseling at Divine Mercy. But also for another reason because, I love marriage and family. I myself, have experience and history with mental illness in my family and friends, and I would like to walk alongside marriages and families that are struggling, people that are, experiencing addiction, and also just, you know, depression, anxiety, things like that. I used to struggle with, addiction myself, and so I want to accompany those, walk alongside them, that are struggling with those things.
1:15My first year, I'm I'm roughly halfway in to halfway finished with my program, and, the first year has been incredible. I've gotten to study John Paul the second, not so much himself and his person, but some of his thought, some of his writings, while also, reading about, certain thinkers in the psychological world, some fathers of certain ideas, but Divine Mercy so far has done an exceptional job marrying psychology and philosophy, psychology and theology. I feel really blessed to be a part of it. I heard someone else saying before this that they have, their friendships have been enriched because of the program. Their communication patterns with their family and friends have changed, and that's true for me as well.
2:18I noticed myself being more gentle with others and myself, while also still remaining, faithfully Catholic. And so I think if anyone is looking to, study psychology while also, growing in their faith, I think Divine Mercy is a fantastic option. I'm here at residency, and, this is my second one. And residency has been a, beautiful opportunity to kind of, incarnate some of the ideas that we're learning online. And, you know, most of our work is is on Zoom, but these residencies offer us the opportunity to, work in person and, get to know, people in our in our cohort and our professors. And it's been an amazing opportunity, and I'm I'm glad I chose Divine Mercy.