My NC State Story: Katherine Aiello Bridges (Psychology, Interdisciplinary Studies ’11)
I earned two undergraduate degrees in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. I feel the college prepared me to be an active member of my community as well as an advocate for people who I serve every day.
My first degree was in Psychology. I was recently named “Best Therapist in the Triangle” by Indy Week. Needless to say, the foundation of my career was laid in the halls of Poe. I followed the footsteps of well-respected academics who fostered creative thought and highlighted the importance of evidence based practices.
My second degree was self-designed through the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. Essentially, I couldn’t stop myself from following my heart and taking as many art history credits as my short time in college would allow. The college provided the flexibility to create a second degree out of my excess psychology and art credits as well as my studies in Florence. My final project was titled “Art and the Human Experience.”
This capstone project launched my first internship in a counseling role, providing expressive art therapies to children in the bone marrow transplant unit at Duke. I use this degree with my patients today as I incorporate expressive art therapies to connect with people who are adverse or not as comfortable with talk therapies.
I am also grateful for the values that the college encourages. I am a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and I have always felt that the college has been supportive of diversity and inclusion. So, I wanted to take a moment and thank you for my training because my patients thank you too.
Katherine Aiello Bridges is a therapist with Gupta Psychiatry in Raleigh.
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