Alumni Spotlight: Max Utterberg

Max Utterberg (he/him)

• Major: PSY BA (Spring 2014)
• Position: Private Practice Therapist and Adjunct Instructor
• Employer: Dr. Max Mental Health Services and St. Mary's University of Minnesota

What is your work like? What are your duties?

I see both adults and children for individual psychotherapy, and see children for family psychotherapy. I also host a bi-weekly podcast on men's mental health, which is one of my specialties in my private practice. On the side, I teach Developmental Psychology and Statistics at St. Mary's University of Minnesota, in their MA in Counseling and Psychological Services program. I am also active at regional mental health conferences, frequently presenting on technology and masculinity. Finally, I have recently published a textbook chapter, "Counseling School-Aged Boys: Influences and Interventions", and hope to publish more content in the future.

How would you say your psychology degree has helped you with your current job?

Some of the classes that influenced me the most from my undergraduate program include Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Psychology of Gender, and Statistics (yes, statistics).

In what way has your major complemented your current job?

I find myself using tidbits from undergrad all the time - especially when doing psychoeducation for my clients in therapy. Although the research focus of undergrad wasn't what I wanted my career to look like, I felt extremely prepared for my stats and research that I did in my masters' and PhD programs.

How did you find your current position? 

At St. Mary's, a colleague referred me for a part of my PhD Internship. For my private practice, that's a bit more complicated. It started with a master's program, and ended with a ton of professional experience, networking, and a PhD. I especially found Dr. Marie Fang's YouTube Channel "Private Practice Skills" to be essential to beginning to understand how to run my own practice. The connections I built along the way, in my job and my PhD program, have been extraordinarily helpful as well.

What advice do you have for our current psych students and recent grads?

Some people say that "Psychology is a worthless degree" - I disagree. Choosing to be a therapist allows you the flexibility to go into one of many agencies or create your own practice at this time. We currently suffer from a shortage of providers, especially rural providers. If you dedicate a couple more years to school, you'll have job security for the rest of your life - as long as you protect yourself from burnout!

If you are interested in being featured or would like to nominate someone to be featured, please fill out this Google Form. We are always looking to highlight our alumni and their accomplishments!