O'Beirne, Brenda

At UW-Whitewater


Education: Ph.D. - Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Certification and Licenses: Licensed Psychologist

Clinical Areas of Interest: Gender issues · Anxiety · Relationship issues · Group counseling approaches · College student development · Vitality/stress · Positive Psychology · Eating Disorders

Research Areas of Interest: College student development · Group counseling · Qualitative research approaches · Supervision · Teaching effectiveness · Teaching & learning · Professional vitality · Gender issues · Leadership

Service Work - University/Community: Nursing Home Visitation Program · Intentional Acts of Kindness · Peer Coach (for university faculty) · College of Education Committees · WACES · Optimists · WCPA Legislative Liaison · Editorial Board, Wisconsin Counseling Journal

Teaching Philosophy: Because I see learning as a process of constructing personal meaning, teaching is one part of the interaction that facilitates such constructions. Teaching and learning are active and interactive experiences, that allow and encourage students to take risks, to build on present understanding, and to develop new meanings. Teaching and learning happen in safe places, where support and challenge are balanced and available to all learners. In the field of counseling (and perhaps all fields), the application of knowledge is much more important than knowledge for its own sake. Teaching and learning are as much about questions as answers. Learning to ask good questions helps us become lifelong learners. Learning to be effective counselors and therapists is necessarily a lifelong process; this program is one significant part of that lifelong journey.

Interests Outside of School: Horses · Biking · Gardening · Sewing · Swimming · Spending time with family and friends · Writing · Baking

Favorite Quote: "Perhaps what is most important is to count, to matter to stand for something -- to make some difference that I have lived at all." ~ Leo Rosten


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