Clinical Geropsychology: The Professional Becomes the Personal

Karlin and Molinari (2021) have skillfully blended recollections of their colleague Michael Duffy with the history of the development of the field of clinical geropsychology. Their article reminds us that, at some point in your career, you take stock of the fact that certain individuals made a difference in your profession, your career, and your life. Karlin and Molinari’s affection for Michael Duffy is evident throughout their article. The professional and personal are interwoven in a way that often happens in psychology (and other fields) and about which more needs to be said. A career in psychology is really a web of relationships that builds over a professional lifetime. Ask a student or colleague what sparked their interest in psychology or clinical geropsychology and you will quickly be told of an inspirational teacher, beloved therapist, or supervisor in a volunteer role. Over the years, I have been struck by how many students see a career in psychology as an opportunity to have a meaningful life that blends what they do with who they are and—in the parlance of my baby boomer generation—make the world a better place. Freud is reported to have said that love and work are the cornerstones of our lives. However, finding one’s professional or work path is not always easy.