Carolyn Barcus

Recruiting and Supporting American Indian Psychologists

barcus_c Carolyn Barcus, EdD, is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Northern Montana. Her Blackfeet name is Bear Woman. Barcus has dedicated her career to improving the mental health and well being of indigenous people in North America. She has been doing this by recruiting American Indians into psychology and supporting them so they can successfully complete their education. She has also played a major role in bringing together American Indian psychologists, American Indian psychology students and others who are dedicated to enhancing the health of Native people. In addition, Barcus provides direct care through her own part-time practice.

Barcus is a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychology at Utah State University. In 1985 she was invited to go to Utah State to help create the American Indian Support Project (AISP). Initially she was assistant director of the program. Since 1991, she has been the program director. Barcus writes grants and recruits and supports American Indian students. She also teaches undergraduate and graduate psychology classes on multicultural issues. Barcus is proud of the work that the 34 graduates of AISP are doing in communities in the United States and Canada. She is also encouraged by the growing numbers of bright Indian people who are seeking careers in psychology. “Most Native people who are applying to our program are interested in making things better for Native people,” she says.

Bring Leaders in Psychology Together

Every year, since 1987, Barcus and her AISP students have hosted the annual Convention of American Indian Psychologists and Psychology Graduate Students at Utah State. In addition to making presentations on general topics in practice and research, the psychologists focus on the developing science of American Indian psychology. Prior to the convention there is a weekend retreat that includes ceremonies and talks by a medicine person.

Barcus was President of the
Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP) from 1999-2001. Even when she has not been an officer, she has played a leadership role. For the past 10 years SIP has held its annual meeting at Utah State University. Barcus plays a key role in making sure this meeting goes well. In 1997, SIP began co-hosting the convention with Utah State.

Barcus has had her own private practice working primarily with women who were sexually abused as children. Her interest in sexual abuse developed while working with perpetrators and survivors of sexual abuse at the Intermountain Sexual Abuse Treatment Center. “Sexual abuse is a world of pain,” she says.

From Physical Education to Psychology

Raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, Barcus earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education at Montana State University. She taught junior and senior high school for 7 years and then earned her masters’ degree in physical education at Utah State. While in the masters’ program, Barcus coached the women’s tennis team and the women’s bowling team. As she traveled around the country with these teams, she was able to help team members with their sport-related problems, such as how to hit a stronger overhead shot in tennis. However, she didn’t feel equipped to help the young women with the problems they brought to her regarding their emotional lives, for example, depression and relational problems. Consequently, Barcus started taking courses in counseling and ended up earning the last EdD in psychology granted at Utah State.


Rich Background

Barcus’ first part-time private practice work was with the Department of Corrections, State of Utah. For 9 years she counseled inmates and provided other services. In 1978, while continuing with her private practice, she served first as a mental health specialist and then as the service unit director for the Indian Health Service Intermountain Tribal School in Brigham City, Utah. Her work over the years included administering Indian Health Service Health Center Programs, doing in-service training, developing school-wide treatment teams, supervising social workers, and doing crisis intervention.

In 1985 when Barcus joined Utah State she continued to work for IHS, now as a consultant. She also supervised USU psychology department practicum students at Intermountain Sexual Abuse Treatment Center where she worked from 1987-1992.

A Love of Horses

Barcus has a passion for horses. In fact, she admits that she is “horse poor”. For 7 years in a row, she and friends have riden in increments from Logan, Utah to Yellowstone National. (Each year they started their ride from where they left off the previous year.) Bracus' goal is to reach her home on the Blackfeet Reservation. In her retirement she wants to raise Tennessee Walking Horses.