Staff Spotlight: Mbapelen Unongo, MA
Mbapelen Unongo, MA, is an adult psychometrist at Skyland Trail. A psychometrist administers and scores psychological and neuropsychological tests under the supervision of a clinical psychologist or clinical neuropsychologist. Mbapelen received a Bachelors degree from Rider University and a Master of Arts from Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine.
How would you describe your role at Skyland? What does a typical day look like?
I like to think of my role as “in-house investigator.” Each day can be different, on some days we are meeting with clients then proctoring testing batteries tailored to confirm, rule-out and/or explore aspects of their clinical presentation in question. On more administrative days, I’m reviewing and summarizing the data, discussing case conceptualizations, and working with various clinical staff to collect collateral information.
How does what you do contribute to a client or family’s experience in treatment?
Many clients and their families come to Skyland seeking clarity on what’s going on for them. With Psych testing, I think clients are finally able to get tangible, written insight into their struggles and what that might mean for them. Our department head, Dr. Bruce, has always reminded me, that at the end of the day, the goal is not simply to assign a label or diagnosis, but to thoughtfully integrate each individual’s life experiences and challenges into a cohesive formulation that helps the individual and providers better understand and effectively address their needs.
What is one place in Atlanta you think everyone should visit?
Starlight Drive-In Movie Theater! You pay per car and can see a double feature for the price of one. On weekends, they also host a pretty cool daytime flea market.
What do you listen to in the car?
I am a big fan of R&B, Neo-soul and Afrobeats. I have a 500+ song playlist of all types of artists in those genres that I listen to on repeat pretty much every day.
What is a mantra or cheerleading statement you use for yourself or often share with others?
Life moves quickly, and we don’t get to live it twice. So choose the here and now to do the things that make you happy, tell people how you feel, and don’t be afraid to just try.