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Alumni spotlight: Mandi Freger

Alumni spotlight: Mandi Freger

by Public Relations | August 23, 2024

LATROBE, PA – Mandi Freger, C’94, arrived at Saint Vincent College intending to study science but wound up earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in biology and a minor in chemistry. Thirty years later, her unexpected change of plans turned out to be a perfect course of action.

“Everybody asked me, ‘What are you going to do with that degree? How are you going to get a job?’” Freger recalled with a laugh. “Well, here I am—it can be done. Maybe my story will help promote liberal arts degrees.”

Freger is a licensed professional counselor and behavioral specialist in private practice with more than 25 years’ experience treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and practicing energy psychology techniques. This fall, she will release her first book, “From Exhausted to Energized: A Guide for Caregivers of Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

After graduating from Saint Vincent, Freger earned a master’s in psychology and gained practical experience while working at various clinics. While director of an affiliate of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, Freger became involved with a school-based program for children with ASD. That’s when her career came into focus.

According to 2020 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 36 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. That’s a dramatic increase from 1995, when the ASD rate was one in 500 children. ASD occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Parents and guardians who try to help their children often feel swamped as they realize there in no single or easy solution.

“I had a lot of interaction with the parents when they dropped off their kids every day,” Freger said. “I saw how intense the work is. I had a lot of stressed-out parents on my hands and thought, ‘It’s time we pay some attention to the caregivers.’”

Freger organized a pilot study in which the caregivers were taught to use a breathing exercise to cope with stress. “I didn’t intend to publish [the study results] or anything; I just wanted to try to give them some relief,” she said. “When we saw that their quality of life improved, we knew we were onto something.”

Encouraged by the results, Freger began thinking of ways to expand and publicize her work. That was the genesis of her book, which be released Oct. 15.

“The book is about the techniques and skills parents need to work with their kids and how they can apply energy psychology techniques to themselves to become more resilient caregivers,” Freger said.

First popularized in the 1980s, energy psychology combines the traditional approach of exposure therapy with holistic techniques of healing and spiritual development. Among the different treatments are acupressure therapy, thought field therapy and emotional freedom technique.

“Energy psychology embraces a lot of different mind-body modalities,” Freger said. “One of the most common techniques is mindfulness. Yoga also falls under the umbrella in a practical sense of what I practice.”

Freger has taught Zumba, cycling, yoga and group fitness classes. At Saint Vincent, she teaches one-credit courses in dance and gymnastics.

 

Portrait Mandi Freger

Mandi Freger

 

 

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