Personal Reflections and Insight

           In this learning plan, I was once again delightfully challenged to explore concepts of diversity  as  it  applies to different experiences across dimensions of culture, ethnicity, sexism, age, gender, race,  socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and disability. Expressed by one of my fellow classmates in a  discussion point, I could even contemplate mental health as a difference among us that we should  be  sensitive and aware of. If I am going to be a competent Substance Abuse Counselor, I will need  to  approach my clients with a willingness to acknowledge and be sensitive to their experiences;  being  different than mine. Those differences are very attributable to the continued  growing  immigrant  population  in the United States, along with their varied values, customs and beliefs;  which are different than mine.   Even within similarities of my own race ...

  In reflection of this learning plan on my personal life, I’m doing mostly an observation  from my current experiences of being a Peer Support Specialist rather than a perspective of what my  experiences as an interning Substance Abuse Counselor In Training have been.   I am not fully invested and experiencing the many functions, demands and duties of being a SAC-IT; which consists of a 5-day workweek being 8hours a day and sometimes some Saturdays. My learning in this chapter was very associative to my poignant current experiences in my full-time roll at Pathways as a Peer Support Specialist. I’ve had many stressful days as a PSS related to thinking things through and how the effect of my helping role has impacted or affected my Personal Life. This current career field has probably had greater emotional stress on me, compared to any other position or job I’ve had in my entire working adult life. Many days in my current role I’ve felt ineffective, powerless and over...

  I have found this learning plan to be beneficial in helping me to understand the nuances and intricacies of my agency’s system. Studying this learning plan proposed some perspectives to consider which I had previously not given deeper thought to. Gaining a sense of what Pathways To a Better Life is all about has assisted me to “develop adaptive coping strategies” (Corliss & Corliss, 2006, p. 40). What I found very fascinating in this learning plan was applying external and internal analyses using Systems Theory. Applying Systems Theory was very useful to understand interrelationships within the agency and the influence of change on the “system”. Because I am fond of science and how prominently it has been tied into many aspects of our course work, I sharply grasped and understood systems and their functioning as a whole. Much like many different parts of the human body and how they interact and work together to uphold a state of homeostasis. A sense of balance is cru...

 This past week of internship was both encouraging and partially disappointing. I presented some of the Learning Plan objectives from SAC Internship 1 LP#2, to my clinical counselor. This was helpful because I stated my desire and intention to gain greater exposure and observational learning by watching some or any of our counselors at Pathways use our clinical assessment tools. I was able to sit in on 2 client intake sessions and watch the use of the WI-UPC and a BioPsychosocial session. This was great hands-on observation and understanding. In addition to this,  being present for part of the process of procedures involved with our agency's intake dropped another little piece of the puzzle into place.  The disappointment of the internship this week was that my clinical counselor left for a Hawaii vacation for the next 10 days. I will be reporting to another CSAC, which I have not interacted with much at all. I know her but have not shadowed or engaged with her prior to t...

 The text reading for the learning plan presented a unique way of looking at the profession I am  stepping into. If reflected upon and considered, my line of work as a Substance Abuse Counselor falls  under the category of a Human Service worker. I was so delighted that the text summarized and  attached many of the characteristics of a competent practitioner right alongside the many of the  attributes emphasized by the originator of Client-Centered therapy, Carl Rogers. His psychotherapy  modality captures my strongest leanings and beliefs. Some of his strongest tenants being, empathy,  unconditional positive regard, genuineness and warmth. I appreciated and grew from some of the self-awareness exercises we performed in this learning plan. Revisiting my Family of Origin and the challenging questions of my family dynamic was a refresher and also a deeper exploration of what makes me, me. How my childhood experiences shaped my beliefs, my thinking, and...