LP #2 How to Make the Most of Your Agency Experience

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 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 this week. She is held with high regard by my normal clinical supervisor, which means I will naturally hold high regard for her also. I have shared with many of the other counselors my desire to sit in on intakes but I've found that they don't necessarily go out of their way to find me or inform me of pinpointed time frames that they do intakes. In this current learning plan, I've discovered new means and methods to improve my assertiveness with my clinical supervisor, so that I can help to communicate to her and assist her to understand the wants and desires of my internship. I have to move away from a passive approach to a more escalating assertiveness stance in order to meet my goals. 

 My supervisor thus far has been letting me manage how and where I invest my internship time; which is easy for me because I’m also an employee with the agency. I’ve gotten the impression thus far that I will need to take ownership and practice assertive communication skills in order to meet my educational and professional development. That’s not to state that my clinical supervisor doesn’t care to help or assist me. She just hasn’t invested the time and effort into more guided objectives for me. Why should she, it’s my personal and professional pursuit-not hers.  My needs are not at the top of her work agenda or time management set aside for me. I just need to collaboratively involve her in utilizing some Evaluative and Educational processes that could help develop my professional competence. Additionally, I am very comfortable with being personal and sharing my vulnerabilities with my supervisor. She is a great source of guidance and experience in helping me grow in my career. That would be a shame not to utilize her for my professional and personal development. The chapter we just read “How to Make the Most of Your Agency Experience” has been very assistive in guiding me with some great concepts and material to gain the most from my internship experience.

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