Joanne Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I am in the middle of my first of 3 practicums before gradaution. I am providing counseling at a wellness center/rehabilitation center/nursing home. It's a great, humbling, infuriating, wonderful, challenging lesson in real world counseling work. I'm having to work on site but through a third party providing services through medicaid and medicare. The beauracracy is a nightmare. Client needs, paperwork, rules and facility functioning are often in conflict. :tongue_smilie: But! Just being in relationship with the clients = therapeutic for most of them. This population stretches me professionally. We aren't *quite* taught in our Masters program how to counsel aphaisic people, dementia persons, severely schizophrenic persons. It is a blessing. I will probably "move on" for the next practicum (this summer) but it is awesome being where I am clinically and educationally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I am very excited for you!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotherMayI Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Congratulations! How cool that you are getting to apply it all now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelbe5 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Congrats. . . all your hard work is coming to fruition. I fondly remember my first clients in my internship. I hope you continue to enjoy your new career! Adrianne in IL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillary in KS Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 They're letting you counsel real, live people??? I will be praying for them. :D :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 They're letting you counsel real, live people??? I will be praying for them. :D :lol: Well, it IS a nursing home. The damage I can do is much less, in terms of years, than with younger clients. :lol::001_huh:;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillary in KS Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Well, it IS a nursing home. The damage I can do is much less, in terms of years, than with younger clients. :lol::001_huh:;) LOL! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mejane Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Well, it IS a nursing home. The damage I can do is much less, in terms of years, than with younger clients. :lol::001_huh:;) That's exactly why I went into geriatric social work. ;):D They're lucky to have you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I am so proud of you! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Awesome! I'm proud of you, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maria from IN Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 That's great! Enjoy your time there, because there's nothing else like it. I work in a hospital that has an acute care behavioral health unit, and when I'm not there, I get to go to other areas of the hospital to talk with patients who want a counselor or who need to be evaluated for possible cognitive issues. The rehab unit is my favorite! There are people there from all walks of life, dealing with issues like stroke, car accident, general debility and loss of independence, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, dementia, etc. There's something different every day, and you get to see them improve just a little each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 All the best to you as you continue your journey towards your final goal, Joanne.:001_smile: I always loved the elderly, and working with them is very good "real life" experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 :party:Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoyfulMama Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 The beauracracy is a nightmare. Client needs, paperwork, rules and facility functioning are often in conflict. :tongue_smilie: But! Just being in relationship with the clients = therapeutic for most of them. This population stretches me professionally. We aren't *quite* taught in our Masters program how to counsel aphaisic people, dementia persons, severely schizophrenic persons. I think I learned more in my practicums than in anything else. Use them to go outside your comfort zone, and work with populations you hadn't considered. You won't be sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 I think I learned more in my practicums than in anything else. Use them to go outside your comfort zone, and work with populations you hadn't considered. You won't be sorry. That is exactly what I am doing. Thanks for the encouragement. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 WONDERFUL! I have an MA in Counseling, but it is school counseling, K-12, although I have only worked at the middle and high school levels. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catalinakel Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Congrats, Joanne. What an accomplishment. And, correct me if I am wrong, but is it not so much that they are aphasic people, as people with Aphasia, people with dementia, etc? At least that is how things were stressed in Special Education. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Wow, that was fast! Well, probably not to you!:D Continued encouragement sent your way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Wow, that was fast! Well, probably not to you!:DContinued encouragement sent your way... I started fall of 2009 and will graduate fall (well, December) of 2011. I then have to take (and pass!) a National Counseling Exam. After that, I can seek paid work as a therapist, but I have to complete 3000 supervised hours for each designation (LPC and LMFT, eventually LCDC) as an "intern". We can't drop the "intern" status until those hours are complete. That takes a miniimum of 18 months and up to 5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Awesome!!!! Dh is just starting out on his long psych degree trek :tongue_smilie:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Awesome!!!! Dh is just starting out on his long psych degree trek :tongue_smilie:. Good luck to him! I'm thinking of Psychology Doctorate. However, I'm tied to here geographically for a while, so I might have to settle for a Ph. D. of some sort counseling related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I'm so happy for you. Having spent the last few days in a nursing home with a family member in hospice, I can see how your talents would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Good luck to him! I'm thinking of Psychology Doctorate. However, I'm tied to here geographically for a while, so I might have to settle for a Ph. D. of some sort counseling related. Ooh, go for it!! Dh is hoping to get into one of the grad programs that fast-tracks from a BS to the PhD or PsyD. He has to finish this BS first though (in his second semester) :lol:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I love to hear how wonderful things are going. What a rewarding job you have! Exhausting but rewarding. We went into a therapist last week because my ds is having serious issues and I'm certain he's going to be diagnosed with a mental illness. After hearing of everything that's going on, her words were, "What a mess. I don't even know if I want to get involved with this one." She's obviously someone who has been doing this a long time and is burnt out or simply doesn't care, and she's someone that needs to retire. Good therapists are extremely hard to find. I sure hope we can get one for my son! Keep up the good work, Joanne! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Congratulations! That's very exciting! I have to complete 3000 supervised hours for each designation (LPC and LMFT, eventually LCDC) as an "intern". We can't drop the "intern" status until those hours are complete. That takes a miniimum of 18 months and up to 5 years. I've always wondered how this works. Do you hire someone as a supervisor and pay him or her for the supervision? Good luck to you as you continue! Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 That's wonderful! You must be so excited now that the end is nearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Congratulations! That's very exciting! I've always wondered how this works. Do you hire someone as a supervisor and pay him or her for the supervision? Good luck to you as you continue! Cat Yes, you hire someone and pay an agreed rate. If you happen to find an internship at a center/facility/agency that has an LPC-Supervisor or LMFT-Supervisor, you don't have to pay. If you work in a setting without one, you need to hire one. You'll have a couple of "bosses" for the internship period, but the hired off site supervisor isn't involved in your daily stuff, usually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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