This reflection concerns a class to which practicing counselors have been invited to give details of their experiences and provide us with essential insights for the future. The course was also provided with additional resources to understand better the topic, such as web pages of all the guests present describing their activities in detail and counseling website sources. The guest lecturers shared exciting information regarding their personal experiences. Participants gave their advice on getting a license, working with people with psychological trauma or addictions, and finding one’s niche in counseling. The main lesson I learned from this lecture was that psychological practice in various health centers might be challenging, but it ultimately has excellent merit – gaining irreplaceable experience and self-awareness.
One of the main benefits of counseling practice is the deepening of understanding of oneself. One of the guests claimed: “I have learned so much more about myself in these jobs that were difficult…” (L. Kehrer, personal communication, 2021). Everyone else was fully agreed with what she said, backing up her words with their thoughts. “I agree with everyone saying that yeah I learned way more about myself and I ever thought that I would.” (L. Jenkens, personal communication, 2021). I consider this to be one of the main advantages of psychological practice because by helping others, learning about their problems, and finding solutions for them, people learn to solve their issues. During the practice, counselors learn how to communicate effectively not only with patients but also with themselves. Therefore, they become more aware of themselves, their needs, and possibilities, enabling them to live more harmoniously.
Another benefit of taking a counseling placement is gaining essential experience in a variety of situations. It is necessary to mention that all the guests emphasized working in diverse environments with patients of different physical severity that would provide this experience. Guests talked about other ventures, including some really challenging ones, but eventually, it became much easier for them to handle because they were already prepared for such situations. “I will say that working in that environment has prepared me for so many different things, I feel more comfortable working with psychotic clients than I did in the past.” (A. Mills, personal communication, 2021). During a placement, one has to learn quickly, which may seem very stressful, but the knowledge gained will be helpful in further practice. “I learned a lot really quickly and it built my confidence to be able not only to just triage what level of care people need, but also my ability to handle difficult situations.” (R. Crouch, personal communication, 2021). Therefore, gaining different experiences is an essential part of counseling practice.
This lecture taught everyone an important lesson – practice, which at first glance seems overly complicated and incomprehensible, will, in the end, provide us with many valuable benefits. Experience is an essential resource in psychological practice, and anyone who wants to be successful in this field should be prepared for the challenges of gaining that experience. The person must be ready to learn quickly, adapt to different conditions and find an individual approach to patients with different psychological characteristics. Besides, counseling helps you gain a better understanding of your own identity and learn to communicate appropriately and effectively not only with your patients but also with yourself.
References
Intro to Prof Counseling – COUN-6110-D02. (2021). [Video]. Zoom. Web.