Reflection Paper

EDC 545 - Reflection Paper
David Profitt

As I sit to write this, I have done one counseling session, have reviewed said session with the class, and have my second session scheduled in two days. With such limited experiences, I cannot say that my skills have changed or that I've developed a sure fast method of counseling. In fact, I don't believe I will ever be able to make such a claim based on one experience. However, each experience is a step, and after time, those steps will lead down a path. I can say that I have begun that journey, and I am excited as to where my future steps will take me.

More than what I learned from my first counseling experience has been the wealth of information I have gleaned listening to the experiences of others. To hear, for good and for bad, the sessions of others, has been both an encouragement and a warning. There are students of true, natural talent in our class, and it has been a blessing to be able to listen to those students interact with their clients. I have seen and learned from wonderful examples of establishing rapport, exploring the true needs of the client, troubleshooting solutions, and eliciting commitments for future attempts at change by the clients. Likewise, I have seen the dangers of counseling friends and family, agreeing with the client's feelings (as opposed to agreeing with the need and ability for change), and failing to focus on the problem at hand. All of the tapes have been instructors, teaching by example of what to, and what not to do.

I also have learned from the one tape I have done. Looking back, I know to allow more time for thought and I know to say less. My first tape was encouraging to me, especially as my client acted quite impressed with my natural abilities. I'm not foolish, however, and I realize that she was a seasoned client who led to the ease of the session. Future clients will have more difficult troubles and will be less receptive to my assistance. I count myself blessed, however, as those fellow students with less than encouraging first sessions may find future sessions difficult as they reflect on their first experience. My positive first experience, and hopefully positive future experiences, will stand as a reminder to me that I will someday be a professional at this, and that my talents will be beneficial to others.

At the same time, I am nervous about my upcoming session. I have never met the client. She is the parent of a coworker, and is doing me this favor at the request of her daughter. I have no idea what she will talk about, so this will be an experience in confronting a situation blind. I assume this will be good practice in dealing with the unexpected.

Counseling will most likely be a life long learning process. In my younger days, I may have come in with the attitude of "I'm a natural and therefor I don't need to learn." As I've aged (a little bit, at least), I've come to realize that even though I may have natural talents, I have a lot to learn, and as I learn, I realize I have even more to learn. The human psyche is a marvelously complex entity. Just as I must learn about its functioning in others, I need to understand its functioning in myself. This may be the biggest challenge for any counselor. It also may be one of the most important challenges. Until one can realize his or her limitations, prejudices and biases, she or he will not be able to fully and respectfully assist others. We must know our limitations if we hope to assist others in knowing their potentials.

Filed under: EDC 545 Counseling Techniques Lab
Copyright: October, 2002 - David Profitt