Muddled
Time makes no sense anymore. I look at my blog, it's been 10 days since I've posted, it feels like forever, and yet this semester isn't even half over. I'm confused! I'm also somewhat ready for a holiday, and a period of time full of sleeping in. :)
The whole clinic experience is very experiential. It is, in two words, gloriously tolerable. The glorious bits are those moments when your adult client spontaneously says 'hi' to another student clinician in the hallway - something he couldn't do when you first met him. It's glorious when your child client's mum tells you that she asks to come to speech every day. It's glorious when some task you're doing just isn't working, and you throw caution to the wind, try something random and new, and it works. There are many, many glorious moments. There are also a lot of tolerable moments: the long days, the course work, the $70 textbook that's the size of a magazine, the tasks that don't work, the sounds that I don't how to elicit... all tolerable.
I'm learning a ridiculous amount this summer. And it's not just about therapy for aphasia and phonological disorders. I'm learning how to work in a team (something I typically avoid like the plague), how to transfer theoretical goals into practical therapy, and how to counsel. The counselling portion of the course has been amazing. I'm boggled at the simple and practical techniques we can all use in all areas of our lives to improve our relationships. Have a friend that's constantly down in the dumps over everything? Everything is negative in a pervasive, permanent, personal way? "I'm never going to make any friends?" a comment you hear from them? Try reframing: "It's really tough for you to make friends at your new university right now, isn't it?" Without denying what they're saying, you're setting them up to be able to move forward, to feel empowered to make a change.
Anyhoo, it's time to go and brush my teeth and head to the dentist's. I finally caved and found one here in the city... I guess I'm really an Edmontonian now!!
Loves you,
Ela.
The whole clinic experience is very experiential. It is, in two words, gloriously tolerable. The glorious bits are those moments when your adult client spontaneously says 'hi' to another student clinician in the hallway - something he couldn't do when you first met him. It's glorious when your child client's mum tells you that she asks to come to speech every day. It's glorious when some task you're doing just isn't working, and you throw caution to the wind, try something random and new, and it works. There are many, many glorious moments. There are also a lot of tolerable moments: the long days, the course work, the $70 textbook that's the size of a magazine, the tasks that don't work, the sounds that I don't how to elicit... all tolerable.
I'm learning a ridiculous amount this summer. And it's not just about therapy for aphasia and phonological disorders. I'm learning how to work in a team (something I typically avoid like the plague), how to transfer theoretical goals into practical therapy, and how to counsel. The counselling portion of the course has been amazing. I'm boggled at the simple and practical techniques we can all use in all areas of our lives to improve our relationships. Have a friend that's constantly down in the dumps over everything? Everything is negative in a pervasive, permanent, personal way? "I'm never going to make any friends?" a comment you hear from them? Try reframing: "It's really tough for you to make friends at your new university right now, isn't it?" Without denying what they're saying, you're setting them up to be able to move forward, to feel empowered to make a change.
Anyhoo, it's time to go and brush my teeth and head to the dentist's. I finally caved and found one here in the city... I guess I'm really an Edmontonian now!!
Loves you,
Ela.
Labels: Clinic, Counseling
posted by Elizabeth @ 18:08
1 Comments:
At 8:01 p.m.,
meesh said…
Hey Ela,
Ah the real world where theory somehow meets the practical. Sounds like you're handling it well!
Giving into edmonton eh? But what will wetaskawin do without you? I conceded to BC as well a little while ago. Haven't given into where I'm actually living and working though - my hold out is several unpacked boxes.
Anyway, hope your day is well and the coursework not too terrible.
Cheers,
Michelle
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