In the Beginning…There Was Training

 

It appears that overwhelm is setting in. I spoke with my site supervisor as a preparatory step for conducting my first in-take session. I’m actually excited to be back in the chair, working with clients, especially as my first intakes will be with two tweens.  At least the age demographic of the clients is familiar (my kids are similar ages), and I find that this is reducing my anxiety. But as I queried about what information to gather during the intake, there was a LOT. 

There are just so many directions I could go with this process, and there is, of course because this is psychology, no “correct” direction to go.  My supervisor gave me additional resources and all of that added to my felt sense of overwhelm. In this moment, I need to digest all of this. To sit back for a second and just get a more clear sense of what “picture” of the client I would like to capture, so that I can best serve their needs. 

Reminding myself that I am not going to get it “right” and that I really never will. But I am willing to muddle through it with the clients and their parents. To be in the mud a bit with them as we all navigate a bit of confusion and uncertainty.

*****

I’ve been wanting to process my first sessions experience for a few days. Its Tuesday and I completed those sessions on Saturday. Part of the reason that I have not written this journal before now is due to my intention to set boundaries around my work as an act of self-care. 

Sure, I could have spent an extra 30 minutes writing this out on Saturday after I’d already dedicated 6 hours of my weekend to work. However, my family was waiting for me to start my weekend with them, and this seemed less important in the scheme of things.

So how was the first session? 

Well, weirdly enough I was less nervous than I thought I would be. A few days before I was full of information overload, which created a great deal of anxiety. However, as the day drew nearer, my anxiety dissipated. 

I think the reason I felt a bit more at ease relates to one of the maxims I read about in a book about psychotherapy recently.  

The idea of it not being my job to solve my client’s problems is a breath of fresh air.  I no longer feel the need to “do” something for them or to get them to “do” something. 

Some folks view counseling as a sales job. One in which you try to influence your clients to make different choices. I don’t resonate with that perspective. Of course, I want the best for them, however I make no claim to knowing what is best for them. 

They are endowed with their own innate wisdom, just like I am, just like everybody is. My job is to help them tap into that wisdom, not to persuade them to do or be anything that I think is valuable.

Until next time,

Keya