May you always find an ear to listen, a hand to guide you, pair of eyes to see you, and a voice to help sing the songs of your heart.
counseling
My care and love for counseling is not only visible in my work with clients experiencing addiction, it can be found in the different artifacts presented here.
CACREP Counseling Core Competencies
a. Scholarly examination of theories relevant to counseling
b. Integration of theories relevant to counseling
c. Conceptualization of clients from multiple theoretical perspectives
d. Evidence-based counseling practices
e. Methods for evaluating counseling effectiveness
f. Ethical and culturally relevant counseling in multiple settings
Artifacts
Reflections
What has been especially impactful/meaningful/important to you personally and professionally?
Theories relevant to counseling: I am astounded by my growth since beginning my PhD journey. These artifacts represent different versions of myself through the program. My most recent artifact in counseling was the career application paper, and it is my most important work. When I began counseling, I had no intention of falling in love with career counseling. I had no distinct love for the area during my master’s and so I was unprepared for the passion it steered within my soul as a PhD student. I am currently working with a team of mentors, carefully curating the spark that was lit in my career class. I am impacted each and every day with the potential of all I can be, and do, within counseling.
Describe an area of strength that you have developed while in the program in this area of competency. What is one way you plan to utilize this strength in your vocation?
Theories relevant to counseling: This program has ignited my joy for expressive arts in counseling, especially in career counseling. I find myself increasingly using poetry, music, drawing, and stories in counseling. There is so much fun to be had in counseling, and we sometimes focus too much on traditional talk therapy and miss other aspects of our clients and students. My time in the creative expressive arts challenged the way in which I worked with adults. Now I invite whimsy into the counseling room through poetry, music, and other expressive art.
Describe an area of challenge/growth opportunity in this area of competency. What is your plan to develop excellence in this area?
Theories relevant to counseling- multiculturalism: I learn by emulation and practice, and being a PhD student has shown me many areas of continuous development. There are many areas of counseling where I have found myself wishing that I knew and did more. Specifically, multicultural and ethically relevant counseling practices in career development. I am most comfortable with ethics, because of the structure and by its nature of being regulatory. I have found that multicultural relevancies is an ever-changing scope, so nuances of operation often age fast. Still, because I am forever learning, I am in a unique position to stay updated, which can be a super strength.
Reflect on how faith in Christ relates to this competency.
The expression of faith comes with a responsibility to be exemplary. My curiosity and determination to add to the work in career counseling, can be likened to the verse “study to show yourself approved unto God, for a workman needs not be ashamed, dividing the word of truth” II Timothy 2:15. Engaging and producing work in this area of interest, shows scholarship, and that is a biblical recommendation.