A right of passage: the counseling theories exam, or did I make a mistake in applying for the program

So I am going to talk about what everyone is talking about on Facebook. One of the most difficult classes we have in the program is called counseling theories. This class is not only the most difficult class in the program, but also it has one of the difficult exams we have to take in the program. Now some people absolutely hate it. Some people even believe that the exam is absolutely evil. I on the other hand, have a totally different opinion. Yes this exam is difficult. In fact it is one of the most difficult exams that I have had to take in the program. But I believe that this exam has to be difficult. I believe this exam must be difficult, because we will be dealing with people's lives. This is the fact. I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a easy client, so we cannot just take the easy way out, and not really know good theory . Having a good concept of theory is absolutely essential, so that we can help clients succeed in life. This type of exam, will allow us to have knowledge of good theory.

The easy way

I am a member of generation x. My generation always wants gratification to be immediate. We want have everything given to us. I have grown up in the generation of standardized testing. If you take the test, you pass it and move on. If you give a presentation, you want to do the easiest way to get the A. This is my generation. I have to be honest, I used to have some of these beliefs. I wanted to go down the path that would be easiest for me to achieve that A.

Generation X is beginning to join the counseling profession. And I am wondering for various reasons, what would like if generation X practice counseling the easy way? Looking at my previous paragraph, I know we cannot do this. The client is the one that set the pace of counseling. Counseling is not a test, if you do this, you will pass. It is about following a process. It is about providing that place for the client, so you can achieve some type of self discovery. You can't believe how many times I client has asked me a question, and I know there would be very easy for me to answer the question, and speed along the process of counseling. But counseling does not work that way. There is a process that we must follow.

I have come to believe that there is no such thing as a easy client. Every client is different. All of them will be dealing with some very difficult issues. As a counseling professional we cannot do things the easy way. I had the distinct privilege of being in a meeting with the dean of are college that the department of rehabilitation and mental health counseling is located in. He said this: this is going to be difficult. And it should be, because you are dealing with people's lives. He is absolutely right. Counseling is something that is very difficult . The profession that we have chosen to join is a privilege, that comes with great responsibility. As mental health professionals we cannot practice the the easy way. Now this does not mean we do all of the work. Client must be willing to put everything he has in. We as mental health professionals must be willing to acquire the knowledge to walk along the side of of the client as they try to change.

Outside looking in : on counseling with a disability

I have always been a little bit hesitant with talking about my disability. I do recognize that I have a disability. I just don't think my disability is something that needs to be talked about. However, I will talk about my disability on this one blog. My perspective on disability is this, any type of disability is not a limitation, that only makes life more interesting. I am a mental health counselor that happens to have a disability. So for those of you who don't know, I have cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a condition that affect the muscles in your body. Now I am not going to give you a detailed explanation of what cerebral palsy is, for that please see Susan Kelly. By the way the people who did not get that, that was a joke.

As I have always said this blog is about the counseling profession. I have to recognize that my disability does create some interesting stuff, that has to be integrated into the way that I practice. I am someone believes disability is a cultural. It is just like any other cultural. All counselors have stuff that they must deal with to be effective counselors, and I am no exception.

Now notice that I am saying stuff, instead of challenges, difficulties, and issues. My disability is a part of me. It is not a challenge, it is a something that must be integrated into the counseling process. I always tried to view my client's that have disabilities this way. I also recognize that as professional in the mental health field, we must always try to understand the clients way they view their life.

How do I practice as a mental health professional? I have had to learn how to make some adaptations to my style of counseling. It is really quite fun. Right now I am using a voice activated software system called Dragon. This allows me to speak into my computer, and will type what I say. I highly recommend it. I do not write, so I do not take notes in sessions with clients. I think notetaking gets in the way of the counseling relationship anyway. We need to do treatment planning with a client, I just break out my laptop. I have done this a couple of times, clients have found it very interesting.

Another issue with my disability is the issue of what do I disclose to my clients about my disability? For those of you outside of the mental health profession, the issue of what to disclose about your self to a client is something that is talked about in school. My philosophy on what to disclose, is mental health professionals have to be genuine and real with clients. You also don't want session to become about the mental health counselor. So you do not want to disclose everything to your client. Now since I have a physical disability, the people that I provide treatment to know that I have a disability. I believe the you need to be open and honest with your client's about a physical disability. Now I do not bring up the fact that I have a disability. If my client to ask about my disability, I tell them that I have cerebral palsy. I do not say that I have a disability, if the client does not want to know that I have a disability.

One of my biggest concern was how would my clients respond to my disability? This was a conversation that I recently had with my family. This is more about self of a therapist issue for me. I have been made fun of because of my disability in the past. This was one of my biggest issues that I was worried about when I was beginning to seem clients. This has not happened. I know that this issue might play out one day. This is why we have supervision in the counseling profession. This is definitely a self of the therapist issue.