Just Another Day in the Life
Just Another Day In The Life
Parking in the lot of the professional counselor’s office, I sat and stared at the building. My stomach was queasy, my hands sweaty and not so steady. Thoughts of the past counseling sessions with my family decades ago foremost in my mind. I had to remind myself that I was not here for a personal counseling session, but I had a purpose, an interview with Carrie, Licensed Professional Counselor. So, with my notebook in my hand and my recorder in the other, I proceeded up the stairs. This was my chance. My chance to experience just another day in the life of an LPC.
Upon opening the door, I was greeted by a smiling middle aged woman.
She quickly put me at ease, introducing herself and showing me around her office building. She had decided to practice semi-privately, enabling her to maintain a bit of control over her schedule. She rented a building from ‘The Arc’ of Wichita County, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to individuals with disabilities, who she had worked with in the past. She has a background in Social Work, but wanted to branch out to the counseling field. As a Social Worker, she focused on the mental health of a client, networking and referring to other organizations or licensed professionals. She did state that she referred clients out for diagnostic testing and assessments, but she did genograms, and parental interviews in house. By networking in her previous job, whenever she comes across a case that she cannot resolve, such as issuing psychotropic medications to children, or needing immediate institutionalization, she will then contact a doctor, or nurse practitioner. She did warn me about the issuing of medications, saying that some clients can role play good enough to get meds they may be addicted to. We must, as counselors be accountable to the profession and ourselves.
Be up to date on courses, and continue to train, because the field of counseling is broadening outward. Monitor
Parking in the lot of the professional counselor’s office, I sat and stared at the building. My stomach was queasy, my hands sweaty and not so steady. Thoughts of the past counseling sessions with my family decades ago foremost in my mind. I had to remind myself that I was not here for a personal counseling session, but I had a purpose, an interview with Carrie, Licensed Professional Counselor. So, with my notebook in my hand and my recorder in the other, I proceeded up the stairs. This was my chance. My chance to experience just another day in the life of an LPC.
Upon opening the door, I was greeted by a smiling middle aged woman.
She quickly put me at ease, introducing herself and showing me around her office building. She had decided to practice semi-privately, enabling her to maintain a bit of control over her schedule. She rented a building from ‘The Arc’ of Wichita County, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to individuals with disabilities, who she had worked with in the past. She has a background in Social Work, but wanted to branch out to the counseling field. As a Social Worker, she focused on the mental health of a client, networking and referring to other organizations or licensed professionals. She did state that she referred clients out for diagnostic testing and assessments, but she did genograms, and parental interviews in house. By networking in her previous job, whenever she comes across a case that she cannot resolve, such as issuing psychotropic medications to children, or needing immediate institutionalization, she will then contact a doctor, or nurse practitioner. She did warn me about the issuing of medications, saying that some clients can role play good enough to get meds they may be addicted to. We must, as counselors be accountable to the profession and ourselves.
Be up to date on courses, and continue to train, because the field of counseling is broadening outward. Monitor
References: Andree, C. (2014, April 23). Personal Interview. Erford, B.T. (2014). Orientation To The Counseling Profession: Advocacy, ethics, and essential professional foundations. (2nd ed). Loyola University Maryland: Pearson Inc.