It’s hard to believe that in a matter of weeks, summer will be winding down. For many counseling and social work graduate students, this means it is time gear up for a new semester of school. Securing books, organizing syllabi, and managing Blackboard can be stressful enough, but approaching your first field placement can bring about even more nerves.
But worry not! Here are some tips to prep you before you meet your first clients.
1. SELF-CARE IS VITAL
Before I started my internship, my academic advisor always preached that “Good self-care is good ethics.” Once I began working with clients it became more than a catchy mantra, it became a desired way of life. I realized that neglecting my wellbeing-- physically, emotionally, and spiritually-- meant that burnout would be just around the riverbend.
I remember feeling the onset of burnout after my first semester, as I was balancing a nearly full case load and course load. Even though I was exhausted, I wanted to keep working. Somehow I thought I could push through it.
After a reality check from my supportive supervisor, who encouraged me to rest and recharge, I did just that. During my second semester as an intern I made necessary changes. I went back to therapy, I joined a gym to burn some stress, and I even went for a long over-due physical.
Self-care is not always going to be fun activities like getting your nails done or relaxing in the park. Sometimes it's dragging yourself to the doctor.
My regular check-up became HALT: Never allow myself to become too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. Before a full day of clients begins, make sure you have adequate rest, snacks handy, a positive attitude on deck, and a prayer for God to encourage and strengthen you for this work.
2. YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES
This was initially hard to process as a recovering perfectionist. I knew from the start that there was no such thing as a perfect therapist, so I had to learn quickly to give myself the grace to make mistakes. You won't always have the right thing to say right away, and it's okay. To reference psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott, aim to be a “good enough” counselor. A good enough counselor will at times make mistakes, but because their work is rooted in a genuine love and care for their clients, they will try to make things right. Don’t shy from seeking support from your academic advisor, supervisor, and other supporting staff.
3. GOOD SUPERVISION GOES A LONG WAY
Having an insightful supervisor provided me with the guidance I needed to navigate whatever mistakes I made. I realize just how fortunate I am for her insight and support. She affirms me when I am doing good work, and will even call me out when she senses that I'm holding back or censoring how I feel. Meeting with my supervisor has allowed me to explore what it's like for me to be a therapist. Thankfully the staff provided a nurturing space for me to grow which is shown in their confidence in my abilities. Supervision has taught me when to confront my privilege, but also when to give myself credit.
4. YOUR PRIVILEGE WILL BE CHALLENGED
Part of checking my privilege was realizing that what I think is best is not always best. This of course does not rule out genuine concern for a client’s safety, but ultimately they are the experts of their own life experiences. Our degrees do not suddenly make us know-it-all’s on the lives of our clients. This can lead to harmful judgment and/or wrong assumptions. One of the best pieces of advice I've been given is that as a mental health professional we are not in charge of our clients, but rather we are in support of their care.
5. NO ADVICE GIVING!
Nope. Our job is not be Dear Abby or some of the "relationship experts" we may see on social media. I instead see myself in a partnership with my clients, helping them to determine their own path. Nancy McWilliams said it best:
“Many of the standard features of psychoanalytic practice represent the effort to help patients find, embrace, and expand their power. For example, by withholding advice and personal influence, therapists implicitly express their confidence that patients can discover or craft their answers once they understand themselves better" (Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process).
As mentioned before, what we think is best is not always what's best. Working within the field of domestic violence, I have learned that in some traumatic or abusive situations, not everything is black and white. Giving advice may seem easy, but as counselors we don't have to live with the consequences. By walking in partnership with my clients, I can better assist them by helping them navigate the gray area.
6. SAFE SPACE IS EARNED
Trust is not something to be given freely. Very often therapists utter the term “safe space” and think simply speaking it will make the session comfortable for a client. I learned quickly that sharing about how much my agency values confidentiality is not enough for clients to open up about what they have endured. And rightfully so!
I have found it helpful in some cases to state what may be awkward. I call it out. If a client is new to counseling, then they are stepping into unchartered territory as they share their vulnerabilities with someone they considered to be a stranger just moments ago.
To develop a sense of comfort and safety I engage clients on what may be their apprehensions about counseling and what they might have previously believed about the process. Some communities may have stigma regarding mental health and mental illness, which can hinder some from trusting therapy. In my experience, addressing concerns in the beginning sets the stage for building emotional safety with clients.
7. CLIENTS ARE NOT A MONOLITH
Not all clients who share the same race, culture, neighborhood, etc, are the same. Making assumptions that the experience of one represents the experience of all is harmful, and is unfortunately made too often against people of color. Henry Louise Gates once said, "If there are 40 million Black Americans, then there are 40 million ways to be Black." Groups of people may share cultural traditions, but they will still experience life differently. And so as a counselor I learned that no approach to therapy can be one size fits all.
8. NOT ONLY A COUNSELOR BUT AN ADVOCATE
Advocacy is making an impact beyond the four walls of a therapy room— whether it’s supporting clients in obtaining groceries from a food pantry, or providing resources for community services. I was taught that there are three ways in which we can use our privilege or power: we can use it for someone, against someone, or over someone. Advocacy is using our power for the benefit of others. My role has allowed me to work on behalf of my clients, and not just in session.
9. BE RELATIONAL
The art of counseling requires us to be relational. Being a counselor does not mean we are to throw away the qualities that make us good friends, parents, spouses, siblings, etc. It's what allows us to connect and empathize, which is crucial to this practice.
10. CHALLENGING BUT FULFILLING WORK
I've been asked many times how I manage this work. "Isn't it heavy all the time?"
Working as a counseling intern was challenging but fulfilling in more ways than I could have imagined. The clients I supported repeatedly taught me the hardship and beauty of resilience. They pushed me to challenge my beliefs and and encouraged me to become more self-aware of my personal motives and emotions. At times clients would thank me for a session, and every time I felt compelled to thank them in return.
