Self Reflection Paper

The professional counselor’s job title I interviewed is a Program Counselor for the Women’s Mental Health Unit at Riverside General Hospital. The types of services and programs she offers as a counselor for the women’s mental health unit are: substance abuse counseling with in-house residents, detoxification, transitional living for the women’s unit, outpatient program, and mental health counseling. She also aids in helping her clients in gaining custody of their children.

I interviewed the Bonneville County Jail social worker, Brian Mecham. Social Workers at the jail are mainly responsible for helping the inmates, doing assessments for individuals that need medications, group and individual discussions and also helping them with learning more life skills. Being their advocate and helping them go through changing processes is all part of the job. Mecham and his wife are both a part of the social work profession. Although seeing two completely different sides with Mecham working in the jail and his wife in the hospice field, Mecham emphasized the importance of finding what you want to do in the social work field. “You never know what is going to impress you to do one thing or the other.”

While working in W.I.C., I became aware of the need for substance abuse and mental health counseling in western North Carolina. Therefore, in April 2013, through grants offered to veterans, I returned to college to begin my education in social work with a concentration in substance abuse and mental health counseling. I had previously obtained an A.S. in Christian Education and found that the knowledge gained through those classes was foundational and relevant to the social work field.

Everyone who is employed within this agency, which is roughly 75 employees among the Atascosa agency, must have obtained a BA in sociology or something similar. She explained the number one issue she faces with this career, is the idea that she is only one human being. She feels tied down at times because she is only human, and only able to do one thing at a time. She wishes to help those in need all day everyday. Their mission statement is a Christ-centered organization dedicated to assisting children and families in achieving their fullest potential through a continuum of program and services. She gave me the exact number of individuals they have helped to date, 10,883,327. This agency has such an intriguing story, which is why I chose this agency. Every dollar given to this agency makes a huge impact. The more this agency has, the more they return. They take the responsibility given to them under huge consideration and manage every aspect given. The heart of their vision is to be the hands and feet of Christ; to provide care, service and compassion that is pleasing to the Lord and honors his love for all

Interview paper with a Counselor (Rebecca Alexander), and a Social Worker (Mina McVeigh). This interview is for Mrs. Scott’s online class.

As I conducted my interview with Andrea Williams, I learned that she has been working at this particular Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility by the name of Pecan Grove Therapeutic Group Home for Girls about a year in a half. This facility is located in Lyon, Mississippi. There are a total of ten people working there including herself. I asked series of questions to familiarize myself about the importance of her job as a director.

“Where did you go to get the position you have here today?” I asked. He explained that he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill his undergraduate years and University of North Carolina at Charlotte his graduate earning a master’s in social work. In addition to, a North Carolina state licensed in clinical social work. “My long list of education has taught and shown me how to properly get my studies completed within a certain time. I do advise you to

Today was my first day at the Port Human Services Facility Base Crisis (FBC) Unit in Greenville N.C. Today I was shadowing Trudy Sheppard, who is a master’s level social worker who is employed by Port Human Services (FBC) Unit. Trudy and I discussed patient rights, patient obligations, and FBC Unit’s policy and procedures. We also met with the unit’s supervisor and discussed what I will be doing while on the FBC Unit. I was informed that I would be involved in the patient admittance process. I was informed that I would also be conducting patient interviews, assessments, assisting with patient treatment plans, aftercare plans, and substance abuse counseling as well. Also, I will be transporting clients with the company vehicle as well as the

Sometimes you walk through a door, unsure what is waiting on the other side. You have to believe all will work out somehow. As I left correctional health after 28 years, I was lost. Still too young to retire, I didn’t know in which direction to go. A week before my last day, I saw Christine, a social worker who had a case load of Hepatitis C inmates at the jail. I was always fascinated with her no nonsense style, which at times bordered on the crude. She worked for Body Positive, an HIV/AIDS non-profit agency. I liked her spunk and the freedom she had to be herself.

I had the opportunity to interview Kimberly Bezer of Devereux Community Base Care. Kimberly has an extensive job title which is as followed: Dependency Case Manager/Intake/Out of County Supervisor. Devereux Community Base Care is a non-profit agency that is contracted by the State of Florida’s Child Protective Agency, providing services to children and families. I would describe Kimberly as a very “animated” person, which in my opinion after being employed in the human services field as a case manager for approximately six years, being energetic is necessary to remain your sanity.

Cathy Turner, my mother, is the executive director, president of the board, and the lead therapist at NewSong Counseling Center located in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. Her duties are extensive because she has so many roles within the organization. Some of these include paying the bills involved with running a business such as rent and utilities and creating clinical reports. As the president of the board she creates the agenda for board meetings and suggests places for growth. Also as lead therapist, Turner selects the treatment plans for all of her clients utilizing evidence-based practices that she researches and implements.

After graduation Nichol was ready to get out there and change the world. At that time unfortunately society did not see the dire need for Social Workers. Due to her graduating during recession, finding a career in Social Work was seemingly impossible. It was at that point that Nichol “settled” and began working for Child Youth & School Services on Fort Drum. Mrs. Dwyer held many positions in CYSS and enjoyed assisting many soldiers, families, children and coworkers. However, Nichol knew that this was not her calling in life and it started to weigh on her. Soon Nichol began searching and applying for Social Work positions. On February 10th 2014 Nichol was brought back to Sexual Assault Services again.

Ms. Johnson has been employed with the HUD Support Service Center since October 2015. She has been fully trained on referral preparation. Over the last several

During my interview with Ms. Willie Mae Berry, I learned the many roles and functions of a social work administrator in a mental health facility. She is responsible for the oversight of the Community Support Services department at Hinds Behavioral Health Services,

I am now approaching the conclusion of my college career and starting to adjust to work life. This is a period of self-reflection and an attempt to put everything I learned into perspective. During this period of my life, I have been constantly thinking and contemplating my future. I feel very anxious yet nervous during this time while I am adjusting to this new stage of my life. When I was in High school my life was very structured, because I could be very dependent on peoples help and I obviously still lived with my family. When I went to college, I had to break away from that feeling of dependency and start the adjusting to adulthood. In college there was more responsibility and I started to become more independent. This was a crucial step in my life but choosing a career is going to be an even bigger step. It is a bigger step because; I have to start structuring my career goals and family goal for the future. At this moment all I can think about is my career, and how I can I keep improving myself for work life.