Social and Cultural Diversity

My Culture

Reflection

CIT’s honor and embrace cultural diversity, responsiveness, and sensitivity by seeking to support clients dignitity and worth within their own unique context. They seek additiona training where needed for multicultural competency, and they work hard to utilize curiosity to better understand a diverse array of cultures, attitudes, and beliefs that are held by others because they understand that to help others, they must understand them in their own context. 

CITs acknowledge how their cultural identity impacts their relationships with others by avoiding imposing their beliefs, values, and attitudes onto others or their clients. They seek to understand the effects of the power and privilege dynamics within the counseling space, and they embrace opportunities to learn strategies for identifying and eliminating instances of oppression, discrimination, and prejudice within the world. 

As a CIT i have had the opportunity to work with people of a variety of cultures and ages that have taught me the importance of guiding each session under the perspective of the clients culture and not my own. I ask open ended questions to understand the clients position so that i am always guiding the client under their own culture. When i am unsure i gain further insight through continued education. It is within the diversity that makes this world beautiful. The difference in culture is just a fascinating as the diversity in the environment we live in. Curiosity expands understanding and deepends connection despite difference. 

Psychological testing and Assessments of Adolescents

Reflection

"CITs embrace ambiguity with an open-mind and have the courage to form innovative solutions when facing challenges. CITs are able to work with others in a way that is open and inviting to multiple points of view and diverse cultural situations. CITs are open to shifting their perspective and embracing change." (GCU, 2023). 

CACREP common core area standard: 2.F.1.k., ACA code of ethics standards: C.7.b; C.2.f.

How does the CIT model open-mindedness by their words and actions?

CITs must embrace ambiguity in multiple contexts and understand the complexity of definitions within different cultures. CITs must also understand that what works for one person, may not work for someone else. Due to this finding innovative solutions when faced with challenging situations and being open to changing things up and trying new interventions not only opens new opportunities for growth but also invites opportunities to engage in diverse cultural situations. It aims to help open shifts in perspectives and help to see more than one perspective. During my internships i have had to gain the perspective of many different counselors, facilities, and clients and it has allowed me to understand the deep importance of rolling with the punches and learning flexibility because life happens. That is outside of our wheel of control. However, we do get to control whether we show up with compassion and empathy and flexibility to adress every hardship in a variety of different ways without giving up or shutting doors that should always remain open. 

Group design, Selection, and Screening

Reflection

"CITs respect autonomy of self and others while fostering growth. CITs encourage a relational environment that promotes respect, flexibility, and self-exploration. CITs model calmness within various contexts in a steadfast, fluid, and enduring manner." (GCU, 2023). 

CACREP common core area standards: 2.F.2.g.; 2.F.3.e.; 2.F.3.h., ACA code of ethics standards: A.1.c.; A.4.b., 

Guiding Question: How does the CIT demonstrate a respect for autonomy in themselves and others?

A CIT knows patience as seen through the dedication it took to get their degree and to build their skills. They demonstrate body language that conveys openness and engagement and they respect boundaries set not just by others, but by themselves. They encourage self-acceptance and self-exploration in themselves and others and they modek what a calm demeanor looks like within various situations and environments. During my first internship i co-facilitated a mandated court group that taught thinking errors which made many clients upset during session. This was the most difficult challenge for me as these situations caused high levels of stress activation in my system and would lead to autoimmune flareups during session. My supervisor guided me into learning mindfulness skills that allowed me to show up to sessions fully prepared, calm and present without the worry of a flare up. Patience has turned my skills from textbook knowledge to real life experience where i myself have real reviews of interventions that work to share with clients. I will forever be grateful for my first supervisors' steadfast knowledge and patience to teach me skills that have changed my life forever. 

Kohlberg’s Six Stages of Moral Reasoning

Bereavement Across the Life Span

Reflection:

Moral reasoning and Breavement

CIT's demonstrate empathy in multiple contexts by avoiding value imposition on their clients, maintaining professional boundaries, engaging in self-reflection, and seeking ongoing training and regular supervision. This is done to create a safe and inclusive therapeutic environment and work towards establishing a strong and therapeutic alliance with the client while also ensuring the counselors competency. Throughout the lifespan clients will experience a variety of different experiences and emotions and it is our job as counselors to promote their dignity and respect as they navigate these experiences in a manner that reflects the direction they seek in life. One of the greatest places our empathy will be shown in the counseling profession are in moments of understanding grief in a persons life. Grief is a unique emotion and experience as the symptoms of grief may never leave us, though we are to help them understand their grief and how to live through it without it controlling their lives. Understanding that this is a cycle all humans experience and the significant role of grief in understanding love as well and utilizing our empathy to help clients feel like they are not alone in these waves of life is some of the greatest work we will ever do. 

An important part of understanding breavement is in the identity work we do as counselors with clients that aim to help a client identify their values, and how they interpret good vs bad, right vs wrong. It is in this work that moral reasoning is built and through this lens where breavement can be understood through the lens of the client. This work goes hand in hand and cannot be fully understood without the other. This work also helps counselors to help clients how to relate to others who may see the world through a different lens which aids in teaching them how to use their own empathy when dealing with others.

This is the work that begins the depth of healing journey. In my growth in counseling grief began as a fear that i myself could not overcome. Alignment always has its way of finding me as once i acknowledged this i was flooded with clients who struggled with grief and together we navigated this healing process together. I am forever humbled by every client experience I have been trusted to able to be a part of in this nature. I am constantly reminded that grief is the price of love, and the deeper the love, the deeper the grief. It is the sacrifice we pay to experience love in this world. We as humans must always remember we are never alone in this sacrifice. It is my ultimate pleasure to sit with clients in this grief and appreciate the love that they experienced that led to such a profound level of grief. It is one of the greatest honors of being a counselor to get to whitness. 

This guiding question is informed by the following CACREP common core area standards: 2.F.2.g.; 2.F.2.h.; 2.F.3.f., ACA code of ethics standards: A.2.c.; A.4.a., and program objectives: Counseling and helping relationships; social and cultural diversity.

Biopsychosocial Assessment

Reflection:

"CITs display humility, compassion, and kindness in their interactions with others. CITs portray unconditional positive regard even when they have differing views. CITs remain cordial and calm in multiple contexts and when presented with frustrating situations." (GCU, 2023).

CACREP common core area standards: 2.F.2.b.; 2.F.2.d.; 2.F.2.g., ACA code of ethics standards: A.1.c.; A.4.b.

How does the CIT demonstrate amiability in multiple contexts? 

For a CIT to be amiable they must regularly engage in self-care as this is a vital part of their own emotional and mental well-being. They must also understand the value of treatment planning and how it guides the clinical progress along. CITs must always continue to understand themselves and seek individual counseling when appropriate or when triggered as a way to ensure that they do not intrude their own beliefs onto the client. CITs must attend training regularly to maintain and establish clinical competencies within areas that require growth. 

How does the CIT handle frustrating situations?

CITs attend and learn de-escalation techniques and training to have the skills to disengage the client in frustrating situations. They must always adhere to clinical documentation expectations when frustrating situations occur, and they understand the importance of liability insurance because no one is exempt from the risk. To be proficient in this a CIT must practice effective communication and remain aware of emergency protocol procedures at all times to ensure safety to the client and the CIT. What I have learned the most in my internship is the importance and dire need of love and kindness in this world. A voice of love can calm can physicallt alter a persons body through vocal prosody. Utilizing this skill engages the vagus nerve and slows the heart rate thereby reducing physical tension and sends a message biologically "Your safe here". The world can be cruel and so many of us have felt the weight of hate. I wish always to use my position to help love grow.  

Marginalized Group Career Counseling Paper

Reflection

CIT's practice acceptance in multiple contexts by attending supervision and engaging in consultations regularly. They honor the decision-making process of others and understand the importance of gathering clinically relevant data to inform treatment planning and they always seek for clarification when needed. A CIT must always understand their role and limitation within the various relationships they engage in.