Getting settled in

Here is a brief recap of the past four weeks. I quickly went from a restful summer to a packed schedule. I have 3 classes this semester: Trauma and Violence, Adolescent Mental Health: Theory and Practice, and Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior in Children and Adolescents. It's amazing to take the Trauma and Violence class concurrently with my placement because the agency focuses on work with traumatized children and adolescents. Between my classes and my agency, I have access to great clinical minds and a wealth of knowledge. But it is overwhelming at times. I am reminded of a session during my orientation to the SSW where we learned about a certain spectrum that helps to define where we are in our learning. For my current placement, I would classify myself in the stage of "I don't know what I don't know." I have a desire to learn and experience as much as possible but I barely know where to begin. Fortunately, the agency has a lot of experience with interns so they know where to direct me until I get a better sense of which direction that I would like to go.

My particular placement is connected with a variety of other social work placements and as a result, there is an external opportunity for colloquiums and networking with other students and professionals. The coordinator began the first session "starting where the clients are (i.e. us- the students)" We anonymously submitted our fears for our internships and then addressed those concerns as a group. He then offered some great little tidbits of wisdom to help combat some of our concerns. A few of my favorites were: "Listen to the patient like you would a good friend." "Follow the patient and see where they're going to take you." "2 Important questions to consider in dealing with patients: 1) Can you enter the patient's experience? 2) Can you leave it?" The one that will probably have a place in my cubicle is: "Practicums are for practice." I tend to worry about what I need to know and doing everything right but that will be a good reminder that I am not here to be perfect; I am here to learn.