[humanser] Logistics and keeping personal belongings safe at work

[Kaiti Shelton]

Hi all,

I realize this might be a bigger issue for me than for probably most
people in some respects, but I think everyone has to deal with this in
at least some way.  I'm wondering how you all have dealt with keeping
personal belongings safe and out of harm during sessions.  As a
background for those who might not know me, I'm a music therapy
student and a lot of my work requires me to be very mobile around the
room and I usually have my hands full either assisting a client or
playing an instrument myself.  Most of my past clinical experience has
been with children, particularly with blind kids and kids with visual
impairments and other disabilities, and children on the Autism
spectrum in a public school self-contained classroom, but this fall I
will be working in a practicum at a behavioral health facility for
duel diagnosis mental and substance abuse disorders.

I was doing some of my summer reading, and one note in the chapter I
read yesterday stressed the importance of making sure *all* materials
are collected at the end of each session.  Many objects used for music
therapy sessions could be dangerous in the hands of psychologically
unstable patients if they are smuggled out past supervision, and I can
see how even objects like mallets used to play drums and other
percussion equipment could be used to inflict self-harm.  It occurred
to me that leaving my cane propped in a corner as I usually do
probably would not be the best idea in this setting, as someone in
psychosis might see that as just a long metal stick they could use for
their own intentions.  I purchased a cane holster thinking it would
probably be helpful for this setting, but also in my work with
children since I can keep my cane on my person now.  Before I go on, I
will say that I am fully aware that my supervising professor will be
there at each session, as well as my practicum partner.  Furthermore,
we're not supposed to be left alone in the room with the residents
without a staff member from the facility present.  However, my
professors don't know all the ins and outs of adapting the work to my
circumstances and have encouraged me to seek this information where I
can.  I also am trying to treat each practicum situation as if I were
already working professionally in the field and realize that if I were
going to work on this type of a unit as a professional without the
support I have the luxury of having as a student, these considerations
might be important.

The other issue I'm confronting is how to deal with personal
medication.  I have 3 different types of drops I give myself
throughout the day.  Two of the drops just need to be given 4 times a
day, and although I try to keep to a set schedule with those I can
move them around a bit to accommodate things like sessions or brief
meetings.  The other needs to be given every half hour.  This wasn't
the biggest problem before, but especially now that I'm going into
this unit and also thinking about my future internship, I don't always
want to lug around a purse like I have been doing everywhere I go.
I'm already going to be bogged down carrying instruments, and
sometimes just doing that with a cane can be challenging enough.  I'm
honestly considering paying homage to the 80s and getting myself a
fanny pack or some sort, especially since a lot of the professional
attire for women that I own doesn't even have belt loops for the cane
holster to clip to.

I would be interested to hear how these kinds of things are handled by
those of you who are itinerant, who work with populations who might
take advantage of things like a cane laying around for self-harm or
other purposes, or who are very mobile but have to also manage
personal medications and keep them on your person.  Also, for the
women who might be in professions where you need to dress
professionally but also in clothing that allows you to move freely and
easily to do your job, please let me know any tips you might have.
I'm not sure of how unique my situation is on this group with having
the need to look professional while also getting down on the floor and
moving about the group on my knees to play eye level with small
children and such, or to facilitate movement-based therapeutic
experiences, but it's definitely a logistic I'm trying to work around
at the moment and would appreciate suggestions on.

Thanks,

-- 
Kaiti Shelton