[humanser] Logistics and keeping personal belongings safe at work

[Ericka]

What is a cane holater?

Ericka Short
"What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right."

 from my iPhone 6s

> On Jul 9, 2016, at 5:41 PM, Kaiti Shelton via Humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I think I found a solution now that I have my cane holster.  Now that
> I have actually seen the thing, it looks like a lot of my problems are
> solved.  First, I think the two ways of fastening the holster to you
> are just difficult to understand through an explanation over the
> phone.  Not that the guy I spoke to didn't do a good job, but I didn't
> quite get the set up just hearing him talk about it but do see what he
> meant now that I can feel it.  As it turns out you don't need to
> specifically have a belt loop for it to clip onto like he was talking
> about, although I can tell that's what it was primarily meant for.  It
> clips just as easily to a wasteband or simply around the strap of a
> bag without a problem.  Second, there is another type of loop on it
> through which I think I can put a carribeaner with a small change
> purse or something attached to it.  Having something dangling isn't
> ideal, but it should at least keep the medication close to me and
> secure without getting in my way.  As long as I get a little change
> purse or pouch that zips shut, it should be just large enough for the
> eye droppers but small enough to be out of the way.  Sorry if this
> seems redundant to those who already know what a cane holster is like,
> but I wanted to follow up to say I found solutions to my logistical
> concerns.
> 
>> On 7/9/16, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> Not really.  I haven't seen this site yet but it will from what I do
>> know about it be basically an open room for us to lead sessions in.  I
>> do know that the women will be sitting in a semi-circle or a circle so
>> we can facilitate from either the front of the group or among them as
>> a group, but the facility probably won't have any place for us to
>> leave personal belongings.  Generally students are instructed to leave
>> personal items in their cars during sessions, but I can't do that
>> since I need to take the drops at least twice during the set up,
>> session, and debriefing process.
>> 
>>> On 7/8/16, Christina Moore via Humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Is there a drawer that you can put the medication in?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> God bless.--Christina
>>> 
>>>> On Jul 8, 2016, at 16:43, Kaiti Shelton via Humanser
>>>> <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 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
>>>> 
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>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Kaiti Shelton
> 
> 
> -- 
> Kaiti Shelton
> 
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