[HumanSer] Discussion-What Would You Say?

Wed Sep 4 17:31:43 UTC 2019

I have been asked almost all of these questions on various interviews and have responded similarly. In my case, the private treatment center considered me a "liability". Their misguided discission was annoying and their loss. 

Lisa Irving 

-----Original Message-----
From: HumanSer <humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Christopher L. Smith, LMHC, LMFT via HumanSer
Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2019 3:20 PM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Christopher L. Smith, LMHC, LMFT <Smith at 4mentalhealth.us>
Subject: Re: [HumanSer] Discussion-What Would You Say?

With those who I have supervised, I have used a series of spreadsheets. I have them keep a detailed log on a pay period by pay period basis of each session they have had as well as other related work they have done and the supervision they have received. Each line on the spreadsheet corresponds to a particular session or other activity. I include other things I want to track on these such as revenue from sessions and certain types of activities I want to know about, but this is because these double as my timesheets and work records, but would not be needed for your purposes. The spreadsheet then calculates the totals for the pay period. These spreadsheets are not likely to be needed for later recordkeeping but would be handy if the hours were audited when you go to get licensed, if the supervisor felt you had worked less than you did or if you needed to show particular types of hours for a certification (for example, I had to count only substance abuse treatment hours when I got my  license as a clinical addiction counselor after being licensed in other disciplines).

Then I have another spreadsheet that takes the totals from each pay period and calculates a running total (in my state for clinical, supervision and admin, but you can track your own) and compares it to the goal so you can see how you are progressing to being licensed.

Side comment. Look now at any state that you might think about moving to.
Get their requirements and track the extra stuff now as it is easier to do this as you go than try to recreate it later. Similarly, get the forms a supervisor signs to verify hours and have your supervisors complete them in addition to the one from your state - these forms are more likely to be accepted in the future if you should move and can't find your supervisor.

How can you do your job as a counselor when you are blind?
This you should be able to answer from the work you have done in class and in internship. I also wonder whether this would be a good opening to raise any reasonable accommodations that you see you may need to have as the supervisor has opened the door.

There are so many visual aspects and cues that you get visually from your client. How will you be able to do your job when you cannot see them?
There is some truth to this but you are also more attuned to other cues that other clinicians do not pay as much attention to. Depending on your blindness, you may also have some usable vision that the supervisor is assuming that you don't have - a good opportunity for some gentle education.

How can you protect yourself if a client is dangerous?
This would be something I would consider as a potential red flag for the setting if you are looking at outpatient work as this should not be a regular part of the work. I would use this as something to ask questions about. If it is a setting where this is a regular part of the job (as when I worked inpatient and restraining patients was not uncommon), what training will they provide (there should be some) and how will the providers of that training accommodate you?

How can you protect yourself in order not to be taken advantage of by a client?
This really has nothing to do with being blind. How does any clinician not get taken advantage of by clients?

Christopher

On Tue, Sep 3, 2019 at 5:33 PM NFB of TN VP via HumanSer < humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Greetings friends.
>  I hope all is well  with everyone. One question and one question for 
> feedback.
> First, what have you all used to keep track of your supervision hours 
> for licensure? Did you use an app or create a spreadsheet?
> Now, my question for feedback. I want to start by saying that I have 
> learned so much from this group over the years. It is many of you on 
> this list and in the Federation that helped me to see that I could 
> begin a new career in life and be successful. I am now working towards 
> licensure and am stating my practice with a temp license in October. I 
> met my new supervisor for my supervision hours. She asked me the 
> following questions and I wonder how you would respond:
> -How can you do your job as a counselor when you are blind?
> There are so many visual aspects and cues that you get visually from 
> your client. How will you be able to do your job when you cannot see them?
> How can you protect yourself if a client is dangerous?
> How can you protect yourself in order not to be taken advantage of by 
> a client?
>
> I would love to hear what your response would be. I know many of you 
> have had those questions before. What I told her is that I have proven 
> myself by graduating from the top 3 year master’s program in the 
> country. I have excelled in my practicum and internship. I reached 
> clients at my internship that other counselors could not reach. I told 
> her that I have proven to my past supervisors and professors that I 
> actually at times sense things about a client that my sighted peers 
> didn’t. I sense voice pace, pitch, and power. I can tell if they are 
> looking at me or looking away. I can hear a person bouncing up and 
> down their knee or fumbling with their hands. I also told her that it 
> was the fine examples that I have met and learned from from this list 
> and Federation, that demonstrated that we can be social workers, 
> counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and be the best in our 
> field.  So, I bragged on you all ;) Anyways, the meeting ended well, 
> and I was able to educate her . But I would love to hear how you all 
> have approached such questions. Thank you again for your thoughts and wisdom!
> Warmly,
>
>
> James Alan Boehm M.Ed, NCC
>
> Contact Information
> Phone: 901-483-1515
> Personal Email: jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com NFB Email: JBoehm at NFB-TN.org 
> Learning Ally: JBoehm at LearningAlly.org Kustom Cane: 
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> Embrace challenges for personal growth! Remember! Circumstances do not 
> mean sentences!
>
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