Assessment of Counseling With Intern Project

Upon beginning my counseling sessions at the student counseling center, I was unsure of what I would experience as a client, unsure of how I would react or what I would disclose during the sessions, and I was nervous about participating in counseling sessions. Before my first session, I found myself reflecting on why I felt so uneasy and nervous about participating in an individual session. Specifically, I remember thinking about how this activity would give me the opportunity to be a client, and the experience of participating in a counseling session. I also remember reiterating to myself that I am pursuing a career in the field of counseling, so this experience would be one I embrace, instead of view negatively. Throughout the six sessions, I found myself journaling my reflection of how my sessions went, as well as my impression and feedback of my counselor. I found this beneficial in helping me reflect on the information discussed during sessions, as well as provided me the opportunity to assess my counselor and the impact of each session.

At the initial session with my counseling intern, Sarah, she appeared very relaxed and had great interpersonal skills. She frequently used my first name during our discussions, and maintained eye contact with me. I initially expected her to immediately start going over paperwork, and provide me with an in-depth overview of what the six sessions would consist of; instead, she started off by introducing herself, provided me with a brief synopsis of her background, and then transitioned into having me complete an information sheet, and lastly reviewed the informed consent document. She made sure to ask me if I had any questions or comments about what had been reviewed thus far,...

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... how my behaviors can be understood differently in different contexts; as well as, learned how to be open to addressing situations in new ways. Moreover, it provided me with a different outlook of myself, and brought about new responses to some of my most recent experiences. Without participating in these sessions, I more than likely would not have taken out the time to gain a better awareness of myself, or address certain issues. Therefore, this experience has given me the courage to not be ashamed of wanting to gain more insight into myself, or seek outside assistance to address certain issues. Overall, this project helped me view myself more clearly, and allowed me to form my own opinions about the counseling experience.

Works Cited

Peterson, J.V., & Nisenholz, B. (1999). Orientation to counseling (4th edition). Needham

Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.