Dr. Constance Kindrick Patterson: Virtual Field Experience

Virtual Field Experience

Dr. Constance Kindrick Patterson demonstrates the journey a counselor must undergo when counseling an individual seeking to explore and understand their sexual identity. Tracy is a 39 year old married woman with a very conservative family background. After a recent dinner party where a lesbian couple was in attendance, Tracy has begun revisiting the notion of having children outside of her marriage and in a lesbian relationship, however she experiences anxiety and stress based on the presumed response she may receive from her parents. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the session while drawing attention to the competencies demonstrated by Dr. Patterson. The paper will also describe insights gained and the effective

cultural competencies demonstrated.
Summary
The session begins one month into the therapeutic relationship between Dr. Patterson and Tracy. The most recent presenting issue Tracy discusses is based around a recent family dinner where her brother and sister-in-law are discussing the possibility of having another child. Tracy’s mother jokingly asks when she is going to have a child (2:50). Tracy feels hurt by the comment, and admits that she never really thought about having children of her own until about a month ago while at a co-worker’s home for a dinner party. At the dinner was an openly gay, lesbian couple who shared about their experience of having a child together (7:40). This event served as a catalyst for Tracy’s notions about heterosexual couples as the only type of couple having children.
Dr. Patterson utilizes rephrasing to help lay the groundwork for Tracy to rethink the notion of Tracy and a LGB relationship (9:00). Tracy’s affect throughout the session seems stressed whenever the idea of speaking about a lesbian identity with her family, which the acceptations of her younger brother who Tracy describes as the “black sheep” of the family. Tracy admits, that she could keep the question of her sexual identity at an arm’s length until the dinner party, but after the dinner a whole new world of possibilities and a whole new reality beyond sexual attraction existed (14:30).
Dr. Patterson hones in on Tracy calling her brother the black sheep and uses her younger brother as an example to show that other possibilities exist without conforming to her parents’ conservative values. Throughout the session Dr. Patterson gently probes and pushes Tracy not to force her into a decision, but in order to help the client articulate some of her thoughts regarding a changing sense of identity (30:00). Tracy and Dr. Patterson seem to have established good rapport thus far and will proceed in an unassuming manner until Tracy makes a decision either way about the present and future direction of her life.
Competencies
Dr.

Patterson demonstrates the APA guideline #10, by attempting to understand how Tracy’s family will respond to the potential idea of her leaving her husband and entering into a lesbian relationship. Guideline 10 states, “Psychologists [Counselors] strive to understand the ways in which a person’s lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientation may have an impact on his or her family of origin and the relationship with that family of origin” (APA, 2012). The impact a sexual orientation may have on a family is varied, but often leaves about the individual and the family feeling fragmented. According to Pachankis (2004), “individuals who hide their sexual identity experience a discrepancy between their true selves and the selves that they present to others. These individuals may feel inauthentic, as if they are living a lie… These individuals are likely to avoid social situations, especially those in which they feel their sexual identity will be called into question”

(p.229).
Dr.

Patterson clearly displays a level of awareness with in the therapeutic environment consistent with the aims of Multicultural Counseling. As Hays (2008) notes, that Multicultural Counseling is unlike the major counseling theories in that instead of describing how therapy is done, it stems from the question “With whom is it done?” (p. 177). Focusing on the person is a practice that encourages respect and rapport vital for maintaining a healthy counselor-client relationship.

A particular insight I received from viewing this session and discussion is the continued probing Dr. Patterson used to help encourage Tracy to think and talk about the way in which sexual orientation impacts her life and family relationships. Dr. Patterson was not forceful or disrespect and she also displayed a level of confidence necessary to help the client.

Additionally Dr. Patterson made a noteworthy suggestion that future counselor should consider. When the counselor is uncertain, or lacking in experience, or feels a particular bias which may influence the therapeutic relationship there is always the option of referring the client to a counselor more apt at handling the client’s particular situation or circumstance. This was a suggestion showing very good self-awareness and maintaining the client’s best interest even if it is in opposition to the counselor’s own beliefs.

Cultural

Competency
Dr. Patterson does a very good job of working with the client and not suggesting one choice over another. Dr. Patterson mentions that she does not know when or if the client will make and changes. In counseling you are not certain where you are going it is the client’s choice and pace (23:00). By focusing on the uniqueness of the client the counselor can help ensure that the counseling environment is open and conducive to exploration and change.
When questioned by Dr. Nina Nabors regarding any aspect Dr. Patterson would change about the session she mentions that she would like to have used more specific terms and labels with Tracy. However, she admits that there is a balance and she did not want to push the client too forcefully. As a novice in the counseling field I do not know of any additional recommendations to suggest to Dr. Patterson.