Session Reflection Paper

After transcribing the session with my client, I discovered a few things about myself. This session was, in my opinion, a better depiction of my skills than prior sessions with this client. Upon review, I felt that I was not as nervous in the session but I still saw room for growth. I saw many times where I could have used more paraphrases, reflection of feeling, and confrontation. In the moment, these skills were in the back of my mind, possibly due to being nervous with a client that was dealing with a substance related issue. I was able to use open questions to get the client to elaborate on his thoughts, eliciting meaning from the client about his thought process or what rationalizing meant, and multiple encouragers and restatements that

He was a great learning experience and allowed me to explore my own process as a counselor, battling a form of anxiety that, up until that moment, was not present in other sessions of that magnitude. This particular session, I felt less anxious than in prior sessions with this client and began to utilize my basic interviewing skills and counseling skills as tools for motivation and counselor growth. As mentioned to supervisors previously, my initial anxiety with this client was the range of concerns he presented with. During supervision breaks, I would be taken down different paths to try and discover different aspects of the client instead of letting the client lead me to where he needed to be. Unfortunately, that journey lasted six sessions and this session was one of the first where I decided to let the client lead the session and sort of “co-facilitate” the

Even though I am no longer taking mid-session breaks, I feel comfort in having other therapists nearby and my supervisor an email or phone call away should I need assistance. Just knowing these resources are around has allowed me to think on my feet and provide the best client-care possible for my clients. I will soon be working with the alcohol and drug division of Hamilton Center, seeing clients regularly at their facility and have already begun to see a few clients with substance related issues at the main center. These clients have been invaluable for me and in the short weeks I have seen them, I have learned a lot. Working with my supervisor, I had discussed this client with her and I requested resources, similar clients, and any other helpful material she could provide so I could feel comfortable with the