End of semester and a peek at next year!

Wow. This semester has FLOWN by! I was tempted to read the post before this to see where I left off, but I think I'll read it after.
I can't believe I am half way to getting my degree and license! I also got my field placement for next year. It is a chemical addiction and gambling hotline and outreach funded by OASIS. I will counsel over the phone 2 days and have face to face psychotherapy sessions the other day. There is a nice stipend, too! (lucky!) and I can likely put 350 hours towards the education and training prerequisite for a CASAC certificate, so that is a great credential.

I haven't found out too much about the program yet, but having a state funded (I believe it is state run too) hot line would be great for my resume, seeing as I'm gunning for a state job eventually ($$$). Also, maybe I can continue part-time doing psychotherapy there if all goes well next spring? That could count towards clinical hours perhaps?

I'm trying to be optimistic. I realize that not everyone can have a super clinical experience, like the one I was holding out for with 12 hours of client time a week, like at the NYSPI, but maybe I can volunteer there this summer? I just hope I don't end up being stuck in a cubicle all day by myself and making referrals like a 311 operator. You can't tell me that no other placement is available that can give me more face contact hours. But maybe having someone on the phone will help me be more confident? Help pick up on verbal cues with the lack of bodily cues? I don't know.
Either way, and extra $100-$200 a week would help out considerably, and the neighborhood's great (wall street) and I WILL get to do psychotherapy with a well qualified supervisor to boot. The field supervisor @ Hunter said that it was a new initiative, so on site training with the boss might=job afterwards, if it's a good fit. Hmmm.. I just wonder what consideration went in to me being placed here, and not anywhere else. I also knew that not being bilingual would eventually fuck me over in doing SW in an urban setting, I just didn't think it would be so soon.

anyway. This weekend will be beautiful and hopefully will nto deter me too much form doing my thesis for Human Behavior, my favorite class so far. I'm writing a paper on developmental implications for Pedophillia as seen through psychoanalytic theory and object relations theory. So far, very interesting. It has also helped me realize that I forgot how great reading is!!! I've been keeping up half decently this semester, thoguh the work load has seem really pitiful compared to last semester. They do say the first is the toughest though. I just had bigger papers due and bonafide midterms and papers due more frequesntly. Damnm I really wish every class was structured as well as HBSE. I wonder what next semester will bring for that class. All I can say is I'm glad I took Theories of personality in undergrad, or I might be lost.
I have so much I want to read and explore this summer, on top of maybe finding a volunteer position or a workshop (CBT?). Hmm.

Spring break was a great reflecting period. Here is what I've concluded

-My field placement was great, though I want to assert my professionalism at my next placement. I enjoy the lack of micromanaging and casualness, but sometimes the line is crossed. I will especially make sure that men know I'm not interested in being harrassed.

-My clinical skills were sharpened and put to work. Our clinical class finally hit the spot of allowing us to apply theory. As a placement, this agency was a good learning experience, but also taught me that it is not clinical enough for my interests, and is too small to provide the interdiciplinary experience I crave. A larger agency might alos offer more trainings on site. YAI was AWESOME for that.

-I'm DONE with "casework".

-I want to start my own initiatives at my next placement. I want to be rememebred.

more for later. Time to get an afterwork drink!!!