Patience

Throughout my educational journey as a counselor in training I have come to learn the importance of patience in this field. Patience for our clients, patience for the processes and the progress and setbacks that can be expected with any long-term chance, and perhaps the most important that I have learned and will continue to grow in is having patience in myself.

The ACA Code of Ethics states: “ The primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients”( ACA Code of Ethics, A.1.a, 2014).

I have spoken often in previous dispositions of my internalized belief and pursuit of “perfection”. That somehow to not get things on the first or second try, somehow indicated a deep and irreparable fault in myself. I have grown to realize, that just as the clients I se deserve patience, and grace, so do I and that judging others or myself poorly does not cultivate any positive change, in fact I now have grown to know the contrary, constant judgement and unrealistic expectations will stifle positive change. I aim to continue to grow in this counseling disposition through my mentorship; and through daily journal reflections, but one that is filled with things I have done to make me feel proud of myself, and affirms me in my growth and continuous progress.

Within this page you will find an article of a mock group session I had done with some of my former classmates, in which I was able to demonstrate some of the limited counseling skills I had learned within that time, and to solidify that skills have to be developed, and sharpened with dedication, with discipline, with humility, and with kindness.