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From: Jaime Hannan
Date: 09 Oct 2010
Time: 16:06:24 -0500
Remote Name: 74.83.213.115
Hi Amanda! Sorry about my last post - for some reason it was blank. I just wanted to add a little bit to what Scott said. I was lucky to have a counseling course in graduate school and to have some experience using a counseling approach with several of my clients in graduate school (and now in my job). For me at first, I was intimidated by the idea - fearful that I would not know what to say or how to "help" my clients and their families. I soon realized that you just have to be yourself...and truly listen to your clients and their families. I also learned, as Scott mentioned, that even if we do not have the "same" struggles as our clients or their families, we can often relate. We've probably had something happen that made us experience some of the same thoughts and emotions. This realization really helped me to connect more with my clients and their families. Also, the more you use this type of approach...and the more you know about a certain communication disorder and the struggles that come along with it...the more comfortable you will feel. However, with that said...if you ever feel as though you are not the best professional to be helping a family (as with a client), then I would definitely encourage you to consult with your co-workers about other options...or even have that discussion with the family or client. I think that the situations that Scott mentioned definitely warrant the help of other professionals. Other situations may just require some research on your part; however, I always say...trust yourself and your clinical judgements and go from there. Hope this helps. Jaime.