December Extra Blog Post

Monthly Post:

     Change occurs at the oddest of times for better or for worse. This month of December has been a mixed month in terms of my mentorship. For instance the "Anger Management"  group and concept basically got shot down and we will no longer be going further with it (and now I need to change my EQ). However there is a form of silver lining. Now that the anger management will not be continuing my mentor spoke to me of other "projects" in which her and I can begin.

     We have been talking about a potential LGBTQ group. In case there are people who don't know, the abbreviation stands for "L"esbian, "B"isexual, "G"ay, "T"ransgender, and "Q"ueer. Here is a list that we both came up with, in which her and I will complete and compile our research together.

     Find resources in the local community for LGBTQ (e.g. planned parenthood, community centers, clubs etc.) Also want to find online resources for adolescents.
Here are some of the resources I was looking for:
1) understanding attraction towards the opposite sex/ feeling comfortable with your identity
2) how to/ support for youth that are thinking about "coming out"
3) what is "coming out"?
4) common reactions of the person coming out and reactions of loved ones
5) how do I compromise between religion (parent's religious beliefs) and my true identity?

     We understand obviously that this whole concept is a very delicate subject.We are not sure if this potential project will in fact develop into an actual group. For now we are in the building process by obtaining research that we need. I will continue to contribute to the research along with my mentor Karla in order to hopefully establish this group.

November Extra Blog Post

     My mentor, Karla Vallejo Rodriguez, assigned me to research a theory she has always found interesting: Whether or not certain foods affect one's moods. She assigned me to find several research on the theory. With all the research, she told me to than format the important facts of research and create a nifty and appealing pamphlet that she could hand out to certain people in her sessions that have unhealthy food patterns. I am currently in the process of assembling research and creating the pamphlet for Karla.

Through my research so far I have found somewhat of a correlation between eating habits and moods of people. According to reported research by NBC News, people should eat at least every 5 hours to keep their blood levels steady. Eating at this rate would ensure that your body gets necessary fuel, which may ultimately keep your mood stable. Also eating protein can slow the absorption of carbohydrates in your blood flow, which can improve your overall mood for various hours after a meal. On the other hand, meals with more fiber could slow the absorption of carbohydrates in your bloodstream which can decrease mood-swings. I will continue to research this topic and ultimately create a pamphlet for my mentor Karla.  

Blog 9: EQ

Content:

1.) I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.)
 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
- The eq is rather simple. However it is open to various answers, and you are able to argue a point on it. I also can understand this eq, overall I think its a good eq and passes the rule of three.

b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
-This eq does not reach the rule of three for writing an eq because the formatting of the sentence is off. I am not able to understand the eq based off it's wording. Due to that flaw this eq isn't qualified and should be revised in order to fulfill the rule of three. I also don't think this eq allows for argument because the term conviction is by a law, and laws can't be questioned. 

c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
-This eq is not a yes or no answer because every customer has different needs. This eq is also open to argument and various answers so this is good because it allows for depth of research. Overall the formatting is good, and I fully understand the eq. This eq passes the rule of three.

d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
-This eq is well formatted. However chronic pain, from my knowledge, can only be treated in limited ways. Thus, this eq isn't open to argument, and that limits the amount of research possible for this eq. Due to that, this eq does not pass the rule of three.

3.) Based on the rule of three I came up with this draft of my eq:
"What is the most vital factor in conducting a successful group therapy session?" 

Monthly Post for October: Book Work

Monthly Post:
So throughout most of my time with my Karla Rodriguez Vallejo (my mentor)  I can expect to complete the task of reading her books and extracting the important info from the books. One of the books that I'm most familiar with is Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse by Lisa M. Najavits. I have worked on this book the past couple of months. It's a very informational piece of text and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to add it to my working bibliography for senior project research.

Here is a picture of the book:

 The book has chapters that each are specific to a process in the works of successful therapy. For example:
chapter 1-Intro to treatment, chapter 2-Safety, chapter 3-Detaching from emotional pain, etc.
Thus I read through each chapter and I highlight the main points and I than jot them down in a notebook.
After  have jotted down enough information I than transfer the writing into typed form and print it out.
The printed information is than used and integrated into packets that Karla and I create for our group therapy sessions. Overall this book has been tons of help in guiding me through information, as well as giving me information to integrate into my packets.

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

Content:

1. What is your working EQ?
 My working EQ is : What is the most effective strategy to conducting a group therapy session?

2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.
   EQ is : What is the most effective strategy to conducting a group therapy session?

• Making packets with reading material and exercises that the group patients each receive, read and perform on their own time; afterwards they share and discuss their results during a group therapy session.
• During the group therapy session the therapist would listen and answer any questions or clarify any of the reading material to the group patients. Also the therapist would go around the circle and allow everyone to share out their experience over the weekend and allow them to say whether or not the tips that were given by the therapist worked or not.
• Over time the group will become more comfortable after a couple of therapy sessions, and ultimately the group will flow steadily and the therapist should be able to control and monitor the group's progress. 

3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

   My most important source has been my mentor, Karla Rodriguez Vallejo. She helped me come up with my current answer (subject to change) by allowing me to contribute to her actual group therapy sessions. We usually do those steps that I listed and they seem to be effective. As of now, it seems like my best answer and I have personal experience with my mentor to support my claim. I have seen her group share out their weekends and discuss how my mentor's tips have helped. There is clear progression, therefore I believe the strategy that I listed is a strong candidate for the solution to my working EQ.

4. Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your EQ?

  My mentor is Karla Rodriguez Vallejo. She is a marriage and family therapist who works for a company named Pacific Clinics. She is currently working on 3 different therapy groups. I assist her on each 3 therapy sessions by helping her prepare for her sessions, sitting with her during sessions, and reviewing the sessions with her afterwards when the group leaves. This allows me to get a hands on experience of Marriage and Family therapy and witness real people talk about their lives and analyze how my mentor assists the group and spreads her knowledge in order to help everybody out. I'm very grateful, and I'm learning so much through my mentor and experiences with her. 

Independent Component 1 Approval

Content:

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
           In order to complete my 30 hours I will work with my mentor and complete my independent component hours along with my mentorship hours. This is possible because I'm seeing my mentor 4 times a week and helping her almost every day for various hours. I will be assisting her with preparation for her group therapy sessions by gathering and creating packets for her patients. I will also be assisting her through out her group therapy session. Afterwards we usually debrief to each other and she teaches me her methods of therapy which i find fascinating. Overall these hours will be easy to complete and will help me understand my senior project better.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
          In order to prove I completed my 30 hours I will create a virtual spreadsheet that will show what exactly I did every time I help her and document all my hours. I will also get copies of the packets that I assemble, and add pictures of us prepping for the therapy sessions as well as maybe picture of the group session. However that is only if confidentiality is not an issue. I should have no problem providing evidence of my 30 hours.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.
     My independent component will help me in various ways to explore my topic.  For instance, I will be spending time with my mentor as she educates me of all the therapy strategies she knows and as well have practice in actually testing out these strategies during our group therapy session. Overall the experience will help get me exposed to real-life therapy sessions and get an authentic vibe and atmosphere of how my topic really is. I am excited and ready to be enlightened. 

Monthly Post: September

Extra Blog On Research :

Throughout my research on my senior project I have found various articles and other informational text with vast knowledge on marriage and family therapy. One of the most fascinating and informative piece of text however was the "John Gottman on Couples Therapy" Interview. John Gottman is a famous Professor of psychology widely popular for his contribution and progress in successful marriage and family therapy.

(John Gottman)

In this interview I was able to understand a professional and really analyze his answers and connect the dots with past knowledge to fully understand the meanings of his answers. He is very wise and sage. John Gottman shed the truth on active listening/ responding. I learned about how compromise can also lead to further problems if you compromise to soon or often. I also learned that Gottman himself had marital problems! However he solved them and is currently happily married after.

(This is John Gottman and his wife Julie)

 My view on that is that no matter who you are (even if you are the Great John Gottman) that problems will arise. Its not the end of the world, there is always a way out. After reading through the rest of the interview I decided to further research John Gottman and I was impressed by his amazing record and achievements in his field. No doubt this interview contributed to my perspective of my senior project, and it also made me eager to learn more!

Here is the link to the interview as well: http://www.psychotherapy.net/interview/john-gottman

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

Content:
1. Who is your mentor and where do they work?

My Mentor is Karla Vallejo Rodriguez. She is a Marriage and family therapist who works for a company called Pacific Clinics however she is currently finishing up a certain amount of hours as a marriage and family therapist at a high school named Bassett. Afterwards she will be able to apply elsewhere and even open up her private practice if she wished to.

 2. What five questions will you ask them about their background?

-When you were in college, what did you think your career was going to be? What was your undergraduate major field of study?
-What kinds of prior experience were essential in helping you prepare yourself for this work?
-Describe how you occupy your time during a typical work week?
-What obligations does your work place upon you, outside of the ordinary work week? Do you enjoy these obligations?
-What are the toughest problems you must deal with, and how do you solve these problems?
-What do you find most rewarding about the work itself, apart from external motivators, such as salary, fringe benefits, travel, etc?
-If you were to leave this kind of work, what would drive you away from it?

Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

Content:

The Pentagon: 
(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?
One of the most positive things that has occurred as a result of what I've completed so far involves gaining vital information that I will never forget. For example I learned from my mentor Karla what courses she took and what steps she took in order to become a Marriage and Family therapist. She has been a very informative source and reliable mentor. She has given me a chance to be her intern, and every moment of being with her is positive because she guides me and teaches me everything about her job.

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic? 
The piece that has helped me the most has actually came through my interview with my mentor. One of the most vital parts of the interview was when she got a paper and actually drew out the steps to becoming a marriage and family therapist. She drew a timeline from high school to a successful MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist) and she would draw lines in order and describe each step. I still have that paper and it made everything much clearer and understandable to me because I was able to hear her speak about the steps as well as see them in corresponding order with the timeline she drew for me. 

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?
I believe that my mentor has worked for me perfectly. Her office location is 5 minutes away. She gives me great resources, information, guidance, practice, contacts, and many opportunities for me to get hands on experience with group therapy sessions. She is also reliable and I have not had any problems with her, I am thankful to have found such a cooperative mentor. 

(4) What hasn't worked so far?   
I don't believe that the research checks have helped as much as they should. Maybe they work for my fellow peers, however I like to learn hands on. I don't like to learn through mere words, I like to participate when I learn. Maybe that is why my mentor is what has worked for me so well, and the same reason why not the research checks have helped to my best ability. Its nothing personal, it's just not my preference of learning; that's all.

(5) Finding Value: 
-Potential EQ: What is the most effective strategy to conducting a group therapy session?
-Plans for Mentorship:
I have already found my mentor. Her name is Karla Vallejo Rodriguez and she is a Marriage and Family therapist. I have already discussed the mentorship project to her and we have already set up dates. I will be seeing her four times a week. She is going to start conducting 2 separate group sessions starting in October and will run till July. The first group will consist of high school females and focus on relationships (family/ bfs). The second group will consist of high school males and focus on anger management. I will meet her twice a week to prep for the group sessions by collecting info and worksheets to make packets to hand out to the patients of the group sessions. The other 2 days that I will be meeting with her will be to actually sit beside her and co-assist in the leading of her 2 group therapy sessions. Thus with the 2 days of prep, and 2 days of assisting in group therapy sessions i will be seeing her 4 times a week. We have also discussed my "final product" and that will be me leading a group therapy session all by myself! I am so excited for that! Till then I will be learning from Karla and assist her at all times possible to better benefit my knowledge.

Monthly Post: Research

Monthly Post: 

         During my summer mentorship I worked with a marriage and family therapist named Karla Rodriguez Vallejo. Due to confidentiality I was not able to witness individual sessions with her and patients. However I was able to sit with and participate in her group therapy sessions. The two sessions I was able to participate in we're a parenting session with pure adults that covered how to communicate with their children and be a better parent. The other session consisted of discussing relationships, sex, and trust with high school couples. 

         I actually helped her prepare for her sessions by assisting her in the collecting of research and work sheets in order to assemble packets that would be handed to those individuals participating in the group sessions. For example in the picture above, there is a worksheet for the high school couples therapy session. I assisted her in the research of healthy relationships, safe sex, and abuse prevention. Afterwards I compacted the info into neat packets for the patients. It was a really exciting experience and I felt fulfilled when I would see all the patients utilizing the packets that I helped create, because I knew I made a difference and really contributed to the therapy session. 

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

Content:

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?

I have already scheduled an interview with Karla Rodriguez Vallejo. I chose her because I have worked with her during the summer and she is very knowledgeable and also reliable so I know she won't cancel on me.
Plus she is a brilliant Marriage and family therapist. I'm looking forward to working with her again.

2. Additional 5 questions:

-When you were in college, what did you think your career was going to be? What was your undergraduate major field of study?
-Describe how you occupy your time during a typical work week?
-How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, hours of work, vacation schedule, place of residence? Do you like your terms of flexibility?
-What do you believe are the skills and personal qualities needed to enter into this career?
-What do you find most rewarding about the work itself, apart from external motivators, such as salary, fringe benefits, etc..?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Semester 1 ESLR Goals

Content:

1. Topic: Marriage and Family Therapy
-Short Job Description: Marriage and family therapists diagnose, assess, treat mental illness as well as psychological stress within the context of a marriage and family outlook perspective system. The usual therapy sessions are : premarital counseling, relationship counseling, divorce counseling, and child counseling. The sessions may be conducted in a group or individually. They also create the foundation for developing treatment plans, as well as improve communication skills of their patients.

2. What do you plan to do this year to show growth in each of the ESLRs?  

-Effect Learner: I will be an effective learner by always utilizing resources in order to understand and expand my knowledge on all subjects. For example I will also turn all my senior project work on time and always be punctual for my due dates. I will be responsible and utilize all classroom time in a productive manner. Finally through all that, I will become at the very least a proficient student. However I hope to become an AE student through good work habits and becoming an effective learner.

-Effective Communicator: I will become an effective communicator this year by always being committed to my group, and cooperating in all activities. For example I will clearly and peacefully let my voice be heard to my group members, as well as respectfully listen to their ideas as well. I know that becoming an effective communicator well benefit both myself and my peers, and ultimately lead to a successful academic year.

-Effective User of Technology: I will become an effective user of technology by accessing reliable and informational sources, utilizing MS word, and using my technological skills in order to create the best presentations I possibly can. For example If a peer needs assistance I will be there to provide help. Also if I need help, I will ask a peer or teacher to help me find a credible and reliable source.

-Effective I-Poly Citizen: I will become an effective I-Poly citizen by respecting my peers, being responsible, generating a positive school environment, demonstrating the understanding of both historical and current issues. For example I will be responsible by always showing up to class prepared, punctual, and willing to learn. I will also generate a positive school environment by respecting my fellow peers and assisting anybody who needs my assistance. I will do my best to become an effective I-Poly citizen, as well as a better well rounded individual during the process.

Summer Mentorship Component

Literal:

1) Hours Log:
Copy & Patse to your URL:
 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AupYbqly5qyPdC0zOHJNaFhaYjBMZ3Q1STdVT09XU3c&usp=sharing

2) Karla Rodriguez Vallejo:
-Phone (562) 907-7429
-Cell (626) 660-5730

3) Questions
-What is the academic pathway to becoming a marriage and family therapist?
-What Universities have good marriage and family health major programs?
-What is the definition of a "typical day" for this career?
-How do I one day run my own private practice?

(Interpretive)

4) What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?
The most important thing I gained from this experience hands down is the knowledge that I learned from a professional. I learned how a marriage and family therapist actually goes about their work hours. This experience is the most important because I have researched this career in the past, but to actually be able to experience first hand a therapy session; or to prepare handouts for a therapy session is just phenomenal for me in terms of experience and knowledge to posses in a career that I'm highly interested in. My most vital piece of experience has to be the attending two group therapy sessions. I got to experience and feel the whole therapist vibe. I was really fascinated and excited to watch them both pan out. I was allowed to analyze Karla and witness how she interacted with the people of the group sessions. I learned a lot by sitting in the group and being in the therapy session atmosphere. I'm grateful Karla allowed me to help her out, I certainly enjoyed it and was honored to learn from a professional.

(Applied)

5) How did what you did help you choose a topic?
This assignment helped me choose my topic (marriage and family therapy) because after the hours of mentorship I am now certain that I am truly interested in this career field and one day I want to pursue it. I love being able to help others out and be a good communicator. For example my mentor Karla told me different methods of speaking to individuals. She taught me how to get somebody to open up you. I learned that the best way for that to be done is by being a good communicator by listening, understanding the patient emotionally, and then being able to give advice and positive help back to let them know you are there for them and there is help and a way out/ or to solve their conflicts. I really want to be able to help people one day, just as Karla has demonstrated to me. I want to be able to make a difference in somebody's life. Through my own character traits and the job qualities required, I think I'm a perfect fit and I want to help people out. I am eager to continue my quest of expanding my knowledge on this career field, and I want to continue mentoring. Thus without a doubt I knew my topic had to be Marriage and Family Therapy.

2013 2 Hour Senior Presentations

1.) The Presentations I viewed were:
Leslie - Zombie Culture

Roxana - Daycare Centers

Jaime - Navy: Ways against terrorism
Joseph - Integrate Native Species
Andrea - Painting
Raul - Remote Control Car Racing
Reann - Wildlife Conservation
Jada - Autism/Psychiatry
Ana - Event Planning
Kendall - Coping With Cancer
Rachel - Teaching Chemistry
Jacob - Teaching History
JD - Pastry Art
Salvador - Soccer

2.) I have no questions regarding any specific senior presentation topic. However I did see 2 presentations where the presenter played a video and commentated over the entire video. Does that then count as talk time if you talk during the entire video? Other than that I really don't have any questions.

3.) I believe that the most vital part of the 2 hour presentations are great answers to your essential question and to be able to effectively elaborate and present all 3 answers well so that those who you are teaching to understand and remain focused throughout the entire presentation.

4.) I am considering doing marriage and family therapy as my senior presentation. It fascinates me because 1 day I want to be a marriage and family therapist. I have studied the profession well and really want to intern during the summer with a therapist to fully understand the profession better. I am enthusiastic about the topic and feel like I would be a great presenter on the topic because if you love something and are into it you'll be able to succed in it. I have passion, emotion, and heart for this topic and believe I will present on it well with the proper internship, research, and overall examples I have seen throughout this year's senior presentations.