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.