Blog #1

Blog #1 – 2/5/2013

First of all, I would like to thank Dr. Baker and my colleagues in SCCN612 for a great first night in class.  I have taken some pre-requisite classes, but this is my first actual counseling class and it was easy to see right away that I am in for an excellent and enlightening experience. 

While I was reading the Corey book I found that I really enjoyed the straightforward and applicable writing.  I kept thinking about how various concepts applied to my students in my three psychology classes at Elizabethtown HS and also to myself.  Many times I find myself talking to my students about being positive with themselves, watching out for negative self-talk, and also the fact that they should be aware of their reactions to and perceptions of any situation.  I really try to stress that even though so many things are out of one’s control, at the very least we have control of our attitudes and behaviors.  As for myself, I do my best to try to model such ideas, but also struggle at times.  I hope that I have gotten better at being able to learn something from all of my experiences and want to continue to improve in that capacity.  I definitely believe that this class and this particular textbook will aide me in that endeavor.  I certainly believe in the idea that a person can be constantly self-actualizing throughout their life rather than having self-actualization as an end goal.  I also really enjoyed the use of examples and opportunities for reflection and self-discovery incorporated throughout the chapter.  I am planning to utilize some of these in my own classes, and look forward to them in the upcoming chapters.

The Furr and Carroll article reinforced some of my own personal beliefs about becoming a school counselor.  I particularly liked the identification of the impacts “counselor self-talk” (Morran, et al 1995) and the “positive relationship between counselor self-efficacy and client motivation” (Heppner, et al 1998) can have.  One of the things that drew me to school counseling is the ways in which my own critical incidents in life have shaped me.  I have been lucky enough to have had people around me whom I could trust and talk to when I needed to, and as a teacher I have had students throughout my career who I am very proud and honored to say have seemed to have felt that same way about me.  I hope that I have been a positive and helpful example for them.  I also am looking forward to the personal growth that I am sure will take place throughout this experience.  I realize that some of my relationships may be altered through this process and am curious to see how it all turns out. 

Corey, G. & Corey, M.S. (2008). I never knew I had a choice: Exploration in personal growth (9th                 Edition). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole

Furr, S.R. & Carroll, J.J. (2003). Critical incidents in student counselor development.Journal of Counseling & Development, 81, 483-489.