The Role of a Healer

Now, that my first semester comes to an end I finally find a bit of breathing room to reflect on what I have learned beyond the typical classroom lessons. There are two realizations that I want to share here with you.

First, is the amount of involvement and dedication that I should give to my future carrier. At first I thought that, since I am in this to help people, I should try to give as much as possible. However, as I continue learning about the implications, boundaries, and roles I start to question my earlier assumptions. Per McGoldrick, “…stay out of the minefield of guilt and do-gooder behavior that does not benefit our clients or ourselves. Humility and active commitment to collaboration are essential therapist skills. The value of our work does not reside in our ability to provide answers to our clients’ problems, but rather in helping them to define their options, however limited.” (p. 101). McGoldrick suggests to stay in contact and to consult with colleagues to keep on track. Already, I feel that my classmates are an excellent source of advice and I can see how in the future their input can become invaluable. McGoldrick was able to provide me with some good advice on a point that I consider fundamentally important to my future in social work.

Second, I found one of those light bulbs turn on above my head when I was reading Coyote Medicine by Lewis Mehl-Madrona. The book describes his journey and realization that while at medical school modern medicine is primarily concerned with the physical body but ignores the spirit and mind. As a consequence he decides to become a Native American healer in addition to being a western doctor. Before reading the book I considered my future role more as that of a guide, mentor, or advisor. It never occurred to me until reading the book that in essence my future might be that of a healer. Western medicine is so caught up in healing the body that it forgets and ignores people's need for a healthy mind, spirit and thought. This is a consideration that requires further thought on my end because it could mean additional responsibility but also additional opportunities to help people in a much more significant way.

The realization that I have been blind

During the last few weeks I have come to realize that I have been very close minded and blind to my surroundings. The more I learn about the struggles of different ethnic groups, social and mental health concerns, and colonization/decolonization the more I realize that I have been living in a nice bubble. I am glad that all this information opened my eyes and allows me to see a very different world that exists out there. A world that is full of issues, pain, and fear. I realize that the world that I am living in is controlled from the outside by colonizers who make me feel like a leaf that is being blown in the directions that they want me to go, believe and purchase what they want me to and so far I have nicely followed that wind. And inside that world there are other people who are all around me and who are suffering, sick, and old. I feel a bit like the buddha. Fortunately, all this is becoming clear to me as I learn about the difference that I can make. I am eager to continue this journey and to see what I will learn next and where it may take me.

Hello All,
I found this great article titled "10 Things every new Social Worker Needs to Know About People" written by Linda Conroy, M. Ed. She has an extensive background in CPS and shares her insights. Check it out and let me know if you agree with her!

10 Things Every New Social Worker Needs To Know About People

Free Writing

So, I am trying free writing in order to improve on my writing skills and hopefully be better at expressing my thoughts. This actually seems to be working. When just rambling on without any clear direction or underlying purpose words do flow easily from my head into my hands. I also noticed that not correcting the writing until it is done helps. It seems that the fewer the interruptions during the writing the better. As a result, I find myself not looking at my writing but rater just focus on my thoughts. Then, I just go over the paper later as a whole and make all the needed corrections. In the book that shows how to free write is an exercise where one is suppose to focus on sensations that occurred during an important event in the past and then free write about it. I loved that exercise. It brought back some great memories from my childhood when I used to go swimming in the wild North Sea. Words just poured out onto the screen. Thank you for bringing the great memories back and for the great tool that will help me writing.    

Food for thought

I earlier read that as a social worker, one has to be understanding and keep an open mind about individuals that are part of social minorities. However, how understanding and accepting does one have to be about different cultural and societal norms. In particular, aspects that are patriarchal dominant in nature and approve if not encourage spousal abuse? For example, in some cultures women are seen as property and physical corrections are accepted as every day occurrences. Are we as future therapists suppose to tell them that their whole culture has it all wrong? What are we suppose to do or say?

Intro

Hello and thank you forvisiting.

This is my first blog and Ihave to say that I feel a bit uncomfortable sharing my thoughts and ideas witheverybody out there. I am not the most talented person when it comes towriting. So in advance, my apologies for that. Hopefully, writing my thoughts downover time will help me with my writing skills.
Now, let’s get to what prompted me to sit down in the first place to write.Well, it all has to do with me being accepted into a MSW program at an awesomeUniversity. After spending many months obsessively performing research on what programsof study, MFT vs. MSW vs. Psy.D., to pursue and what schools to apply to, Imade up my mind and applied to one specific program. I have been accepted and aftermeeting my fellow students and faculty I have to say that I am very humbled andoverwhelmed with the great fortune, excitement, and work. My decision to pursuea new field of study and consequent profession has been long in the making. Yousee, I actually have an engineering background and I spend my whole lifethinking logical, analytical, and very unemotional. Unfortunately, that is veryconflicting with me as a person. So, I was very overdue for some change in mylife. There was of course a trigger factor but I will not go into that rightnow.

It is my goal to share withyou my experiences and thought as I go through the MSW program. I will try todescribe, to the best of my abilities, how I hopefully transform from adominant left-brained engineering type to a right-brained social worker andtree hugger who already is hiding somewhere inside of me. Please visit often asI try to describe my journey with all their challenges and insights.

Mr. H