This fall quarter marks the beginning of my second year in the Counseling Program at Palo Alto University, and I am excited to be back to class after a short break. Like previous quarters, I will be taking two courses, but this time, the focus areas are Group Counseling and Appraisal and Assessment in Counseling.
Group Counseling has been on my radar since the beginning of the program. My personal experience with group counseling many years ago was eye-opening and incredibly valuable for my growth, so I have been curious to learn what it takes to become a skilled group counselor. This course will go beyond just the basics of running a group session. It will cover principles like group dynamics, the stages that groups naturally pass through, therapeutic factors that make group counseling effective, and different leadership styles in group settings. I expect to gain a deeper understanding of how groups work and how counselors can facilitate meaningful change within them. I am especially curious about understanding what makes a group successful, and how that success is measured.
My second course this quarter is Appraisal and Assessment in Counseling, which presents a different but equally important set of skills. In this course, I will focus on how to properly assess clients through a variety of methods. This includes learning how to administer, score, and interpret psychological tests, as well as ensuring these tools are used in a culturally appropriate manner. I am looking forward to learning how to integrate assessment data into the therapeutic process.
Another noteworthy change this quarter is my class schedule. For the first year of the program, my classes were held on Mondays and Wednesdays. I enjoyed having that gap day between classes, as it gave me extra time to absorb the material, reflect on class discussions, and stay on top of my readings. This quarter, my classes will be on Mondays and Tuesdays, which will require some adjustment. I will miss that extra day in between, especially for processing all the information. So, I want to see how this new routine will shape my study habits and how I will balance it with my work schedule.
As I enter my second year, these two new courses will bring their own unique challenges, but they will also contribute to my development as a future counselor. Being in my fifth quarter also means I am one step closer to becoming licensed. Let’s see how it goes!
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I will see you next week!
Roque Neto 