This past month has marked the beginning of a new chapter in my counseling journey: Practicum. After two years of coursework, theory, role plays, and discussions, Practicum has been the moment when everything starts to come together. It is where all the knowledge from the counseling program is applied to real cases, with real people, in real time.
At its core, Practicum is about taking everything we have learned and putting it into practice to support clients. Each session requires drawing on the foundational theories, skills, and interventions we have studied, but also learning how to adapt them thoughtfully to each individual client’s needs. There is nothing quite like the experience of being in the room with a client and realizing that all those lectures, readings, and class activities have prepared me for this moment.
But Practicum has other requirements too. The most prominent one for me has been time management. Balancing a full-time job with seeing clients, attending both individual and group supervision, going to class, completing assignments and readings, and still making time for rest and family has been a challenge in a way I had never experienced before. Because for every client I see, there are progress notes to be completed, treatment plans to be created, and other pieces of bureaucratic work that are unique to each agency. These tasks can take a lot of time, especially in the first months as I am trying to learn them.
Another key dimension has been learning to reach out for support. I have leaned on classmates, professors, and supervisors whenever I have felt uncertain, and I have become more attuned to my own signals that tell me when I need to seek help. This willingness to ask questions and stay connected has been essential for growth and for maintaining a sense of community in what can be a demanding process.
Practicum has also been about developing my professional identity. As I meet with clients and navigate different therapeutic situations, I am discovering my own way of doing therapy. This approach integrates theory, the wisdom of supervisors and peers, and my own personality. It is an evolving process, but it is exciting to see my style begin to take shape in a way that feels both authentic to me and helpful to my clients.
Because Practicum involves so many dimensions, including clinical work, learning, growth, time management, and self-care, I need to make sure I am fully present for all of it. For that reason, I will be taking a break from the blog until the end of the quarter.
I will return on the second Tuesday of December, when the fall quarter concludes, and I will have completed Practicum requirements. I look forward to sharing more reflections at that time, particularly about how this journey continues to shape me as a therapist.
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I will see you in December!
Roque Neto 