What stands out to me the most from this past quarter is the realization that becoming a reflective practitioner is more than an academic exercise. It is a way of being. In my career as a teacher educator, I have known this for a while. I have seen that when teachers self-reflect, they develop a deeper understanding of their students’ needs, leading to more effective teaching practices.
Author: Roque Neto
Reflections on a Transformative Week: My First Residency Experience
The heart of the residency was centered around the integration of both basic and advanced counseling skills. In a series of role-playing exercises, we took turns being mock clients and counselors, providing each other with a unique opportunity to apply what we have learned in a controlled yet impactful environment. Under the caring gaze of our instructors, we engaged in these scenarios, receiving specific feedback.
My First Residency
Residency is an intensive program designed to deepen our theoretical knowledge and to hone our practical counseling skills. The days ahead promise a rigorous yet rewarding schedule, filled with workshops and role-playing sessions.
Thinking about Hope
Hope is a key ally in building resilience. It enables clients to face setbacks with courage and perseverance. It offers a counterbalance to the despair or anxiety that many experience, not by eliminating these feelings, but by providing a perspective that coexists with them. Hope offers a glimpse of light in darkness.
A Peek into the Legal and Ethical Foundations of Counseling
Just when I thought I was getting the hang of my classes this term, bam, it’s almost over. The second quarter has been busier than the first, but it has also felt more real. We transitioned from a theoretical perspective of counseling to practicing specific therapeutic skills, and addressing the ethical and legal issues we may encounter in our counseling careers.
My Journey as a Dean
As I look to the future, I am hopeful. I envision a future where more individuals from minoritized communities ascend to similar positions of leadership in higher education, bringing a wealth of experiences that shape our departments and programs in impactful ways. Our backgrounds influence how we allocate funds, what we emphasize...
The Transformative Power of Music in My Life
Music is a universal language that speaks to the collective soul, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers sometimes with its healing embrace, and sometimes with its irresistible invitation to just dance.
Interview: Dr. Alyx MacTernan
In this interview, Dr. MacTernan shares her motivations for pursuing a career in mental health, her perspectives on the challenges facing the field, and her experiences that have shaped her approach to teaching and counseling. She also discusses the evolving role of technology in mental health and offers advice to students...
Beyond Accreditation: Transforming Mental Health Culture in Higher Education
Faculty and staff are the backbone of academic institutions, yet their mental health is often sidelined by a culture that perpetuates a cycle of stress and silence. To dismantle this, we must first recognize the unique pressures faced by those in academia, as well as the dire consequences of ignoring them.
Rediscovering My Inner Sanctuary: Reflections on My Time in Brazil
I felt loved and reconnected with those whom I also love and care about. I left each encounter with my heart full. But there was one more thing, something deeper, that these encounters provided me: They helped me remember who I am, what I value, and where I want to go.
Roque Neto 