As a counseling student, I often think about how societal changes, especially around our professional lives, shape our mental health. One of the most noticeable shifts is from a society rooted in strict rules and prohibitions before the Industrial Revolution to our current performance-driven culture. This change has dramatically affected the way we experience and… Continue reading Internal Pressure: How Performance Culture Fuels Depression
Tag: #counseling
Joining Chi Sigma Iota at Palo Alto University
I have become a member of Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), the international honor society for counseling professionals and students. Not only have I joined this organization, but I am also serving on the leadership team of the Phi Alpha Upsilon Chapter at Palo Alto University as the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program Member-at-Large.
Living for Today: The Trap of the Idealized Past
This “rosy retrospection” leads us to remember past events more favorably than they truly were, often overlooking the reasons we moved on. We might romanticize places we once lived, forgetting that we left them seeking better opportunities or personal growth. Similarly, we may yearn for old friendships that have faded, not acknowledging that some relationships ended for valid reasons.
Living for Today: The Trap of the Perfect Tomorrow
Like it was for my father, for many of us, the big moment, the special turning point we have been waiting for, may never arrive. The idea that everything will align just right and we will reach that idealized life can be an illusion.
Starting Year Two in the Counseling Program
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.
A Year in Review: My Favorite Blog Posts So Far
Last week, I shared a reflection on my first year in the counseling program. Today, I would like to highlight my favorite blog posts.
Coping with Eco-Anxiety: A Counseling Student’s Reflection
I hope that we can see eco-anxiety as a reflection of the impact we have on our planet and a call for collective action, not just a disorder waiting for a diagnosis, prescription, or treatment plan. As professionals called to advocate for our clients, we cannot become numb to the destruction of the environment and the pain it causes.
Gearing Up for My Fourth Quarter in the Counseling Program
The skills and values I will develop and/or reinforce through these courses will be invaluable to my future profession. By learning to design and implement effective outreach programs and interventions, I will be better prepared to ensure that those most in need have access to quality mental health care.
My Third Quarter in the Counseling Program
This quarter has given me a roadmap for growth, highlighting areas where I need to expand my comfort zone and deepen my knowledge. The responsibilities of a future counselor can be challenging sometimes, but they are also fulfilling. Counseling is a journey of lifelong learning, and I am grateful for the opportunity...
How Studying Counseling Changed My Perspective as A Client
As a client, I saw my therapist as a guide. Now, as a therapist in training, I see our relationship as a collaborative partnership. I am the expert on my own life, and their role is to support and facilitate my journey toward self-discovery and healing.
