PSYC 7203 Practicum

Reflective Journal Assignment: #2

Sumara Riaz
Dr. Robert Roughly
December 10, 2023

Please use this template to complete Reflective Journals #1 and #2 during

PSYC7203 practicum term.
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Reflective Journal #2

Self-reflection incorporates an ability of mentalization that encompasses the act of

reflecting on one’s experiences and life situations that have given rise to present inclinations,

cognitions, and ideologies (Finger-Ossinger & Löffler-Stastka, 2018). While growing up with a

particular mindset makes us the person we are, sometimes it brings into existence an attribute of

rigidity that can affect our growth as counsellors. The process of reflection not only assists

novice counsellors in being aware of this rigidity and how it influences their professional

credibility but also makes them conscious of their client’s unique dispositions impacting their

therapeutic relationship. Through mentalization, counsellors then conscientiously contemplate

their work with clients and can make necessary amendments to pursue authenticity. 

Person of the Therapist

Individual life experiences and circumstances create our specific and unique physical and

mental characteristics and impact our development as counsellors. Every counsellor has a unique

style of interaction with clients, primarily dependent on how they have become this distinctive

kind of person. As a counsellor, it is easy for me to relate with my clients (maybe due to being a

member of a collectivist culture) and develop an empathetic therapeutic relationship. However,

being a member of a particular community/culture can sometimes induce a judgemental stance

and narrow-mindedness towards other cultures and communities. Thus, reflecting daily on my

interactions with clients, asking for client feedback, and discussing with my supervisor assisted

me in the practicum process and helped me reform my lapses. 

Another point worth discussing in the process of my “person as a therapist” is the

possibility of learning from clients’ experiences. During my practicum journey, I learned a lot

from my practice as a therapist and the unique circumstances and perspectives of various
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multicultural clients. One eye-opening experience for me was to appreciate that although being

part of distinct cultures and systems, people have many similarities with each other and the

counsellor. This characteristic correspondence between clients and counsellors can be due to the

intrinsic values of human beings as similar entities. After conducting research on cross-cultural

similarities and differences, Hanel et al. (2018) asserted that individuals from various countries

may differ in the actions they perceive as typical examples of values, even when they may have

identical beliefs about the significance and abstract meaning of these values. This enlightenment

affected me a lot as a person of the therapist. 

Learnings from Supervision

I really appreciate this concept of getting constant guidance and help from an experienced

professional. There were many times in the practicum when I got stuck, and sometimes I was

susceptible about my course of action with clients. My supervisor, being a kind and

understanding person, always encouraged me to look deeply into the incident, ponder why I felt

like this, what could be the other options, ask for client feedback, and conduct thorough research

on the topic. She also made me recognize the fact many times that “we cannot work harder than

our clients.” Teichman et al. (2022) suggested that supervision can help counselling students in

many ways, including holding (feeling supported by an expert), inducing autonomy in novice

counsellors, constructive criticism, acquiring practical tools, and learning about collaborative

goal setting. Through kind and continuous assistance and supervision, I have gained confidence

in my capabilities, potential, and accomplishments, which have helped me become the therapist I

am now. 

Learnings from Consultation Seminars

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There was a lot to learn from biweekly consultation seminars, in addition to being a

constant support in this new venture as a counsellor. Recently held seminars about “culturally

infused counselling practice” and “trauma and abuse” were very helpful in working with clients

with various and disparate life circumstances, cultural values, and inclinations. Collins and

Arthur (2019) purported that culture is the core element of psychotherapy and must be

considered during the assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and intervention

phases. One more critical aspect to be cognizant of is that culture is not only limited to different

races and ethnicities, but gender identities, religions, socioeconomic statuses, and sexual

orientations are also part of cultural diversity (Collins & Arthur, 2019). Cultural safety was a

new concept I learned from this article that we should also be aware of and include in our

practice when working with clients with intergenerational and historical injustices (Collins &

Arthur, 2019). 

Another meaningful learning from these seminars was the realization of the concept of

religious and spiritual abuse and trauma. As a moderately religious person, I have always thought

religion is a support that can be a source of comfort during stressful times. However, Ellis et al.

(2022) asserted that it can be a cause of trauma for some people. Now I can relate with them as I

understand that having a strict and sometimes punishing religious atmosphere at home due to the

kids not abiding by the religious laws and rules can be traumatic and a source of abuse for some.

This strictness and damnation can make them rebellious and hate their religion instead of

considering it as a support. Additionally, it can create guilt and shame in others if they consider it

essential but cannot include it in their life somehow. Being conscious of all these various aspects

can help us be curious about clients’ religions and understand them from their specific

perspectives. 
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Areas of Struggle and Next Steps

From my understanding, one major issue for me is ‘to give advice’ to clients. After

watching my recordings, I felt like I was too quick to recommend the following steps or healthy

coping strategies. I feel like I should encourage the client to develop their own skills and

strategies to use in difficult situations so they can practice becoming independent in their

therapeutic journey. Prass et al. (2020) asserted that advising clients can be of some benefit when

asked for, yet unsolicited advice can decrease client collaboration and satisfaction with the

therapy process. When I reflected, I found that it is related to my strong wish to help clients get

rid of their stresses and learn healthy coping strategies quickly. From now on, I am focusing on

listening to the clients attentively, providing reflections (content, process, affect, meaning),

validating their issues and circumstances, letting them determine their goals, and pondering the

best next step for themselves. 

My supervisor mentioned another counselling aspect that I need to work on, being more

prepared to change the direction of the session if needed. Sometimes, a client can come up with

another compelling issue, so the counselor must be flexible about their session agenda. It is

better to prepare beforehand for the upcoming session; other therapeutic skills and strategies

should still be accessible if the patient needs to change goals, or the client posits a vital issue to

deal with promptly. Learning about various mental health issues and the everyday struggles of

the clients can help me be flexible about the structure and function of the session. 

Conclusion

Self-reflection is an imperative part of the counselling journey that helps counsellors to

become more proficient as professionals and assists them in being more conscious about

themselves and their clients. This process helps the counsellors ponder how they are progressing
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as a therapist, in which areas they are struggling and need more assistance from seniors

(supervisors, professors), and the next steps needed to grow as effective counsellors. Self-

reflection also paves the way to understanding and non-judgmentally accepting oneself and

others. 
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References

Collins, S., & Arthur N. (2019). The implications of marginalizing culture and psychology: Is the

status quo really what we are aiming for? The CAP Monitor, Issue 34.

https://www.cap.ab.ca/Portals/0/publications/CAPCAPM-Issue34-

ImplicationsMarginalizingCulture.pdf

Ellis, H. M., Hook, J. N., Zuniga, S., et al (2022). Religious/spiritual abuse and trauma: A

systematic reiew of the empirical literature. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 9(4), 213-

231. https://discovery.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=8462592a-6b04-3654-bdfa-

7c84caf66c2a

Finger-Ossinger, M., & Löffler-Stastka, H. (2018). Self-reflectivity: A moment of

professionalization in psychotherapy training. Research in Psychotherapy:

Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2018.316

Hanel, P. H. P., Maio, G. R., Soares, A. K. S., Vione, K. C., Coelho, G. L. de H., Gouveia, V. V.,

Patil, A. C., Kamble, S. V., & Manstead, A. S. R. (2018). Cross-cultural differences and

similarities in human value instantiation. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. Frontiersin.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00849

Prass, M., Ewell, A., Hill, C. E., & Kivlighan, D. M. (2020). Solicited and unsolicited therapist

advice in psychodynamic psychotherapy: Is it advised? Counselling Psychology

Quarterly, 34(2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2020.1723492

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Teichman, Y., Berant, E., Shenkman, G., & Ramot, G. (2022). Supervisees’ perspectives on the

contribution of supervision to psychotherapy outcomes. Counselling and Psychotherapy

Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12540
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Criteria Unsatisfactory Developing Accomplished Exemplary Total

Content 0-19 20-28 29-32 33-40 34/40

Reflection Reflection lacks Reflection Reflection often Reflection always

critical demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates a high
thinking. limited critical critical thinking in degree of critical
thinking in applying, thinking in applying,
Superficial applying, analyzing, and/or analyzing, and
connections are analyzing, and/or evaluating evaluating professional
made through evaluating professional progress.
explanations, professional progress.
inferences, progress. Insightful and relevant
and/or Connections made connections made
examples. Minimal through through contextual
connections made explanations, explanations,
through inferences, and/or inferences, and
explanations, examples. examples.
inferences, and/or
examples.

Professional 0-19 20-28 29-32 33-40 35/40

Growth Conveys Conveys limited Often conveys Conveys strong

inadequate evidence of evidence of evidence of reflection.
evidence of reflection. reflection.
reflection. Expresses many ideas,
Expresses some Expresses ideas, supported effectively
Expresses few ideas supported supported by by relevant evidence or
ideas, with by relevant relevant evidence rationales.
limited support evidence or or rationales.
by relevant rationales. Demonstrates
evidence or Demonstrates significant professional
rationales. Demonstrates satisfactory growth and awareness
limited professional growth of deeper meaning
Professional professional and awareness through inferences
growth and growth and through inferences, made examples, well
awareness are awareness examples, insights, developed insights, and
not evident. through few or and challenges. substantial depth in
simplistic perceptions and
Lacks inferences. Frequent challenges.
inferences, demonstration of
examples, Undeveloped future implications Synthesizes current
personal examples, of current experience into future
insights and insights, and/or experience(s). implications.
challenges. challenges.

Future Minimal
implications are demonstration of
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overlooked. future
implications
of current
experience(s).

Writing 0-10 11-15 16-17 18-20 17/20

Quality
Writing is not at Average and/or Above average Written at the graduate
the graduate casual writing writing style. level.
level. Writing style that is Writing is mostly
is unclear and sometimes clear, concise, and Writing is clear,
disorganized. unclear and/or well organized with concise, and well
disorganized. good sentence organized with
Thoughts /paragraph excellent
ramble and Thoughts are not construction. sentence/paragraph
make little expressed in a construction.
sense. logical manner. Thoughts are often
expressed in a Thoughts are always
Numerous There are more coherent and expressed in a coherent
spelling, than three errors logical manner. and logical manner.
grammar, and in grammar,
spelling errors. punctuation, Organized No errors in grammar,
usage, and presentation of punctuation, usage, or
Frequent use of spelling. information with no spelling.
colloquial more than three
language. Limited use of errors in grammar, No colloquial language
colloquial punctuation, usage, used.
language. and spelling.

1 inclusion of
colloquial
language.

Timeliness Journal receives Deduct 50 points. Deduct 25 points. Deduct 0 points.

a grade of 0.
Journals
must be
submitted
no more
than 1-2 days
prior to the
deadline

Journal Journal reflection Journal reflection Journal reflection is

reflection is is submitted 3- is submitted 1-2 submitted on or 1-2
submitted more 4 days before or days after the days before the
than 5 days after the deadline. deadline. deadline.
before or after
the deadline.
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Sumara, once again, I thoroughly appreciate the sharing of your reflections with me! Over time, I have 86/100
noticed that you have developed the capacity and or courage to take your thoughts and feelings to deeper
levels. This practice demonstrates your ability to model the message as you make similar requests of
your clients in your counselling sessions.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny
matters compared to what lies within us." I have carried this quotation in my soul for many years. As an
elementary school teacher, I placed this quotation on my grade two classroom door. Each morning,
before entering the class, the students and I, as a collective, would read these words aloud in unison. I
intended for students to remain present in the here and now, free from the noise of their everyday lives
outside our learning community. Another quotation that resonates with me as I reflect upon my review
of your reflection journals over the past seven months is Emerson's words, "What we have learned from
others becomes our reflection." As you continue this lifelong journey of becoming, I invite you to
remember these words and embrace your lived experiences and how these life learnings impact your
courageous expedition as a counselling practitioner.

Again, it has been an immense privilege to witness your growth and transformation over the past seven
months! Respectfully, Dr. Rob

‌
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References
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Reflective Journal #2
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References