Artifact 1.1 - Nonprofit memory game

January 21, 2024

acrostic mnemonic method

Awkward Penguins Moonwalk Beneath

Pretty Sunshine

Creating

Cheerful Spectacle

Avoiding Memory

Silence

In creating a SWOT Analysis for my future career preparation in clinical therapy I discovered strengths within myself that I had not seen before. I also discovered weaknesses that I know I will need to pay close attention to, specifically emotional involvement with future clients. I have a lot of love and care for individuals, and I tend to take on their circumstances emotionally and not balance out the self-care portion that is needed to refuel myself for me to be able to be of service. I can see where I would need to act differently with the level of connection I have with a client.

With there being several internal and external factors that can deeply improve or hinder my professional career within clinical therapy I find it most imperative to be knowledgeable not only in mental health skills and techniques, but also to always strive to stay informed on economics, laws and industry standards that can change often. This will allow me to be successful as a clinical therapist for myself and for my future clients.

During this session I was honored to volunteer as a moderator to assist the interns presenting. One intern highlighted the importance of supporting individuals with mental illnesses through online resources and wellness checks. Another showcased the power of engaging parents and educators in fun educational activities to support children's learning. Another emphasized community outreach to raise awareness about available programs, expanding opportunities for involvement and support. Finally, one focused on helping homeless individuals access local resources, demonstrating the practical impact of providing information and support in challenging situations. During this session, I learned the importance of proactive outreach and community engagement in addressing various needs and supporting individuals in improving their lives.

During a recent presentation, interns shared insights from various organizations. One highlighted the benefits of YMCA for families, another focused on improving parental engagement at Carlisle ISD. Another participated in the Houston Food Bank backpack buddy program, emphasizing compassion for those in need. Another showcased community involvement in education through events like "love for learning," while another emphasized the effectiveness of newsletters in keeping parents engaged and informed at an Elementary School. One key takeaway was the importance of community involvement, compassion, and effective communication in supporting children's education and well-being.

Interns shared impactful initiatives from their experiences: one created a journal series aiding psychotherapy for youth, another used social media for parent communication at an elementary school, and the last addressed resource disparities impact on youth well-being. These presentations highlighted innovative approaches and insights crucial for youth support. These presentations showed me the importance of the multifaceted nature of youth support, showcasing innovative approaches and critical insights for their well-being and success.

I had the opportunity to personally review where my collaborative partner readiness has developed. The Individual Collaboration Factors Inventory, based on The Fieldstone Alliance’s Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory (Harley-McClaskey, 2017, pp. 298-303), asks a series of self-reflection questions that allowed me to gage my strengths and weaknesses specific to leadership and collaboration.

Upon answering the questions with honesty for a true evaluation, I found myself, as expected, to be mostly in agreement, opposed to strong agreement, when it comes to collaborating with others, where I desire to be inclusive and unified in all areas of my life. However, I was a bit surprised at how I evaluated my own personal skills and qualifications. I scored myself as definitely room for improvement on increasing the perception of my value and how my talents and skills can be a tool to serve others. It is vulnerable to self-reflect, where you may find yourself in the extremes of humility, egotistical, confident or lack of confidence. I found that my results balanced in the neutral zone, which seems to be between humility and lack of confidence. I am grateful for this recognition. I am now aware of the work I can do to improve in this area. I believe having confidence in your own abilities is vital to being ready to hold a position of collaboration and leadership.

The strategies I will use to improve my confidence within readiness is to create a list of my accomplishments, my successes, my educational qualifications and my personal characteristics that compliment an individual in leadership. A second strategy that would be of great value will be to expand my network of individuals within my professional human services field who will mentor, support, and cheer me on through my own process.