Interview with an LMFT - Assignment Example

Interview with an LMFT Interview with an LMFT I conducted an interview with Jennifer Melvin, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who graduated from Stanford University in 2006. 1. What is your educational background at Stanford University? How many months or years did it take you to become a qualified LMFT? My academic background at Stanford University was encouraging in terms of enabling me to get involved with the LMFT program completely. I looked forward to exploiting this academic chance fully. During my psychology course, I did not fully participate for a number of reasons. However, when I enrolled at Stanford University for the second time to pursue another profession, I looked forward to an educational experience that involved my full participation. The entire course took me four years to complete. I intended on grasping and partaking in lessons and projects as much as I could. As a result, my academic years at Stanford University were helpful and supportive. I learned that one creates his or her own experience at school. 2. When and how did your interest in therapy and psychology arise and grow? All through my adolescent life, my parents, along with some of my friends, told me I was gifted in comprehending the problems of others and offering awareness and responses. This was the main source of my interest in counselling. In addition, I intended on going back to school in early 2002 to earn an advanced degree in psychology and counselling. I had not fully realized my academic and professional plans during this period. However, I knew an advanced degree would enable me to operate individually and avoid being employed. Since my young adult years, I knew I was not “destined” to work under the direct supervision of a boss. As a result, psychotherapy presented an opportunity and course for me to work solely. In the process, I can set up my own source of revenue and enjoyable professional life. 3. Why did you specialize in marriage and family therapy? Why did other fields of therapy and psychology not interest you? I chose to specialize in marriage and family therapy since it was my second profession. Two careers mean I did not have enough time to attend all lessons. As a result, I realized that I wanted to be an independent counselor with her own business, I had to get a license. In addition, I realized that pursuing a PhD demanded a lot more time at the university and extra medical training than an advanced degree. 4. Other than its literal meaning, how would you describe LMFT to a person interested in counselling? I am an LMFT, which is a professional avenue of therapy and counselling. This interest developed after working with people struggling with problems involving emotional management. I realized that such individuals were in need of skills that can aid them in dealing with overwhelming feelings and sensitive behavior. Such behavior and emotions are applicable to such individuals or people they know or relate to. For instance, self-harm and suicide are cases of the effects of overwhelming feelings and sensitive behavior of one’s self. Threatening the safety of others are cases of the effects of overwhelming feelings and sensitive behavior on others. I collaborate with psychologists who can intervene and offer clinical support to even out certain clients. Being an LMFT includes looking for therapists who can use their skills to help clients who are not even their own. Between 2008 and 2011, I found it hard to find therapists qualified in LMFT with whom I could consult with. LMFT is a proof-based psychotherapy mediation originally made to deal with personality conditions. During the past decade, LMFT has grown to aid client sin handling anxiety, drug abuse, bipolar sicknesses, and bulimia. I believe it is good for those interested in counselling to familiarize with this specific mediation. Those interested in counselling should also grasp and assist others because proficiency in LMFT involves life skills. 5. During what time of your education at Stanford University did you realize you had to decide on pursuing therapy without turning back? I was without a job and undergoing a personal self-discovery phase when I came to this life-changing realization. I was not very pleased with how professional and personal lives had turned out. I felt as if my connection with my life priorities no longer existed. This phase served as an inspiration for me to go back to school and resume my psychology studies. I enrolled in a course that led me to an advanced degree. While at Stanford, I realized that this experience seemed to be a product of motivation and discipline in my personal life and way of thinking. As a result, the phase was a natural development that worked out. Despite sending out numerous resumes and letters of application, I did not get a job. As a result, I saw an opportunity to employ myself. In addition, Stanford University took me in at a time when no other organizations seemed interested in me. 6. What part of your experience with LMFT was hardest? I did not have a specific hard part during my time at Stanford University. This is because my psychology course was a second profession. As a result, a majority of the challenges ordinary university students face were not new to me. My education at Stanford largely entailed a personal journey and exploration aimed at realizing my professional and personal futures. The hardest part of being an LMFT certainly came about after I set up my own shop. Reaching psychotherapists proficient in other fields other than family and marriage counselling was not easy. Diagnosing each client requires unique skill settings and I needed diverse mediation skills to treat some of my clients. Contacting some of these professionals was very hard for me. 7. As an LMFT, do you face any obstacles, challenges, or epiphanies? When I enrolled in university, I promised myself I would get used to speaking my mind in class as a form of participation. This way, I could not drown in the pool of students and course material. This promise enabled me to regularly pose questions for the professor. In the process, I risked sounding wrong in class and nurtured a voice. Before this promise, I was unable to ask teachers questions or express my visions or views. Today, clients and therapy students look for me to inquire about my insights in certain cases, medical questions, or subjects. This is ironic because the recipients of my points of view usually value them despite deviating from the norm. This ability of thinking different from others required practice and intense courage. 8. How would you advise students facing relatively similar problems in their academic pursuits? They should continue down the path of their academic passion until completion. Finishing a path that one begins invokes a sense of victory, which is helpful for handling other problematic situations. Seeing the completion of one’s academic pursuit is better than being concerned about inevitable challenges. If you stop your academic pursuit and fail to resume it, your entire professional and personal lives will most likely fail to progress. Moving forward depends on passion and class problems should not sway your passion. 9. Can you offer some last words for future LMFTs reading this? Maintain your concentration, be real, and keep away from people and organizations that exploit you. In addition, bear in mind that your work influences peoples’ marriages and families greatly. As a result, know that you will certainly mistakes made during therapy. It is your job to note and learn from these mistakes and realize your limits. Read More