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HSERV 52 JASON DILLEY

FALL 2011

Ivan who is now 40 years of age decided to change

careers at 36 and become a LMFT from JFK University at

California State University Monterey Bay. The program has

been cut as of this writing and he has found that as an

intern basic survival issues are very real. Paying rent, out

pocket medical cost and food and basic transportation are

very real concerns. However, he is one of the utmost

positive people I have recently met, as you will soon learn.

The interview began with Ivans statement, I do it

because it gives me pleasure.I chose the career of being

a therapist because I felt I could be good at it and the

school was in Monterey. I wanted to help others. I asked

him in what ways is he able to validate his success with his

clients? By feed backinformed therapy, was his

response. What is this mumbo jumbo psychobabble I had

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to ask myself? I learned it is like a life lived well, simply.

He makes inquiries into what is presently happening in

the session or at the end he and his client have a verbal

recap of stated achievements or goals if any from the

session. I appreciate when clients give me feedback on

how I am doing when working with them. How I check my

self is their attitude when we meet when they leave the

session as they answer these basic questions,

1)How are you today? This sets the tone of the initialfew minutes at which time the client will direct the

conversation.

2)How did our work go today? This tells me where Imight have been helpful and/or missed certain topicsexpressed directly or by the clients inference or

innuendos.

3)Now how are you doing as we are arriving at the endof our session today?

We discussed several of the approaches used in

psychotherapy such as Jungian, Freudian as well as

Rogerian. His premise is the four of all his actions has

been based

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In all fields there is the chance for job burn out and a

therapist must separate from their clients life

story/drama and not take it home with them?

I was curious how he manages the art of taking care

of himself when not at work and what he finds to be

mandatory factors in keeping a semblance of a balanced

life. How do I take care of myself and separate from the

work and not take it home with me? I see a therapist. Self-

care includes: exercise, quiet time, laughing daily and

socializing with friends. I also receive clinical advice and

support from peers whom I have gone through the

masters program with.