Self-Awareness

Ongoing supervision, counseling, reflective journaling, and consultation have strengthened my awareness of my emotional responses, values, biases, and potential countertransference. I intentionally reflect on these influences and bracket my personal beliefs when necessary to remain authentic, ethical, and client-centered. When I become aware of a strong personal reaction, I use reflection, supervision, and consultation to examine possible countertransference or bias and intentionally separate my own beliefs and experiences from the client’s perspective. I also work to remain congruent in my verbal and nonverbal communication while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

Growth in Self-Awareness

Throughout my program of study and clinical training, my understanding of what I bring into the counseling relationship has continued to deepen. My early SOLER and active-listening artifact reflects the beginning of this development, when I was learning to intentionally attend to verbal and nonverbal communication. Through coursework, supervision, reflective practice, and clinical experience, I have become more aware of my own reactions, values, and beliefs and how they may influence the counseling process. I have learned to separate my perspective from that of my clients and approach differences with curiosity rather than assumption. This growth has strengthened my empathy, emotional regulation, authenticity, boundaries, and cultural responsiveness and helped me become a more intentional, grounded, congruent, and client-centered counselor.

ACA COE Standard B.1.a - Multicultural Diversity
Counselors maintain awareness and sensitivity regarding cultural meanings of confidentiality and privacy. Counselors respect differing views toward disclosure of information. Counselors hold ongoing discussions with clients as to how, when, and with whom information is to be shared.

CACREP Standard 2.F.2.d
Social and Cultural Diversity
The impact of heritage, attitudes, beliefs, understandings, and acculturative experiences on an individual’s views of others.

ACA COE Standard C.2.a - Boundaries of Competence
Counselors practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience.

CACREP Standard 2.F.1.k
Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
Strategies for personal and professional self-evaluation and implications for practice.

Self-Awareness

Growth in Self-Awareness

CACREP Standard 2.F.2.d Social and Cultural Diversity The impact of heritage, attitudes, beliefs, understandings, and acculturative experiences on an individual’s views of others.

ACA COE Standard C.2.a - Boundaries of Competence Counselors practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience.

CACREP Standard 2.F.1.k Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice Strategies for personal and professional self-evaluation and implications for practice.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself as I am, then I change.” — Carl Rogers

CACREP Standard 2.F.2.d
Social and Cultural Diversity
The impact of heritage, attitudes, beliefs, understandings, and acculturative experiences on an individual’s views of others.

ACA COE Standard C.2.a - Boundaries of Competence
Counselors practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience.

CACREP Standard 2.F.1.k
Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
Strategies for personal and professional self-evaluation and implications for practice.