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Reflection Paper

Counselling Psychology

Counselor: Alyssa Karcher Client: Evan D Date of Session: [Date] Link to the Video: [Link]

Session Notes Evan D, a 22-year-old female, approached me with adjustment issues after starting graduate school. She feels overwhelmed by the demands of school and believes her mother is overly controlling, limiting her ability to make independent choices. Evan described her mother as "full of drama," which negatively impacts their relationship. Our session focused on how Evan’s personal relationships, especially with her mother, contribute to her struggles in adapting to graduate school. Evan expressed frustration about not meeting her academic goals and feeling unsupported.

From my assessment, Evan is a young adult trying to assert her independence. Her mother, concerned about her well-being and education, is perceived by Evan as controlling, adding stress to her already challenging academic workload. Despite this, Evan maintains control over her studies. Moving forward, Evan needs to better understand her mother’s concerns while finding a balance in their relationship. A plan to manage her academic workload and social life will also help her adjust more effectively.

Throughout the session, Evan’s verbal and non-verbal communication remained stable. When discussing her difficulties with school, she emphasized the heavy workload, confirming the challenges she faces. Evan also used gestures to express the difficulties in balancing her social life with academics. Her facial expressions and body language, particularly when speaking about her mother, indicated frustration. She feels her mother prevents her and her sister from making their own choices.

The interview provided a useful platform for Evan to discuss her concerns openly. While Evan initially framed her main problem as adjusting to school, it became evident that her mother’s controlling nature was a deeper issue. At her age, Evan wants to make her own decisions but feels restricted by her mother’s influence. Additionally, the increased school workload has strained her social life, further complicating her ability to adapt.

In our next session, I plan to follow up on whether Evan has spoken to her mother about their relationship. I’ll focus on how communication between them has changed and whether Evan has been able to meet her personal goals, such as going to the gym or engaging in social activities. I’ll also inquire about how she balances school with her social life and how her family relationships impact her adjustment.

Skill Analysis This section reflects on the counseling skills I used during the interview. I began the session with greetings, which helped put Evan at ease. I then asked an open-ended question, inviting Evan to share what she needed assistance with. This allowed her to express her thoughts freely. Throughout the session, I maintained eye contact, observing her facial expressions and gestures, which helped me better understand her feelings. However, I should have introduced myself more thoroughly by explaining who I am and what I aim to achieve during our sessions.

Upon reviewing the video, I noticed that my posture wasn’t always upright, meaning I didn’t always mirror Evan’s body language. These instances were minimal but should be improved. Additionally, I touched my hair a few times, which I could have avoided. Despite these small issues, I remained attentive throughout the interview, nodding as Evan spoke to show I was following her story. At around 5:34 to 5:47, I asked an open-ended question about how she managed her time. As she responded, I nodded in encouragement, though I did interrupt her occasionally to clarify my question. This interruption wasn’t deliberate, but I could have explained my need for clarification better by saying something like, “Sorry for interrupting, I’d like to better understand how you feel about this…”

When Evan discussed her relationship with her mother, I showed empathy through my facial expressions and body language. However, I realized later that I didn’t express empathy verbally, which would have strengthened our connection. I could have said something like, “I understand how disappointing that must feel.” Using verbal expressions of empathy would help the client feel more understood.

I also noticed that I didn’t paraphrase Evan’s statements to clarify her thoughts. Paraphrasing would have provided more clarity and allowed us to explore her feelings in more depth. In future sessions, I will work on paraphrasing her words and avoiding unnecessary interruptions. If interruptions are needed, I’ll apologize and explain why. Overall, this interview was a valuable learning experience. I look forward to seeking my supervisor’s guidance on diagnosing the primary issue when a client presents multiple concerns. This skill will greatly enhance my ability to support my clients effectively.