New Year... Same Mission (educate, empower, and entertain...) The journey continues with me...

Today's Quotation:

Every new year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself.

Aisha Elderwyn

Today's Meditation:

New Year's resolutions do not necessarily have to be about changing a negative aspect of ourselves. Sure, we have flaws, and it is good to be aware of them and to work at reducing or eliminating them. But when we only look at the negative, and direct all our energies on only fixing what is wrong, we often find ourselves facing more difficulty and failure that generally leaves us no better off than we were before. Perhaps as Aisha mentions, the trick instead is to look for potential and places in our lives where we can excel.

When we spend our time focusing on things that we do well, and work hard to become even better at them, we set ourselves up for a high margin of success. And it is far easier to make positive changes in our lives when we are met with success instead of failure. Thus, with each little success we come that much closer to meaningful and lasting change.

This year, instead of looking for all the things you would like to fix in your life, focus on the things that you do well and work at getting even better at them. Just imagine the potential that you might create for yourself and the wonderful things you might accomplish. Remember, the most effective way we can strengthen our gifts is to use them to grow and further ourselves. So why not "just be yourself" this year and work on being the best version of yourself that you can be.

Today's Challenge: Resolve to change and build up a positive aspect of yourself this year.

Questions to consider:

What does it mean to you "to just be yourself?"

What are a few things you are good at? How much time do you spend developing those gifts?

What kinds of activities can you do to develop your own strengths?

For further thought:

In this new year, may you have a deep understanding of your true value and worth, an absolute faith in your unlimited potential, peace of mind in the midst of uncertainty, the confidence to let go when you need to, acceptance to replace your resistance, gratitude to open your heart, the strength to meet your challenges, great love to replace your fear, forgiveness and compassion for those who offend you, clear sight to see your best and true path, hope to dispel obscurity, the conviction to make your dreams come true, meaningful and rewarding synchronicities, dear friends who truly know and love you, a childlike trust in the benevolence of the universe, the humility to remain teachable, the wisdom to fully embrace your life exactly as it is, the understanding that every soul has its own course to follow, the discernment to recognize your own unique inner voice of truth, and the courage to learn to be still.

Janet Rebhan

Identity Theft and Bank of America's Lies

On the 16^th of January, I went to an ATM in Roxboro, NC to make a withdrawal. When I checked the receipt, I noticed that what was left in my account did not equal what should have been there. I immediately went to my office and logged into my Bank of America account to see what transactions went through. I noticed a pending entry from a company called National Safety Council which I did not authorize. I immediately googled the company and got the contact information so that I can contact them regarding such a matter. The customer service representative, Lisa, told me the details of such a transaction and it was revealed that my debit card information was compromised. I asked her to correct the fraudulent transaction and she indicated that she would void it out. I then contacted Bank of America and told them that my debit card was compromised and that someone was making illegal transactions with my card. The card was then cancelled. The customer representative at Bank of America indicated that if the representative at National Safety Council voided the charge, it would fall off the account by midnight.

I checked my account on the 17^th of January and the account still indicated that the charge was still pending. I contacted National Safety Council and the representative indicated that she voided the transaction and that there was nothing else that she could do regarding the fraudulent charge. I then contacted Bank of America and informed them that the National Safety Council representative voided the charge and that my account still showed the fraudulent charge as pending. I was informed that it could take 48 hours for the transaction to be removed from my account.

I checked my account on the 18^th of January and the charge was still pending. I had National Safety Council fax the information needed to Bank of America as I was informed of a representative on the 17^th that if they received the information indicating it was an erroneous charge, they could remove the pending charge within 30 minutes. Later, the representative of Bank of America indicated that the charge was no longer pending and he did not see any pending charges on my account. I was looking at my account online and the charge was still reflected as pending.  He indicated that it should be resolved if I logged back out then logged back in. I did that five times while on the phone with the Bank of America representative. It never reflected what he indicated that he saw on his end. He then said that the web version takes awhile to update, so while on the phone with him, I called the Bank of America to check my account and it still indicated that the charge was pending. He then said that it should reflect what he saw on his end by midnight.  I was then transferred to fraud and it indicated that though the card was cancelled, many other charges were attempted but were denied.

On the 19^th, I contacted the Bank of America and informed them that the charge was pending and that I had been lied to by the organization for the last three days. The representative, Tandra Jefferson, was rude and indicated that it could take up to five days to fall off my account, that it was a Visa issue and not Bank of America. I informed them that the information she was giving me was far different than the information I received on the 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th. She then became rude regarding my questioning the information she was giving me and asked her to read back the notes from the previous conversations that I had in Bank of America employees on previous dates. I asked to speak to her supervisor and she became even ruder to me. I informed her that I had a number of pressing issues due to this fraudulent transaction and that National Safety Council did what was required and that the holdup was now with Bank of America. I then asked to speak to her supervisor and she indicated that she was a supervisor. I asked to speak to her supervisor and she transferred the call. Her supervisor, Deon McClinton, reiterated what Tandra said and provided additional information regarding Bank of America’s policies regarding fraudulent charges. I told him that the pending charge reset on two occasions, now indicating a hold date of 1/23. He said that would indicate the 5^th business date and that is why it probably reset to that date.  I then informed him of what previous Bank of America representatives said regarding crediting the account a certain amount of money and I then asked him to that for my account. He indicated that the fraud department could not do that and that must be something that the customer service department could implement. I then asked to be transferred to that department and he did so, but it was indicated that they were closed hours earlier. I then called back verbalizing my frustration regarding the run-around I was receiving from Bank of America and they issued an apology but no viable solutions. 

It's not that "today is the first day of the rest of my life," but that now is all there is of my life.

Today's Quotation:

It's not that "today is the first day of the rest of my life," but that now is all there is of my life.

Hugh Prather

Today's Meditation:

It would appear that Hugh has a problem with the people who focus on the idea that "starting now, I can be a better or different person." Personally, I do not have any problem with the concept, but I can see Hugh's point quite clearly--the more we stay focused on what we are going to do with the rest of our lives, the less we allow ourselves to commit to living the present moment for all that it is worth.

"Now is all there is of my life,"--and Hugh is right. Your next moment, ten minutes from now, two weeks from now--none of these things is guaranteed. And what happens two weeks from Thursday is completely out of our control. What will happen will happen, and we may be able to influence it, but we certainly cannot control it. The present moment, lived fully with enthusiasm, love, attention, and awareness, truly is all there is of our lives. And once it is done, it will be replaced by another present moment.

When all is said and done, life is simply a series of "nows." How we live them depends on us. I do not want to stay focused on the rest of my life because if I do, I am taking away from the potential of this moment. Yes, I prepare for the future, and I prepare for retirement, and I prepare for what may come later, but even that preparation is accomplished in my present moments.

At this moment, you have the entire world full of possibilities at your disposal. If you decide that you want to travel around the world, you have the potential to do so, if you spend your nows preparing for it and raising the money for it. If you want a stronger relationship, then you can spend your nows improving that relationship. If you want a better job, you can spend your nows learning more about your work and improving your performance. But please, do not waste the present moment by putting your focus on some future moment that may or may not get here.

Questions to consider:

What resources are available to you right here, right now?

How might you improve your experience of the now? How might you get more out of each present moment as it arrives?

Why do so few people keep their minds, their hearts, and their attention on right now?

For further thought:

Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date. It isn't. In fact, no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow. Now is the only time we have, and the only time that we have any control over. When our attention is in the present moment, we push fear from our minds... Practice keeping your attention on the here and now. Your efforts will pay great dividends.

Richard Carlson

+Ayasha Calloway +Ashley Mitchell  +Anjene Davis +Philicia Baugh +Courtney MacDermid +Tuvara King  +Shay Shanae +Tequila Jones +Chasity Davis +Valerie Mayo +Michael Arthur McMullen, Jr. +LaToya Smith +Tiffany Yancey +Tameaka Washgreen 

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Today's Quotation:

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Today's Meditation:

How much time have I spent feeling inferior to others? What result has this had in my life?

It was not until I grew up a bit that I realized that feeling inferior is a common trait in developing individuals. It has less to do with the superiority of other people than it does with the perceived inferiority of the person who feels inferior. I recall as a child, thinking everyone was better than me at everything--relationships, work, hobbies, school... you name it. And if anyone ever tried to make me feel inferior, they certainly did not have to work too hard to do so.

Fortunately, I have learned in the meantime that things such as inferiority are just a question of perception, and are not to be given as much credence as some people would like. So I may not be as good at baseball as another boy--life goes on, and there are plenty of things that I am much better at than he is.

When we allow others to make us feel inferior, we are giving away much of our power to live our lives fully and happily. We are stripping our own power to control our lives and allowing others to determine how we feel about ourselves, which is something that we simply never should do. As long as we are trying our best at all we do, we should feel fine about ourselves and not worry about how other people perceive us, our efforts, or our results.

I determined long ago not to consent to allow anyone else to belittle me, judge me unfairly, or make me feel inferior. And in the time since I made that decision, I have learned that it truly is my choice--when I do not let it happen, it does not happen. When someone tries to do so, it is very obviously a reflection of their own insecurities and not an indication of who I am or of my value as a person. I like life much more when I do not consent to let others make me feel small and insignificant.

Questions to consider:

What kinds of things do you allow people to make you feel? How did you start letting them do so?

In what ways do you consent to let others make you feel inferior?

I have learned to not allow people to have that much influence over me. Now, occasionally, I may fall into the trap of allowing someone's ill treatment of me influence me to feel sad or hurt, but I quickly resolve such feelings so that I can be in good spirits. A person can only do what you allow them to do.

Think of someone who sticks up for themselves in a very genuine and healthy way. What allows them to do so? How do they do so? What can you learn from them?

I can name many people since I do work for a mental health agency and we are taught to model what we "preach".

For further thought:

Don't let the opinions of other people determine the image you have of yourself. There is no need to feel either appreciated or understood. Be even-minded. What you think about yourself is everything. What others think about you has no value at all, unless you choose to give it value.

Shantidasa

+Sandra Davis +Ayasha Calloway 

We must not allow other people's limited perceptions to define us.

Today's Quotation:

We must not allow other people's limited perceptions to define us.

Virginia Satir

Today's Meditation:

It is hard to believe just how much time I have wasted worrying about how other people have seen me, what they have thought of me, what they have considered me to be, the value they have seen in me. I somehow grew up putting a great deal of value in other people's perceptions of who I am and what I am worth, even when those people really have not known much about me at all.

Because of this tendency, I have made many of my decisions in life based on what I have thought other people would think about me and my decisions actions. I have rejected possible relationships because of what I thought other people would think about me if I went out with a certain girl. I have not pursued certain careers because of the judgments that I was sure other people would pass on my choice of professions. I have not pursued certain passions because I did not want people to think less of me.

I have also lost an amazing number of opportunities in my life. And while I am not going to spend today regretting what I did or did not do yesterday, I know that my life could be much more fulfilling today if I had not worried so much about what others thought earlier in my life. I wanted to be the person that I thought others wanted to see, so that they would accept me more fully. But that acceptance would have been conditional, which is the worst type of acceptance that we can possibly pursue.

I knew a man once who wanted to be a lawyer because that is what his father expected from him. His dad had defined him, defined his likes, his dislikes--his very life. But his dad did not have to live that life.

I need to define myself. My tastes, my preferences, my passions, my likes and dislikes--all need to come from me if I am to live a genuine and authentic life. They need to come from my heart and my spirit, not from what I think others want to see in and from me. If I allow others to define me and who I am, then I am allowing others to do so from a very limited and distorted position, and I am setting myself up for major disappointment in life.

Questions to consider:

Who defines who you are? How is that definition reached? 

I define who I am... my education, experiences, and employment define who I am. I am a man who educates, empowers, and entertains, mostly on daily basis. I had a far reaching radio show called Eclectic Perspectives and hope to get another season started in 2013 with +Anjene Davis , +Ashley Mitchell , +Ayasha Calloway , +Courtney MacDermid , and +Philicia Baugh. 

Why do we sometimes give others the power to decide who, what, or how we should be or act? 

I feel we sometimes give people such power because we want their approval or we look up to them for guidance and to show us a better way, so we may conform in order to get their blessings. All too often though, we find that it is never enough.

How can we take back the right and ability to define ourselves? What will be some of the positive results if we do so?

We simply must do it, no steps defined, One must simply decide and make it manifest. By defining ourselves we indicate the end goal and what we must do so when accomplished, we know that we have succeeded. 

For further thought:

There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout: This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love! I am a whole complex package. Take me... or leave me. Accept me--or walk away! Do not try to make me feel like less of a person, just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be and don't try to change me to fit your mold. If I need to change, I alone will make that decision. When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good and bad--you will be amazed at the opportunities that life presents you.

Stacey Charter

Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists

Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists:

'via Blog this'

Studying for the NCE (National Counselor Exam) Try Out These Online FlashCards

http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/story.php?title=nce-flash-cards

"I have created numerous cards designed to cover all the major content areas. Most of my cards come from the book, Encyclopedia of Counseling by Howard Rosenthal. If you are serious about passing the exam, I suggest you purchase this book, as it is the finest study guide I have ever seen."

I am looking to form a cohort and study for this exam... if anyone is interested in joining me in my efforts to study for, pass, and obtain that LPC licensure... contact me and lets make something happen.

One... strong, more... even stronger.

http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/story.php?title=nce-flash-cards

Working At DJJ

Working At DJJ:

'via Blog this'

GeeChee One Award Show 10--10-10 at Sterett Hall (North Charleston, SC)

Eclectic DJ Mix for Week of Dec 12.mp3 - 4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download

Eclectic DJ Mix for Week of Dec 12.mp3 - 4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download: Eclectic DJ Mix for Week of Dec 12.mp3

Eclectic Inspirations - Being a Winner

Eclectic Inspirations - Being a Winner

Please listen to today's Eclectic Inspiration and if you are feeling up to it, please reflect (and comment if you are inspired) on the questions below:

Questions to consider:

1. You most definitely are a "winner." Do you act like one?

2. What are some of the consequences of not thinking like a winner?

3. How might we go about changing the way that we think about things?

Eclectic Inspirations: Attention to Detail

Eclectic Inspirations by F. Khristopher Blue

Today's topic is based on ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

Please listen to the audio and think about the following questions.

After doing so, please comments so that others may be inspired and/or benefit from your testimony.

Questions to consider:

1. What are some of the details that you might pay more attention to?

2. What would the effects on your life be if you were to pay more attention to such things?

3. Why is it so easy to let these details, such as what you thought of, slide?

The Knock at the Door

The Knock at the Door

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The skills that promote good communication and constructive resolution of conflict are, among others: selfdisclosure, explaining, active listening, perspective taking, reframing, and brainstorming. Tests of these skills, particularly active listening and perspective taking, show that is is helpful when at least one person in a conflict makes an attempt to listen fully and understand the point of the view of the other person.

1. Self-disclosure

When you self-disclose, you reveal to the listener some aspect of how you are feeling, especially that which you might have been trying to conceal. You also share with the listener what it is that you really need, without engaging in bargaining ploys to manipulate the listener.

2. Explaining

When you explain, you provide the listener with information about aspects of the situation that you are most concerned about. Both selfdisclosure and explaining must be done without using language that is blaming or disrespectful of the other person.

3. Active listening

When you actively listen, you turn your full attention to the overall message of the speaker, as well as the details, rather than focusing on your own concerns or on counterarguments. You also provide feedback to the speaker in order to ensure that you understood the message. The feedback may involve paraphrasing what you think the speaker said, and asking questions to clarify. It should not include an evaluation of, or a counterargument to, what the other person said; rather, it should be an attempt to understand the other person’s needs and concerns as he/she sees them.

4. Perspective taking

Perspective taking is largely an internal process in which you try to understand how it might feel to be the other person in the situation. It is fostered by active listening. In other words, perspective taking is trying to understand the other person’s needs, concerns, difficulties, and pain in this situation. It is often referred to as “putting yourself in the other person’s shoes.” Perspective taking and active listening can help move the situation from an adversarial one in which your needs are pitted against the other person’s, to a collaborative one in which you are working with the other person to satisfy both sets of needs.

5. Reframing

Reframing proceeds from active listening and involves moving further away from an adversarial ‘‘me against you’’ situation toward seeing the situation as a mutual problem to be solved collaboratively. It can be initiated by such statements as ‘‘what can we do so that you get what you need which is … and I get what I need which is...?’’

6. Brainstorming

Brainstorming comes after active listening and reframing, and involves coming up with as many solutions as possible for the problem, without critiquing them at first, and then narrowing them down to come up with the solution or set of solutions that best fits everyone’s needs. Generating many solutions, quickly and without evaluation, can help with creativity, and lead to unexpected resolutions.

Geechee One Volume 5 Issue 2

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Geechee One Volume 5 Issue 2

View more documents from F. Khristopher Blue.

GeeChee One Magazine 2010 Awards Show F.A.Q.

GeeChee One Magazine 2010 Awards Show F.A.Q.

The nominees have been selected and write-ins will be accepted as there has been some dialogue of people not being nominated who feel that they should have been…

The award show will be based on popularity and merit. 50% of the vote will depend on the votes submitted on the GeeChee One website or other form of nomination process as indicated by the staff of GeeChee One Magazine. The other 50% will be determined by a merit vote as determined by an evaluation of nominee’s Electronic Press Kit (EPK) which will be linked on the website of GeeChee One Magazine. The judges of the merit based portion of the nomination process will be non-biased entertainment professionals who are known for their impact in the industry.

If you wish to have your EPK hosted on the GeeChee One website, there will be a $25 fee to cover administration and implementation costs. If you need an EPK designed, contact Felicia Rivers of GeeChee One Magazine for costs in regards to that matter. Various packages are available and are geared towards known industry standards.

The following inclusions on your EPK for nominees for each given category are listed below:

LABEL OF THE YEAR

The official website of your label, your logo, date of start-up of your label, list of your artists biographies, discography, minimum of two audio clips of music from each artist on roster, minimum of two video clips or official videos and/or performances, if available, SOUNDSCAN info, and photographs of your roster.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The official website of your design company, your slogan/motto/mission statement, and at least 10 examples of your graphic designs.

RAP ARTIST OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 4(four) audio clips, 2(two) video clips from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of artist.

UPCOMING RAP ARTIST OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 2(two) audio clips, 1(one) video clip from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of artist.

RAP FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 4(four) audio clips, 2(two) video clips from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of artist.

UPCOMING RAP FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 2(two) audio clips, 1(one) video clip from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of artist.

R & B ARTIST OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 4(four) audio clips, 2(two) video clips from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of artist.

FEMALE R & B ARTIST OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 4(four) audio clips, 2(two) video clips from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of artist.

REGGAE ARTIST/GROUP OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 4(four) audio clips, 2(two) video clips from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of artist/group members.

RAP/HIP HOP GROUP OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 4(four) audio clips, 2(two) video clips from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of group members.

UPCOMING RAP/HIP HOP GROUP OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 2(two) audio clips, 1(one) video clips from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of group members.

GOSPEL ARTIST/GROUP OF THE YEAR

A biography, discography, 4(four) audio clips, 2(two) video clips from live performances and/or official music video, and 2(two) photographs of artist/group members.

POETS MALE/FEMALE OF THE YEAR

A biography, a listing of a minimum of 4(four) written examples of poetic pieces, submission of a minimum of 2(two) audio submission of poetic pieces, and 1(one) video submission (live performance or video concept) of poetry.

WRITER MALE/FEMALE OF THE YEAR

A biography, a listing of a minimum of 4(four) written examples of published articles and/or 1(one) published book.

GRINDER MALE/FEMALE OF THE YEAR

A biography, a listing of 4(four) examples of grind efforts, and 2(two) photographs.

STREET PROMOTION

A biography, a listing of 4(four) examples of promotion efforts, and 2(two) photographs.

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

A listing of your website and a bio of the impact of such a website.

ALBUM/MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR

A physical/downloadable copy of the album/mixtape, graphic of front and back cover of album/mixtape.

DJ OF THE YEAR

A biography, physical/downloadable copy of 2(two) albums/mixtapes (if available), graphic of front and back cover of submitted albums/mixtapes, 2(two) photographs of nominee.

CLUB DJ OF THE YEAR

A biography, 2(two) recorded broadcasts of your performance, 2(two) photographs of the nominee.

UNDERGROUND/UPCOMING DJ OF THE YEAR

A biography, 1 (one) physical/downloadable copy of mixtape (if available), 1(one) recorded broadcasts of your performance, 2(two) photographs of the nominee.

BARBER/STYLIST OF THE YEAR

A biography, 5(five) photographs of cuts/styles of nominee, 2(two) photographs of the nominee.

HOTTEST INTERNET RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR

A summary about the show, link to website of show, 4(four) audio examples of broadcasts

SONG OF THE YEAR

Biography of artist(s), lyrics of song, 1(one) audio submission of nominated song, 1(one) photograph of artist(s).

HOTTEST MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Biography of artist(s) and music director, 1(one) video submission of nominated song, 1(one) photograph of artist(s).

CLUB OF THE YEAR

A summary about the club, listing of 5(five) events that took place at nominated club, 10(ten) photographs of club events.

CLOTHING LINE OF THE YEAR

A summary about the clothing line, 5(five) photographs of the nominated clothing line, list of locations where clothes can be bought.

CLOTHING STORE OF THE YEAR

A summary about the clothing store, 5(five) photographs of the nominated store.

PROMOTIONAL/TOP/TEEN MODEL OF THE YEAR

A model comp card, 10(ten) portfolio ready photographs of nominated model.

BAND OF THE YEAR

A biography of the band, discography (if available), list of venues in last year, 2(two) photographs of the band members.

MOST IMPACTFUL NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

A summary of non-profit, documented proof of non-profit status, 1(one) logo, listing of impact nominated agency has made over the past year.

SISTAH MAKING MOVES AWARDS

A biography of sistah, 2(two) photographs of nominated sistah

COMMUNITY LEADER

A biography of nominee, 2(two) photographs of nominee

If you have any questions about this F.A.Q. sheet, please contact Felicia Rivers, CEO of GeeChee One Magazine.

www.geecheeone.com

promo@geecheeone.com

843-628-9994

Album 09\02\2010, by Felipe Blue

I'd like to share my Walmart Digital Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Please Listen to my Poem: Can I Know You??

Twiturm - Share your music on Twitter

Shared via AddThis

Question: Are You Still a Slave?

"Don't nobody tell me what to do and I go where I want to go whenever I want to go!" 

Well you are right to a certain extent. You can do whatever you want to do and you can go wherever you want to go, but consider this...

You ain't doing nothing and you ain't going nowhere! 

The slavemasters don't have to chain you down or whip your ass anymore, because you ain't doing nothing and you ain't going nowhere! You have freedom, in name, but not in definition! You are not a slave in name, but you are in definition!

The definiton of the word slave means, "one who is dominated by some outside influence and having no personal rights or freedom." Do you even remember what true freedom was all about? 
The physical chains were just one aspect amidst the many horrors of slavery! The chains are off of our hands, but we ain't producing nothing! The chains are off of our feet, but we ain't going no where! Why? Why? Why?

We have forgotten the original reason and purpose for the physical chains! The chains were to hold you down, but if you ain't trying to get up, then the chains have out lived their purpose!

Your thoughts and your actions make-up the basis upon which your entire life is built. Your thoughts and actions are the only two things that you can call your own! Those are the only two things that are truly yours! Not your money! Not your car! Not your house! Not your clothes! Not your furniture! Not your television! Not your stereo! Not your girlfriend! Not your boy friend! Not your husband! Not your wife! Not your child!

None of this can be called your own, because you came into this world without it, and you are going to leave this world without it! 

Now, getting back to the point, you are not in control of your thoughts and actions. Do you continue to do things that you know are wrong, but yet keep on doing them anyway!? You just sitting there wondering why you can't stop doing what you know is wrong. This is because you don't control your own thoughts and actions! You are a victim to a complex system of psycholoical slavery and tricknology.

The crack cocaine is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The alcohol is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The 40 ounce of Beer is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The peer pressure is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The television is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The money is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The girlfriend is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The boyfriend is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The sex is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The conceitedness is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The envy is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The ego is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The jealousy is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The materialism is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The credit card is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The self-hatred is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The appetite is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The emotion is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The racism STILL IS YOUR MASTER! 

The sexism is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The foolishness is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The ignorance is STILL YOUR MASTER! 

The true devil is STILL YOUR MASTER!!!

Everything and everybody has mastered you but your own self. So what are you going to do about it?" 

From Niggaz To Godz

Interesting Story... 99 Cent Dating Experiment

A 99-Cent Dating Experiment
By Mark Miller
One man decides to try a daring dating experiment — a fun, exciting second date for under $20…
According to a recent research study, three of the hardest things on the planet are diamonds, iron, and … dating after divorce. Because after your divorce, you pretty much have to go back to romance school. You have to learn not just how to write an online dating profile, but how to love and trust again. After my divorce, I asked myself how I could trust that a woman genuinely loved me and not the material things I could offer. After all, don't all the great gurus tell us that true happiness and fulfillment comes from within, not from within one's wallet? Does dating success require that a man spend a small fortune on his date? Do women expect it? Is not a man more than a bank account and some testosterone? Do I ask too many questions? (I know, I'm working on that.) Last month, I decided to try what I viewed as a dating expense experiment. It would be an experiment never before attempted (or at least admitted to) in the course of human dating history: I was going to have a wonderful second date—you know, that all-important date following the initial coffee date, and spend less than twenty dollars doing so. That's right, less than 20 dollars on a date in Los Angeles. The art of the 99-cent dateOK, I get it. I can hear women across the land (especially those in my city) exclaiming, "Cheapskate! Loser! Creep!" But I thought it was a brilliant idea. Hey, they poked fun at Columbus, but he showed them. He found a way of impressing women without having to spend a fortune—simply by discovering a continent. Surely my date would admire my thriftiness, my resourcefulness, my imagination and creativity. I'd discover a continent of inexpensive fun. And if the woman "played along" and was fine with it, I'd trust that she wanted to be with me, whether we were having gourmet French cuisine or nachos at Taco Bell. I would once again be able to love. And so, armed with 20 big ones in cold, hard cash, I strode into the one place where I knew I'd get great value for my money — the 99-Cent-Only Store. The store with the motto: "Nothing Over 99 Cents Ever!" I looked for the "Cheap Daters Welcome Here!" sign, but apparently it was being repaired. I arrived at Sarah's place wearing my playful Looney Tunes tie (a $9.99 value!), with a gift for her—an official Olympics Souvenir Program. A collector's item! It originally sold for $12.95, but I got it for, yes, 99 cents. Oh, sure, it was for the 1984 Olympics, but that makes it a 20th anniversary collector's item. Nor did I forget her cat, Marvin, whom I surprised with a Whiskas four-pack of Chicken and Seafood.
Before we got in the car, I took out a 21-piece canister of jumbo colored chalk, and right there on the sidewalk I created a multicolored heart with Sarah + Mark inside. I bet her wealthy boyfriends never did that! She seemed amused. Either that or she was so stunned that she couldn't get that strange smile off her face. In any case, I was pretty sure she'd never encountered a date like this. She couldn't accuse me of not being unique. So far, so good. We drove to the beach (free scenery!) where the heat was no problem because I was thoughtful enough to bring along Pinnacle Drinking Water, six for 99 cents, with sports cap. We sat there munching on Granny Goose's 13-ounce-size of tortilla chips and a Sun Maid six-pack of raisins. I even immortalized our fun with my new 35mm "Famous Name" 99-cent camera, containing 99-cent color print film. Maybe our senses of humor weren't so in sync … By my count, we had only gone through $9 of my $20 of purchases, when Sarah said, "OK, what's going on?" I said, "What do you mean?" all innocent-like. She mentioned my tie, the chalk, and the cat food before reaching for my bag and pulling out the remaining purchases, including Sesame Street Chocolate Chip Cookies (our gourmet dessert), Krazy Glue (to bond my hand to hers), a solar-powered calculator (to determine how many happy days we'd have in the future), Famous Publishers Books (so I could read to her later; women love that) and Matchbox "Around the World" Cars (something for our future kids!). "Are you losing it, Mark? What is all this?" I told her of my experiment and my plans for the Krazy Glue (honest, I wasn't going to really bond our flesh together, but I thought the idea was pretty funny) and the cars. It's not that she told me that this was to be our last date, but I inferred it from the lack of response to my phone calls over the next three days. I'm sure Sarah told all her friends. And they told their friends, and so on. I'm sure all over L.A. there are people talking about that crazy loser of a guy who took that poor woman on the 99-Cent-Only Store date. The lesson I learnedBut even so, I consider the experiment a success. Not because I found the love of my life, but because I didn't. In my view, rejection is God's protection. He's saving me for a woman who will truly "get" me, offbeat sense of humor and all. So I still believe that true happiness comes from within. And that somewhere out there is a woman who will absolutely appreciate the notion of two people bonding their hands together with Krazy Glue before they've even kissed. That's the kind of woman I could trust and love. Mark Miller has written for TV, movies and celebrities, done stand-up comedy, and been a humor columnist for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate. He can be reached at markmiller2000@ca.rr.com.

Obama and McCain: Hypothetical Reversal

What if things were switched around?

What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, following the debate,including a three month-old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?

What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his college graduating class?

What if McCain had only married once, and Obama was divorced?

What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?

What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisisof the late 1980s and early 1990s.)

What if Obama couldn't read from a teleprompter?

What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?

What if Obama was the one who was known to publicly display a serious anger management problem?

What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution?

You could easily add to this list. If these questions reflected a reality, if the tables were turned, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative characteristics in another when there is a color difference.

And, think of this - the candidates' educational backgrounds:

Barack Obama:

Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specializationinnternational Rel ations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Joseph Biden:

University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

John McCain:

United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Sarah Palin:

Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

I Love These E-Mails, or Do I?

I Love These E-Mails, or Do I?
The Use of E-Mails in Psychotherapy and Counseling
By Ofer Zur, Ph.D.


To cite this page: Zur, O. (2008). I Love These E-Mails, or Do I?
The Use of E-Mails in Psychotherapy and Counseling. Retrieved 9/23/2008 from http://www.zurinstitute.com/e-mail_in_therapy.html.


I checked my e-mails the other day and saw that a client wanted to change his appointment for the following week. I swiftly responded affirmatively. Next I shot off an e-mail to a client asking her whether or not she could change her appointment the next Monday from 10 am to noon. Within seconds she responded with a one-word response, "Yes." A couple of months ago I discovered that I needed to be out of town the following week due to a family emergency. In one swoop I sent a single e-mail to a couple of dozen people (using Bcc not CC so their identities and e-mail addresses remain private), telling them that I would be out of town the next week, I would neither be available by phone nor by e-mail during that time, giving them names and phone numbers of my emergency back-ups, and asking them to let me know if they could make the same day and same time appointment for the week after.

Don't you like these e-mails? I do! They are simple, quick and effective. Long gone are the days where we play phone tag with clients; when we need to start the phone conversation with "How are you?" only to listen to a long winded response; hear long back-and-forth scheduling messages; get busy phone lines, get put on hold, deal with overworked, low paid, irritated receptionists or operators. These e-mails have saved us-therapists time and energy so we can focus on what is important. Many of us-therapists love the flexibility allowed in receiving and sending e-mails from our computers, Blackberrys or iPhones during working and non-working hours, from the office, living room, beach, boat, another country, or… from whenever or wherever.
Realizing how helpful e-mails can be, many therapists have started giving their e-mail addresses to their clients, including them on their business cards and posting them on our professional Websites. After all, they can save time and spare us from long, wasteful phone conversations.

Then, I woke up the other day to a short e-mail from a depressed client: "Doc, I cannot take it any longer!!!!!" I noticed it was send at 2 AM. Now what am I to do? Send an e-mail, call the patient back, call her listed emergency contact (not a good idea, it's her toxic mother), call the local crisis team or 911, or …?

Another morning, I got an e-mail from a client who was so excited about her 'break through' dream the night before, how it relates to our therapy, and apparently I was in it. Scrolling down the e-mail I noticed it was several pages long. Even though I was aware of the clinical significance of the dream, I did not have the leisure or desire to spend half an hour reading her dream that morning. She felt deeply offended and disvalued when, during the next session, she realized that I had not taken the time to read her 'break through' dream analysis.

Later on that very night, I checked my email and saw an e-mail from a client which started with: "I know we ran out of time, but there was just one more important thing I wanted to tell you." He proceeds to write an insightful e-mail, in essence extending the session by about 20 minutes. We neither have an agreement that he would pay for reading time nor would it fit within his rather tight budget.

A young woman had gotten into a fight with her best girlfriend, who is the topic of discussion during many of our sessions. She wrote: "I am so upset, can you believe that she told me ……" She went on to express her distress and rage in a long-winded e-mail. She got furious with, what she called, the "dismissive" response of "I am so sorry about the fight with your friend. Let's discuss it further when we meet this week."

Many therapists report that clients often ask them "quick" questions via "brief" e-mails, such as "My mother is coming over tonight, should I bring up with her what we discussed in our last session about my brother molesting me?" or "I met this girl, she seems perfect and I am panicked. Do you have any quick advice? We have a date later on tonight."

E-mail, like any technology, has at least two sides, if not more. Like a hammer it can be constructive and helpful or can be misused and be destructive. In our MySpace era, where social networking takes much of many people's leisure (and often non-leisure time), there is an expectation that anyone with an e-mail address is instantly available and responsive, 24/7, therapists included.

We used to check our phone messages regularly or have phone message services page us. Now we need to be on the lookout for e-mails from depressed, suicidal or homicidal, or existentially depleted or spiritually lost clients. E-mails were supposed to make our lives easier, not harder. Then come the obvious questions, what if the client committed suicide a day after she sent her "end of the rope" e-mail to me; how to deal with the disappointed client whose elaborate description of her dream went unread; or with the furious young women who felt dismissed because I did not reply with a lengthy supportive e-mail, like her best girlfriend would have done.

The main issue has become what is the proper use of e-mail in psychotherapy? To add to the complexity, there are several legal, ethical, and clinical questions that are related to e-mailing our clients.

The main question is how do we deal with clients who expect us to respond quickly and/or read lengthy and numerous e-mails between sessions? The answer lies in the communication between our clients and us. We must be clear about our parameters in regard to general use of e-mails, time, frequency, etc. While our Office Policies should attend to these issues, personal communication is likely to be much more effective in bringing clarity to the e-mail dilemma. This issue is not likely to be resolved in one conversation. With some clients who rely heavily on online social networking, it is likely to be a continuous dialogue about expectations, disappointments, and boundaries.

If you are ready to engage in dialogue and treatment via e-mail in conjunction with face-to-face therapy, state this to your clients. In this case you many need to inform them how you charge, if you do, for such e-services. Do you charge per e-mail, per minute, or other ways? I suspect that most therapists prefer to use e-mails primarily for administrative purposes and only at special times for distinct clinical purposes. In this case I would explain it verbally either in the first session or when the right time comes. Our Office Policies and Informed Consent to Treatment (see form 1 at Clinical Forms) that we give to each and every client at the beginning of therapy should have a section on policies regarding e-mails. This section should discuss issues of privacy, confidentiality, security, availability, response time, content, emergencies, etc. An example of such a paragraph is:
E-MAILS, CELL PHONES, COMPUTERS AND FAXES: It is very important to be aware that computers and e-mail and cell phone communication can be relatively easy to access by unauthorized people and hence can compromise the privacy and confidentiality of such communication. E-mails, in particular, are vulnerable to such unauthorized access due to the fact that servers have unlimited and direct access to all e-mails that go through them. Additionally, Dr. X's e-mails are not encrypted, and faxes can be sent erroneously to the wrong address. Dr. X's computers are equipped with a firewall, a virus protection and a password, and he also backs up all confidential information from his computers on to CDs on a regular basis. The CDs are stored securely off-site. Please notify Dr. X if you decide to avoid or limit, in any way, the use of any or all communication devices, such as e-mail, cell-phone or faxes. If you communicate confidential or highly private information via e-mail, Dr. X will assume that you have made an informed decision, will view it as your agreement to take the risk that such communication may be intercepted, and he will honor your desire to communicate on such matters via e-mail. Please, be aware that e-mails are part of the medical records, and do not use e-mail for emergencies. Due to computer or network problems e-mails may not be deliverable, and Dr. X may not check his e-mails daily.

There are a number of other questions that come up in relation to e-mails between therapists and clients. They include:
Are e-mails considered psychotherapy or counseling?

Yes. These e-mails, whether profound or mundane, are part of the therapeutic process and are considered part of the clinical records.

If I give my e-mail address to my clients, must I check my e-mails often?

The fact that you give your e-mail address to your clients does not obligate you to check often or even weekly. What is important is that you provide your clients with written information and verbal communication about how frequently you check your e-mail, if you respond to e-mails, and what are your general policies regarding e-mails (see details in the body of the article).

Does using e-mail make you automatically a Covered Entity by HIPAA, which means you must be HIPAA Compliant?

Different experts may give different answers to this question. In my opinion, exchanging e-mail with clients is likely to mean that you have to be HIPAA compliant, if you are not already. (Becoming HIPAA Compliant is not that hard, check our HIPAA Compliance Kit or Online HIPAA Course for CE Credits.)

What about confidentiality and privacy?

Confidentiality and privacy are applied to e-mails in the same ways that they are applied to any other verbal or written exchanges between psychotherapists and clients.

Must e-mails be encrypted?

At the present time, e-mails between therapists and clients do not need to be encrypted, as long as clients are informed about the vulnerability of e-mails being read by unauthorized people, and they elect to use e-mail. (For more details, see above note about Office Policies and the next question.)

What is an e-mail signature and what may it look like?

An e-mail signature goes at the end of the e-mail. It can be set automatically. Make sure that every e-mail to a client or patient includes an electronic signature that covers issues, such as confidentiality and security. Following is a sample of such an e-mail signature:

Notice of Confidentiality: This e-mail, and any attachments, is intended only for use by the addressee(s) and may contain privileged or confidential information. Any distribution, reading, copying or use of this communication and any attachments by anyone other than the addressee, is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify me by e-mail (by replying to this message) or telephone (707-xxx-xxxx), and permanently destroy or delete the original and any copies or printouts of this e-mail and any attachments.
It is important to be aware that e-mail communication can be relatively easily accessed by unauthorized people and hence can compromise the privacy and confidentiality of such communication. E-mails, in particular, are vulnerable to such unauthorized access due to the fact that servers have unlimited and direct access to all e-mails that go through them. A non-encrypted e-mail, such as this, is even more vulnerable to unauthorized access. Please notify Dr. X if you decide to avoid or limit, in any way, the use of e-mail. Unless I hear from you otherwise, I will continue to communicate with you via e-mail when necessary or appropriate. Please do not use e-mail for emergencies. While I check my phone messages frequently during the day when I am in town, I do not always check my e-mails daily.
Name/Degree/License: xxxx
Address: xxx
Phone: xxx
E-Mail: xx
Web Site: xx

If we e-mail to clients, does it mean we are conducting tele-health or e-therapy?
If the e-mails involved are primarily dealing with administrative issues, such as scheduling, they are not likely to fall under the definition of tele-health or e-therapy. However, if they are clinically oriented (i.e., including assessment or interventions), extensive, and used routinely, they may be viewed as tele-health or e-therapy. There is not a clear line in the sand yet, differentiating between tele-health and face to face therapy, and mixing the two modes can be effective and ethical when done appropriately and competently. (For more information, see out Telehealth Online Course.)

Are these e-mails part of the clinical records, and can they be subpoenaed just like chart notes in the unfortunately not uncommon event of legal action?
Generally, e-mails between therapists and clients are considered as part of the clinical records and can be subpoenaed, just like chart notes. You may want to consider printing important e-mails and placing them in the chart, in case your computer crashes.

Guidelines To Using E-Mail With Clients

The subject and discussion about the role of e-mail in therapy is common, relatively new, unsettled, and very complex. There are a few things that therapists can do to keep clients informed, increase therapeutic effectiveness, and help protect themselves from board complaints and other liabilities.
Clarify to yourself your thoughts and feelings regarding e-mail communication with clients. What are your preferences, your limits, etc.?
If you are considering using e-mails as an adjunct to therapy, make sure you become HIPAA compliant.

Discuss the issue of e-mail communications with clients, when relevant, in the first session. Learn from them about their expectations and clarify your expectations and boundaries. Continue the dialogue as clinically and ethically necessary throughout the course of therapy.

Make sure that your office policies include a section on the use of e-mails.
If you are conducting tele-health, follow state laws, relevant codes of ethics, and have a separate informed consent, which is required in some states, such as California.

Make sure your computer has a password, virus protection, firewall, and back up system.

Make sure that each e-mail includes an electronic signature that covers issues such as confidentiality and security.



To cite this page: Zur, O. (2008). I Love These E-Mails, or Do I?
The Use of E-Mails in Psychotherapy and Counseling. Retrieved 9/23/2008 from http://www.zurinstitute.com/e-mail_in_therapy.html

Copyright © Zur Institute, LLC, 2008. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with Permission.

South Carolina: The Most Violent State

Though it is unsettling to hear that South Carolina is once again one of the most violent states, it can be understood by this writer. Crime and deviance, though related, are two distinct concepts. Deviance refers to violations of rules that govern our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. Crime is any act that violates a criminal law which is broken down into two categories, violent offenses, crimes against others, and non-violent offenses, crimes against property. Knowing this, we can determine that all crimes are deviance, but not all deviance is criminal in nature.

Deviance and criminality are high in South Carolina based on statistics and therefore such behavior can be seen as social pathology. People that prescribe to this pathology consist of criminals, mentally ill, drug abusers, and other deviances and can define many reasons why such behaviors exist in our society. In many cases, it is a part of their upbringing, or more to the point, lack of upbringing. The rights of passages of old African tribes are no longer what they were. Black men now see such passages as going to jail, being shot or shooting someone.

Labeling theories indicated that deviance and criminality are attributes primarily associated with the African American population. In viewing it in that way, a person who does not adhere to this stereotypical view must then be viewed as deviant, at least deviant to the defined social perspective.

Social stratification is also a main contributor to the statistics that label South Carolina as one of the most violent states. Social stratification is a form of inequality in which categories of people are are systematically ranked in a hierarchy on the basis of their access to scarce but valued resources. Though it happened a long time ago, the aftermath of slavery seems to still have an impact on society in South Carolina. Here in Charleston, I am reminded every day as I drive downtown that slavery was a cornerstone of this society. Though no one in the city of Charleston were slave owners, nor was anyone a slave, the defined role of the ancestry has a large impact on the roles people play in this society.

Black people strongly contribute to the violent crimes which indicated South Carolina as one of the most violent states. These Black people see circumstances that they do not know how to get out of through socially acceptable means. If jobs and resources are scarce, is it not only natural for one to do what they have to do to survive? If there are no jobs available in the area which can provide for your basic needs, what is one to do? If the resources are stretched so thin, and the laws circumvent any thought of familial unity, what is one to do in order to benefit those that are dependent upon them?

At one time, I thought criminal acts and acts of deviance was a learned behavior or something an individual did just they wanted to, but have found out recently that men, with no criminal records, a strong family upbringing, and high level of education, often to think to resort to such paths. Why? Because of socialization and networks which shut them out, that keep them out, and therefore manifest a type of control over them. If opportunities are not made available, then opportunities must be made. If such opportunities can not be created, then what? Criminality? Deviance?

The disturbing thing is that many Black males are proud of this declaration that South Carolina is one of the most violent states. What happened to us to make us proud of such an insult? What happened to us?

Why I Want to Be a Counselor

Life experiences shaped the way that I see the world. I would not be the person that I am today it was not for the trials and tribulations that I encountered in my lifetime. Misery was not the only attribute that shaped my worldview, but it was definitely the most inspiring in determining my path in choosing the educational path in Counseling. I pursued a degree in Mental Health Counseling because of my unfaltering concern of the wayward ways of today’s youth and its affect on our communities and our society’s future. I have seen first hand on how the moral decay of today’s society has affected our youthful populations and I feel that by becoming a Mental Health Counselor, I will be able to make positive changes in our communities and therefore our communities’ futures.
Before I came to Webster University, I was already working in the field of Mental Health as Residential Team Counselor Coordinator at Alternative Behavioral Services in Summerville, South Carolina. I received my Associates of Arts in Human Services from Trident Technical College and my Bachelors of Science at Springfield College. There was a point on my journey to further my education that I was discouraged and almost chose a different educational path. My internships at Goodwill Industries and Department of Social Services were disheartening and disparaging experiences which questioned my dedication to this field of study. I decided that I would finish my degree and pursue a Master’s degree in another discipline. I learned a lot in my internships but that knowledge came at a cost of being a gopher and a witness to detrimental behaviors and work policies that were not in the best interest of the client population. I decided to stay employed in the human services field in hopes that I would find a job or career path through internships and tours of other agencies that would warrant me pursuing and finishing this degree.
One of the main reasons that I chose this field of study is because of some of the occurrences that I have been a witness to in my past. It started when I was a youth after my parents divorced. My mother struggled to raise us in the proper way and often had bouts of depression which lasted for extended periods of time. She never would seek services to help with her condition and her family as well as herself suffered because if it. It was later revealed that she thought it was normal to feel that way and her only outlet was to deal with it or pray. Well, she must have been doing a lot of praying because she did not deal with it effectively. As I was growing up, I came in contact with a lot of people that I could now say had some type of mental disorder. Neighbors would make jokes about turning certain people in to mental health so that they could get a “reward”. Drugs were also a debilitating factor in my neighborhood. I feel that some of the drug use may have been used to cope with some of the mental disorders that the users may have been experiencing.
I have volunteered for agencies such as 211 Hotline and found that I truly have a passion for the field of mental health. My educational background, work experience, and volunteerism are a testament to what I am capable of providing in regards to becoming an asset to the field of mental health. The qualities that make me a good mental health professional would be that I am empathic, genuine, open, and flexible. I have a high respect for other people and their viewpoints and am sensitive to individual differences such as gender, race, and ethnicity. Even more, I enjoy counseling and am committed to helping others grow in the mental health field. I exemplify high levels of conceptual functioning, have a clear sense of my own strengths and limitations as a counselor, and can identify how my personal traits and interpersonal style may affect the conduct of counseling. Finally, I feel such personal traits and relationship factors that I possess are considered as significant as technical prowess in counseling.
I have extensive training and wide experience in counseling, which has helped me achieve a broad perspective of the field. I can effectively employ a variety of interventions, and deliberately choose from these interventions based on my assessment of a client’s learning needs, learning style, and personal characteristics. I seek ongoing growth in counseling and supervision through continuing education activities, self-evaluation, and feedback from supervisees, clients, other supervisors, and colleagues. I believe I have a wealth of knowledge and experience to properly work in field of mental health. I affirm that I will be attuned to the needs of those seeking the services of mental health and those who contribute to this field as well.