A week ago, I handed in a sheet of paper to my advisor, advising HIM on which local agencies I’d like to work at for my first 5 week field placement. Today I learned my fate: I’m not going to publish the name of the agency here, but I got my first choice and I’m definitely pleased.

In order to not leave you completely in the dark, I’ll just say that I asked to be placed a local agency that deals with mental health. My theory behind requesting this agency is that mental health, or the lack thereof, is a part of the work of every single other agency out there. Whether it’s a temporary mental health issue or a long-term diagnosis, or something in between, mental health has a huge impact.

I’m so nervous! I’m so excited!

And now I have to go write a 10 page essay that’s due tomorrow morning before 10 a.m. Urgh.

There is no enlightenment outside of daily life. -Thich Nhat Hanh

1. Canada won gold in Women’s AND Men’s hockey. Awesome.
2. It is, for a few more hours at least, still the weekend.
3. The smell of pineapple, mandarin oranges and pears in the dehydrator.
4. The tempeh wingz are in the oven. *drool*
5. Cyndi Lauper. I STILL have a huge crush on her.

LED – From Wikipedia: Canada clinched first overall in gold medal wins on the second last day of competition[3] and became the first host nation since Norway in 1952 to lead the gold medal count. With 14 gold medals, they set a new gold medal record for Winter Olympics host countries, surpassing the 10 won by Norway in 1994 and the United States in 2002. Canada also broke the record of the most golds won at a single Winter Olympics, which was 13, set by the former Soviet Union in 1976 and Norway in 2002.[4] (Link)

This morning I ate a hand full of *still warm* dried apple slices – some with cinnamon and some plain – and I’m pretty sure my head exploded with happiness. Apples! Cinnamon! Chewy and tasty!

I followed it up with a delightful breakfast of homemade spicy, crunchy, sweet summer rolls that were leftover from yesterday. (They’re even better the second day when the filling has had time to.. fill.. or.. something.) I love how easy they are to make – soft little envelopes of crispy veggies and whatever else we toss in for flavour..

Tonight’s dinner is extra-spicy tempeh wingz (using our usual variance on the recipe part-way down this page). A big, happy salad on the side.

We’re starting dried pineapple rings today, too.

You are hereby notified that I will be unable to attend school this week – none of my clothes will fit and I’ll be too busy making “nom” noises.

Nom.

1. Coffee bought a dehydrator! A Ron Popeil dehydrator from RONCO!!!! It’s all of my infomercial dreams come true and then some! :) Right now it’s working hard to make dried apple rings – some with cinnamon!
2. Making “summer rolls” – rice paper wraps filled with shredded cabbage and green onions and little noodles and sauce and.. oh, man, GOOD STUFF. It’s messy but so very, very tasty. And WAY easier than you think it is if you’ve never tried to make them.
3. Tetris! Who doesn’t love a good game of Tetris?
4. 100% on my most recent psychology test (the one I was studying for earlier today). Yay!
5. All Hail the Weekend!

I am trying – right now – to study for a psychology test.

The problem is that I’m reading about consciousness, sleep, dreaming, hypnosis and altered-states (i.e., “drugs”) which is making me unreasonably sleepy. I could also really go for a good stiff drink. Instead, I’m sipping drugs (in the form of caffeinated Dr. Pepper) and trying to increase my body temperature (to help eliminate sleepiness) by randomly jumping around.

It’s a good thing that the part about hypnosis talks about “suggestibility” – on that, at least, I clearly know my stuff.

1. Homer: You’re hot when you’re horny. Marge: I’m not horny. I’m mad.
2. 88% on my “Anger” workshop. Not too shabby, right?
3. Warm naan for breakfast!
4. I love that Chuck did this. I realize it’s an ad, for Reebok, but I do not care.
5. Lemon body spray, lemon cream hand lotion.. mmmmm… lemons.

LED – “When spermidine was applied to human immune cells, they too lived longer, with three times as many surviving after 12 days as in a comparison batch.” (link)

And, Happy Birthday to The Man in Black.

1. Toaster strudels! Could they be any more unhealthy and tasty?
2. My last presentation of this term is DONE. Just one more paper and 2 exams to go!
3. The care and attention to detail that Middle One puts into his thank you cards. WOW!
4. Laughter.
5. Sudoku puzzles!

LED – Canada is considering Bill C-384. I strongly support this proposed change to the criminal code.

One of the problems with learning “Counseling Techniques” is that it takes away a good lot of the magic around counseling.

There are specific terms for nearly every response, every comment, every aspect of counseling. I am learning about appropriate times to use them and how to make them flow naturally. I know a good chunk of the techniques now and I will continue to learn more until the end of my 2nd year in the program.

The problem is that I can’t help but think that if I were sitting with a counselor who attempted to use one of those skills, I’d immediately reply, “OH! That was a GREAT use of X skill! Nice! Very natural sounding!” and “Ohhhhh, good use of X skill to make me look deeper at the problem! Sweeeeeeeet!”

I might even prompt the therapist with, “Y’know, now that I’ve mentioned X, it might be helpful if you asked me about Y and Z, no?”

Eep.

Of course, I know that the whole point behind learning these particular skills is to help me make sure I’m covering everything that needs to be covered with a client – remembering to discuss the presenting problem isn’t hard, but remembering to ask other important questions can sometimes be forgotten “in the moment”. It’s also about making people feel comfortable in a situation that, for many, is particularly uncomfortable.

I know, too, that once you’re in a counseling session as the worker, it’s not about a mental checklist – it’s about the flow of things and trying to get a really big picture of the client’s perspectives. The mental checklist only comes in to play when the worker is ’stuck’ (or new at all of this) and needs to move things along appropriately.

But I am pretty sure I will never be able to seek therapy for myself again. At least, not without being that therapist’s worst client EVER.

1. 91% on a group presentation (for “Planned Parenthood”). Sweeeeet! I love the tingly feeling of having met the expectations for a project, assignment, presentation and pretty much anything else!
2. I handed in my Top 5 picks for field placements. All that’s left is the waiting….!
3. Tomorrow is my last presentation for a while. PHEW.
4. Finally having, I think, all the T-slips and informational bits that I need to have in order for Coffee and I to get our income taxes done!
5. Drinking some Chia Fresco and imagining my migraine disappearing.

LED – Scarleteen, one of The Best sources for online sex education for teens, has started answering questions via text message. In other words, teens who aren’t near a computer, or who have an urgent question, can TEXT it and get a reply.