Hurry Hurry... Read All About It: She Actually Is Nice

It was a very busy day, but exciting none the less. I really enjoyed everything today!! LOL. I sound like a nerd. That’s me. I not only went to class, but I was glad that I had. First class, counseling techniques… This was my first time in the class, since I played hooky last week. I loved it. So the whole concept of the class is learning how to talk to patients, gain their trust, and overall make them feel comfortable with you. So today we gathered in groups and took turns playing therapist, client and observer. Trying to emote was difficult during the first exercise. I wasn’t feeling any one emotion, so to sit there and try to conjure one up proved to be quite a task. The second task was a little easier. I just decided to talk honestly. I can’t concentrate on improving my skills if I’m occupied with making up a situation (plus all the emotions that might come with the situation). No thanks. So playing client was fine. I just started running my mouth (simple enough for me to do). When it came time to play therapist… here came the challenge. What am I supposed to do? Both of my partners have been doing this for a minute and are damn near pros. They even dress like shrinks. Anyway… I do pretty good for the first five or six minutes and then I freeze. What else am I supposed to say? Do I give advice? Do I just keep digging for more from the client? What the hell am I supposed to do? I’ve got nothing else to say. FAIL!!! LOL. At the end of it all, I learned quite a bit about myself. I plan to make the appropriate changes. So here’s an interesting part of the class. The professor (same one from Psychopathology) asked to hear from the therapists and to express their thoughts about the exercise. I raised my hand and shared my anxiety about the exercise and my frozen moment. The professor stated he understood my predicament and said it would get easier as time went by. Then he said that he just had to add one more point: when I listen I am intimidating and he thought that I was pissed at him when he was talking. I think I am showing concern and being attentive. He thinks I’ve got the angry-black-woman-face on. He went to say that when I opened my mouth, his thought was, “damn, she actually is really nice”. You’re kidding me, right? You got to be grinning all damn day to not appear angry. I thought it was hilarious.
While I was playing observer the fire alarm when off and I spent the remainder of the class on a bench outside. Why couldn’t it have been during Biochemistry? At least that is what I thought. Biochemistry was pretty interesting today too. We took a break from the typical boring lecture and had a clinical case presented to us. We listened about sickle cell: the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments. It was great. It was the most I have paid attention in a long time. Great stuff!!!! Ok, I’m done ranting about that. I could go into further detail, but I would be here entirely too long.
After class, I went upstairs and finally got my schedule down in stone (that was a mess). After that, I made my way to Charles River campus and got my money, baby!!! Now I can officially move out of here. I’ve got a few viewing scheduled for the next couple of days. Cross yo fingers.
Ok, let me go. I spent all day running around and I haven’t looked at one book. I at least need to prepare for lab tomorrow. Then I’m going to bed. I’m sleepy!!!