Internship 09 - Message to my students

To all my counselling students from Unimas, particularly the final year students doing their internship until May 2009, this is my message to you.

For the few years I have been supervising students for their internship, I have heard the same complaints from interns about how hard and stressful it is to fulfill the requirements to graduate. Well my loves, nothing comes easy. Internship tests your creativity, perseverence, skills and strength of mind. For those who fail to acquire these will fall out but so far inspite of all the grouses students aired, they did very well indeed. I am so proud of all of you.

Problem comes when you start comparing yourself and your work with other students from other universities. Never do that! Different universities have different requirements. Rest assured, your supervisors are committed to give you the best supervision possible. I have been asked many times by your site supervisors why Unimas lecturers stay with their interns the whole day to supervise, while others don't. I can't answer that but that's our work. We want to supervise as ethical as possible. Our work is to help you, not to find faults with you. So far, I am very proud to have a lot of positive feedback from your site supervisors and I hope you, the present interns will be able to keep that up.

I know how nervous and stressed you are when you are being supervisesd. I understand that. I would feel the same too. I felt sorry but tickled sometimes when I see how nervous you were when I came to supervise. I know, just the thought of me coming to supervise, gives your spine a shiver. Do I give you such fright? My poor darlings!! Now listen to me. As I have told you many, many times, I don't come to to see you to find your weaknesses. I come with a purpose to help you, show you what you do good and what you do wrong. Believe me, I can't tell you, you are perfect as counsellors. If you are, you don't become interns, you become super counsellors. I am not a super counsellor and not perfect myself and I do make mistakes - many times but I learn through my mistakes. Making mistakes does not mean you are weak or stupid, it means it gives you opportunity to improve.

Pay attention to what is required in your internship. You have been briefed about these.

1. Make sure your reports, documents and files are kept updated. This is important. I don't excuse students who are slacked in signing informed consents, sessions reports and clients' background, making them incomplete. Training yourself to pay attention to details may save you the complexities of quieries and legal implications, if it ever happens. I talked about this at length in my ethic class.

2. Confusion on writing session reports according to SOAP format, I have explained to you when I came to supervise for the first time. So improve on it.

3. Difficulty on accumulating credit hours on group work and guidance activities. I have also encouraged you to work together, helping one another to accumulate credits, so that everyone gains. Helping is your core business, practice it. Just follow the guideline.

4. I do direct observation for the purpose to see how you used the counselling skills you were trained for. Sometimes I intervened when I saw your sessions were not productive and you missed the core issues presented by your clients. When I do that listen to what I say and your clients' responses to me. My purpose is to demonstrate to you how you can explore your clients' issues further and you will have direction. It doesn't mean you are stupid - you are not, you are under training. During our discussion, learn from it and improve in the next supervision.

5. Please never show how nervous you are in front of your client. Learn to handle it and show you are confident even though you are jelly inside.You have to gain your clients' confidence before therapy begins.

6. You are working in organizations, make yourself visible. Don't expect clients to come to you. You can do that when you have your own private clinic.

7. You are still learning, not experts. So keep on reading and refering to your textbooks or other reading materials.

8. Take care of your appearance and your interaction with people. Show that you are professional in handling issues.

9. For my students in Kuching, understand your supervisors. Learn to negotiate and tell him or her of your concerns. They will help you if you are genuine. Do not be afraid. They have gone through your life. Or the least you can do is to give them your Blog address.

As I have promised, the purpose of my first supervision is to guide you and to show you how to improve. I want to see you improve and become better. All your mistakes in the first supervision will be erased and I base my grade on your improvement in the final supervision. What I want to see is you become confident, competent and good in applying the counselling skills you have been trained for.

As I have told my former interns, you have the ability to do well and don't let other people tell you otherwise. Never let anyone make you feel small. Believe in yourself and just do your best and do the right things.
The one thing that I cannot forgive is dishonesty. Any dishonesty detected, will cause you to repeat your internship. But so far, none of my students do that, I am pleased.

I also cannot tolerate laissez-faire attitude.

For all other interns from any organizations/universities, you have the right to ask for the best supervision from your supervisors. Ethical supervision is important.

If you are stressed find ways to release it - talk to friends (Blogging as Hisham does, is good), go somewhere peaceful, see movies, soak yourself in the river ( I often do that) or any other activities that can help you to relax. Your journal is a good source to share your concerns with your supervisors. You feel frustrated with her or him, Write!!!!!

For other supervisors in Unimas, please read your interns' Blogs. Sometimes they need to be listened to.

All the best to all of you. Believe me, When it is over, you will be proud of yourself!!!!!