What do students want?
Jessica Diaz
My area of interest is Multicultural Counseling. I have an amazing mentor, Dr. Courtland Lee who has encouraged me to be as active as possible within the profession. This encouragement and support has led me to meet amazing individuals and most importantly, I have been given the opportunity to participate in dialogue about the future of ACA and the profession.
I hope this blog will become a place to continue that dialogue and to give a voice to those whose future is the future of the profession. Please help me by giving me ideas for topics that are important to you as students, as counselors, as members of ACA, or as individuals growing up in a time of great challenges. Below are some ideas I hope to blog about in the upcoming weeks. If they look interesting, great, tell me so. If they aren’t of interest to you, what are some things you would be interested in discussing?
- What are your questions about beginning your career as a counseling professional?
- Hot topics in the profession (new standards, controversial interventions and therapies, etc…)
- How do I balance being a student and being a parent, significant other, or friend?
- How satisfied are you with being a member of ACA? Why aren’t you an ACA member?
- How do I start teaching my own courses?
- Do I need to get licensed and how do I do it?
- I graduated, now what?
- How do I get my proposal accepted for conferences?
- Dissertation… UGGG!
Take a moment and tell me what you would like to get out of a blog designed specifically for students within the counseling profession?
Jessica Diaz is a doctoral student at the University of Maryland and an Affiliate Professor at Loyola College.
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My passion is to get the message out there regarding verbal (emotional) abuse; 1 in 3 women are being abused and verbal abuse is most always the precursor to physical abuse.
I am a student at age 62, and won a women’s scholarship; it was easy; all I had to do was write about my life.
I’ve written my memoir: Ghost Child to Triumph (from a child with no voice, to someone who speaks up against injustice), and a book of poetry: Sanctuary of the Soul (Poems of anguish, healing, hope and celebration.
My endorsements take my breath away: Elie Wiesel, Alice Miller, Clint van Zandt, Dr. Larry Dossey, Dr. Frank Ochberg, Dr. Elaine Weiss, Nikki Giovanni, Wayne Dyer, etc., etc…
I may not be able to get a degree in counseling, but I am the moderator of an abused survivor’s group. I also help women via the phone. I have written 3 papers on verbal abuse….one of them is called: Society’s Hidden Epidemic: Verbal Abuse…Precursor to Domestic Violence and a Form of Biochemical Assault….I hope eventually, my paper will be accepted for a conference.
I don’t have a degree (yet), but I have 42 years of experience at being abused, and 10 years of research on the subject of abuse.
I was invited to speak on the radio on the subject, also.
Just wanted to jump in and say that we over comers and wounded healers have a lot to offer. I already have eight credits; I will keep on keeping on!
I wish it were in my power to make it required reading for everyone on the planet to read the book which saved my life: The Verbally Abusive Relationship by Patricia Evans.
One Ph.D. remarked that the book is the “cornerstone of civilization.” I concur.
Feel free to write to me: wacalice@aol.com (ACA Member)
I’m a recent masters level graduate who is interested in the “I graduated, now what?” topic. I’m in the midst of a job search during difficult economic times–when opportunities are few and far between. Frankly, it is a challenge even to get an interview. I’m curious about whether I should apply for jobs that are related but for which I am overqualified (e.g. case manager requiring only a bachelor’s degree) in order to get my foot in the door. Of course, this delays the licensure process. And, I’m wondering what effect taking a job in an area I do not ultimately want to end up in (e.g. working with children or adolescents) will have on my career as a whole (e.g. Will it be difficult to later obtain a job counseling adults?). I’m really discouraged after having left an internship in which I felt like had discovered my passion and was growing as a professional counselor, only to be turned out into a place where the chance to do what I love seems far, far away.
My suggestion “Anonymous” is to get your foot in the door as long as that door is somewhere in the general area of where you want to end up. Get involved in your profession through professional organizations. Go to conferences and bring your business cards. Don’t forget that you are your best agent. Sell yourself and the great traits you have to offer. Even starting off in a job a little less glamorous than you expected is still a START!