Plan For Growth For My Supervisor Angel

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My supervisor, Angela Hill, said “Kipsey has been very focused on each and every assignment that she has been given.” Although I love that I have no issues in my performance, I see room for growth within myself. I recognize the need to learn and explore areas that have piqued my interest, particularly in social work and addiction counseling. Observing counseling sessions between social workers and clients has deepened my intrigue for social work, leading me to consider pursuing a secondary degree in addiction recovery and social work, as my mentor at the internship site has a master's in these fields.

I believe that enhancing my knowledge in both social work and addiction recovery will significantly benefit my professional skill set. Currently, I assist with "shower day," a service for homeless individuals ("travelers") to receive a hot shower, a cup of coffee, and wash three days’ worth of laundry. While I contribute to this service, I recognize the importance of improving my listening skills. Many travelers share stories about how they became homeless, and I suspect I am only listening at a surface level, missing the underlying emotions and unspoken words. As a future counselor, it is crucial to hear what is beneath the words, the thoughts and feelings clients may not verbalize.

My growth goal is to develop the ability to listen beneath the surface—to hear what clients are thinking and feeling that they might not express directly. I will work on this throughout my remaining internship, seeking opportunities to pray for each individual and to deepen my empathetic listening. This skill will enable me to better understand clients' needs and provide more meaningful support.

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Effective communication and empathetic listening are fundamental skills in social work and addiction counseling. As my internship progresses, my focus is on identifying specific areas for personal and professional growth, with an emphasis on enhancing my listening abilities to better serve clients, especially those experiencing homelessness and addiction-related issues.

One of the initial realizations I had during my internship was the importance of active listening in establishing trust and understanding with clients. Many clients, especially those facing homelessness, carry complex stories of trauma, addiction, and personal hardship. Although I have been attentive during interactions, I have come to recognize that I often listen at a surface level, missing subtle cues and unspoken emotional undercurrents. This realization has motivated me to develop greater sensitivity to non-verbal communication and to cultivate the patience necessary to listen beyond words.

According to research, effective listening involves more than just hearing words; it requires interpreting underlying emotions, body language, and contextual cues (Rogers & Farson, 1987). By improving this skill, I can better understand clients’ needs and provide more tailored support. For example, during shower day services, I observe clients' behaviors and comments but have noticed moments where their true feelings remain hidden beneath surface conversations. Developing deeper listening skills will enable me to detect these unspoken messages, which are crucial for trauma-informed care (Bloom, 2011).

To achieve this growth, I plan to implement specific strategies throughout my internship. First, I will practice mindfulness techniques to heighten my awareness during client interactions, allowing me to remain present and attentive (Kabat-Zinn, 1994). Second, I will consciously avoid interrupting clients and instead allow them to express themselves fully, observing body language and emotional cues carefully. Third, I've learned the value of reflective listening, where I paraphrase clients’ words to confirm understanding (Egan, 2013). This not only demonstrates active engagement but also helps clients feel heard and valued.

Furthermore, I aim to incorporate prayer into my practice as an empathetic gesture, honoring clients’ spiritual needs and fostering trust. Prayer can create a supportive environment and affirm clients’ dignity (Pargament, 2007). I will look for natural opportunities to pray silently or aloud, depending on clients' comfort levels, as a means of providing holistic care that addresses spiritual and emotional needs.

Additionally, I am committed to seeking feedback from my supervisor and peers to continually refine my listening skills. Reflection journals and supervision meetings will serve as platforms to discuss challenges, insights, and growth areas. Empirical studies support the use of reflective practices in developing counseling competencies (Cohen & Swerdlik, 2018).

In conclusion, my growth plan centers on becoming a more attentive and empathetic listener, capable of perceiving what clients are feeling beneath their words. This skill is vital in social work and addiction counseling, where understanding unspoken narratives can significantly impact treatment outcomes. I am dedicated to honing this ability throughout my internship, with the aim of becoming a more compassionate and effective counselor capable of meeting clients where they are on their journey towards recovery.

References

• Bloom, S. L. (2011). Trauma-informed social work practice. Journal of Social Work Practice, 25(1), 1-15.
• Cohen, R. J., & Swerdlik, M. E. (2018). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement. Pearson.
• Egan, G. (2013). The skilled helper: A problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping (10th ed.). Brooks Cole.
• Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. Hyperion.
• Pargament, K. I. (2007). Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: Understanding and addressing the sacred. Guilford Press.
• Rogers, C. R., & Farson, R. (1987). Active listening. In R. G. Newman, M. A. D. Roberts, & P. R. DeVries (Eds.), Communicating in business today (pp. 31-40). McGraw-Hill.