MSW Practicum Experience: The Women Health Resource Center, Foothills Hospital
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My Practicum Placement was at the Women’s Health Resource Center at the Foothills Medical Center with supervision from Sharon Christine, MSW, RSW. This practicum placement provided a number of opportunities for education in Women’s Mental Health issues.
The Women’s Health Center runs a program called “The Bloom”. The aim of the program is to help women reach their health potential thereby engaging in primary prevention of mental health problems. The program provides health education and information to women through consultations and courses on physical health, social and emotional health , nutritional health and managing chronic health concerns such as depression and anxiety. I worked with that program as a practicum student.
The Women’s Health Center runs a program called “The Bloom”. The aim of the program is to help women reach their health potential thereby engaging in primary prevention of mental health problems. The program provides health education and information to women through consultations and courses on physical health, social and emotional health , nutritional health and managing chronic health concerns such as depression and anxiety. I worked with that program as a practicum student.
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Working in that program marks the beginning of a new and exciting career development. In my work with women with potential mental health issues, I focused on their social and emotional health and how I could use social systems as a support towards their recovery. I Worked with women in groups and individually and delivered inpatient and outpatient programs in addiction, depression, anxiety and chronic stress management. At work, I embraced diversity and cultural sensitivity as our clientele involved women with various backgrounds, including Native women, refugees, abused women and women recovering from addiction. I engaged in therapeutic alliance with the clients in every conversation and interaction by facilitating group-focused counselling sessions on addiction recovery, depression, anxiety and stress management. I worked from a trauma-based perspective, focused on building the spiritual and sexual relationships and self- esteem of clients at the Center by using cognitive restructuring, positive affirmations and mindfulness and relaxation practices.
Key Learning from Practicum
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My practicum was rich with many learning opportunities and here are some of my key learning experiences:
1. Promotion of Quality Health for Women: I facilitated a number of psycho-educational group programs aimed at promoting quality of health for women in Calgary. I also co-facilitated a five-week workshop dubbed “Stressed Out and Down”, organized by the Center. The program helped me understand the important role of women in the society and the need to help them gain full health potential thereby preventing mental health problems.
2. The importance of knitting together theory and practice to promote health: I had the opportunity to participate in a four-week “Bloom” program dubbed, “Stressed Out and Down”. The workshop was organized for sixteen women who registered online with the Center. The program focused on how women could manage depression, anxiety and chronic stress through the use of cognitive restructuring. It enabled me to see how we can use positive self-talk and affirmations to change our intuitions thereby reducing depression, anxiety and stress.
3. The power of groups in clinical practice:
Man is a social animal who remains group-oriented to ensure survival, connection and belonging. Our lives begin in family groups and we function thereafter as members of groups at school, work and in communities (Klein,)
In working with women, I experienced the healing power of groups in promoting health. The groups reminded me of the unique characteristics of each member in supporting themselves towards recovery. It focused on a share of member's lived experiences and how these experiences can be learning and healing. The American Group Psychotherapy Association affirms that group therapy has been found useful in treating a broad variety of problems, including depression, anxiety, loss and addictive disorders (AGPA, 2003 cited in Klein, 2014). I am encouraged by this learning to seek further studies on group dynamics and how focused groups can be used to heal people with depression.
4. Significance of strong therapeutic alliance and collaboration: In my work with women, I came to the realization of the importance of engaging in a strong therapeutic relationship and collaboration. I realized how important it is to listen rather than respond to clients, as they narrate their lived experiences. One observation made is that, as I engaged in collaboration, the women had a sense of freedom and hope and were able to share their concerns freely. They also had a sense of belonging to, participating in, and owning, their therapy. This invited a shared responsibility for the processes and the outcomes.
5. Importance of inclusion of mindful and relaxation practices: My first introduction to mindfulness practices was with this practicum. All the therapy sessions I participated ended with this brief therapy. I experienced the unique importance of this practice in the lives of women recovering from addiction. I have learned that practicing mindfulness improves mental and physical health. Mindfulness practice has become an important tool, both professionally and personally, in helping deal with issues as depression, anxiety, addiction, and stress. I have been able to witness how living mindfully and appreciating the present moment can have very powerful impact for healing.
1. Promotion of Quality Health for Women: I facilitated a number of psycho-educational group programs aimed at promoting quality of health for women in Calgary. I also co-facilitated a five-week workshop dubbed “Stressed Out and Down”, organized by the Center. The program helped me understand the important role of women in the society and the need to help them gain full health potential thereby preventing mental health problems.
2. The importance of knitting together theory and practice to promote health: I had the opportunity to participate in a four-week “Bloom” program dubbed, “Stressed Out and Down”. The workshop was organized for sixteen women who registered online with the Center. The program focused on how women could manage depression, anxiety and chronic stress through the use of cognitive restructuring. It enabled me to see how we can use positive self-talk and affirmations to change our intuitions thereby reducing depression, anxiety and stress.
3. The power of groups in clinical practice:
Man is a social animal who remains group-oriented to ensure survival, connection and belonging. Our lives begin in family groups and we function thereafter as members of groups at school, work and in communities (Klein,)
In working with women, I experienced the healing power of groups in promoting health. The groups reminded me of the unique characteristics of each member in supporting themselves towards recovery. It focused on a share of member's lived experiences and how these experiences can be learning and healing. The American Group Psychotherapy Association affirms that group therapy has been found useful in treating a broad variety of problems, including depression, anxiety, loss and addictive disorders (AGPA, 2003 cited in Klein, 2014). I am encouraged by this learning to seek further studies on group dynamics and how focused groups can be used to heal people with depression.
4. Significance of strong therapeutic alliance and collaboration: In my work with women, I came to the realization of the importance of engaging in a strong therapeutic relationship and collaboration. I realized how important it is to listen rather than respond to clients, as they narrate their lived experiences. One observation made is that, as I engaged in collaboration, the women had a sense of freedom and hope and were able to share their concerns freely. They also had a sense of belonging to, participating in, and owning, their therapy. This invited a shared responsibility for the processes and the outcomes.
5. Importance of inclusion of mindful and relaxation practices: My first introduction to mindfulness practices was with this practicum. All the therapy sessions I participated ended with this brief therapy. I experienced the unique importance of this practice in the lives of women recovering from addiction. I have learned that practicing mindfulness improves mental and physical health. Mindfulness practice has become an important tool, both professionally and personally, in helping deal with issues as depression, anxiety, addiction, and stress. I have been able to witness how living mindfully and appreciating the present moment can have very powerful impact for healing.
Integration of Theory, Practice, Research and Policy
The values of Social Work embrace theory, practice, research and policy development. There is the need to join all these together for effective practice outcome due to their interconnectedness. Although clinical social work involves direct practice with clients, I believe the integration of these four areas of social work is important.
Practice: Clinical Intervention for women with challenges of depression and anxiety.
Research: Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001, Angst,. 2002, Stoppard, 2012 ).
Theory: Cognitive Behavioral Theory. Behavior therapy can be effective in helping clients with depression (Turner, 2011, Zindel, Williams & Teas-dale, 2002, DeRubeis et al., 2005 ).
Policy: Mental health Act of Alberta 2007.
The values of Social Work embrace theory, practice, research and policy development. There is the need to join all these together for effective practice outcome due to their interconnectedness. Although clinical social work involves direct practice with clients, I believe the integration of these four areas of social work is important.
Practice: Clinical Intervention for women with challenges of depression and anxiety.
Research: Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001, Angst,. 2002, Stoppard, 2012 ).
Theory: Cognitive Behavioral Theory. Behavior therapy can be effective in helping clients with depression (Turner, 2011, Zindel, Williams & Teas-dale, 2002, DeRubeis et al., 2005 ).
Policy: Mental health Act of Alberta 2007.