Interview with a Counselor
Tyiesha Williams
Dr. Sue Sadik
Mental Health Counseling
08/10/2008
I interviewed a therapist III by the name of Rasheda Kelly. She currently has a master’s degree in social work and has her LCSSW. Mrs. Kelly has been in the mental health field for 14 plus years now. During this interview, I found that the mental health field is one that requires true dedication and a heart of compassion toward others. Mrs. Kelly reported that she has had her license for 10 years and enjoys working with mentally challenged patients. Mrs. Kelly also reported that she is a part of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and recommended that I start looking into some organizations at this time. The purpose of this interview was to find background information on how to approach different areas of the mental health profession. I also found that Mrs. Kelly was easy to talk to and was willing to help a future counselor. I have prepared 10 questions to ask Mrs. Kelly that she was able to provide her personal opinions and beliefs.
1. What inspired you to get into the field of counseling? Do you feel it was a good choice? Why or why not?
“I was inspired to choose counseling in mental health as a result of the children and adults I interacted with who were victims of abuse, depression, schizophrenia or other negative living environments. I wanted to be able to make a difference in other people’s lives as a tribute to those persons. I can’t imagine working in any other field, so yes I believe it was a great choice.”
2. How do you build a rapport with a client that is court ordered to receive treatment and does not want to participate in counseling?
“First, make the client feel safe in your presence. Be tactful and do not ask for all information at once. Most important be patient, building trust and fostering treatment adherence may take some time. If this fails, it is okay to help the client...