Psychological Fitness
A healthy counselor begins with a reflective, resilient, and self-aware counselor.
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This artifact demonstrates my developing understanding of ethical counseling practice through the exploration of professional boundaries, dual relationships, collaboration, supervision, and ethical decision-making. It highlights the importance of applying the ACA Code of Ethics to protect client welfare, maintain professional integrity, and develop self-awareness as a counselor-in-training.
"We cannot give what we do not have." — St. Teresa of Calcutta
How Do I as a CIT Demonstrate Self-Reflection and Self-Care?
The quote by St. Teresa of Calcutta, "We cannot give what we do not have," reflects the importance of psychological fitness for me when it comes to counseling. It reminds me that I cannot effectively offer empathy, compassion, and ethical care to my clients without first maintaining my own psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Caring for myself is not separate from client care, it is a professional and ethical responsibility.
Regular individual and group supervision have been essential to my growth as a Counselor in Training. Through supervision, I have developed greater self-awareness, learned to recognize and manage countertransference, and gained confidence in seeking consultation and feedback. These experiences have strengthened my clinical skills, reinforced the value of lifelong learning, and prepared me to provide ethical, competent, and compassionate care while prioritizing my own psychological wellness.
ACA Code of Ethics (2014)
C.2.g (Impairment): Counselors monitor themselves for signs of impairment from their own physical, mental, or emotional problems and refrain from offering or providing professional services when impaired. They seek assistance for problems that reach the level of professional impairment, and if necessary, they limit, suspend, or terminate their professional responsibilities until it is determined that they may safely resume their work. Counselors assist colleagues or supervisors in recognizing their own professional impairment and provide consultation and assistance when warranted with colleagues or supervisors showing signs of impairment and intervene as appropriate to prevent imminent harm to clients
CACREP Common Core Standards (2016):
2.F.1.K strategies for personal and professional self-evaluation and implications for practice & 2.F.1.I self-care strategies appropriate to the counselor role
Program Objectives
Counseling and helping relationships.