Reflection:
I feel like having the opportunity to work with diverse clients of different cultures, religions, ages, sexual orientations, and backgrounds has helped me develop my ability to be flexible, not only when it comes to different approaches and interventions, but also when it comes to meeting clients where they are. In the same day, I can have a client who is ready to dive into their stressors and trauma, followed by a client who needs to take things more slowly. These experiences have taught me the importance of recognizing that every client is different and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to counseling.
This experience has also taught me that there is no such thing as a “resistant” client. Instead, resistance can be important information about what may need to be adapted or changed to better fit the client’s needs. Rather than viewing resistance as a barrier, I have learned to approach it with curiosity and use it as an opportunity to better understand my clients.