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My name is Ashley Liano and I am a graduate student in the MA Mental Health & Wellness Counseling program at Angelo State University. I'm a young homeschooling mother of five. A personal goal for myself is to better manage my own ADHD and trauma symptoms.

This is a portfolio of my work during my time in this program. It serves as a an example of how much I have learned and grown as I proceeded through each course towards graduation. It will also show how I will use these skills in my future role as a counselor.

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Cultural Roots Presentation - Ashley Liano

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Professional Ethics and Dispositions (1)

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Professional Role Development Presentation - Ashley Liano (1)

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This assignment involved analyzing and comparing three research articles. This was done in order to deepen my understanding of the differences between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The objective was overall to learn to distinguish between the two, interpret the data, and to connect those findings to applications in the counseling field.

In order to compete this activity I found qualitative and quantitative articles to compare and contrast using the provided template. I highlighted the differences in data collection methods and discussed the findings as well as their relevance to the field of health psychology.

Through this assignment I was able to better my ability to evaluate research and understand how it works better. This will allow me to better my future practice as a counselor as I will be able to utilize new research and implement the findings into my work.

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This presentation explored my personal cultural influences and their implications in my life. It required me to look at my own values, traditions, and experiences and identify how they relate to my identity. This was a great exercise to better my understanding of cultural diversity as well as increase my own self awareness.

This was an essential skill to learn so that I can be more culturally aware and understanding for my future clients. Fostering cultural competence is definitely an important aspect of counseling as it ensures an inclusive environment for all involved.

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This assignment required me to analyze a counseling session video and evaluate various aspects of the counselor’s skills. For example, I evaluated her use of empathy, active listening, questioning techniques, and even body language, among others. These skills displayed in the video are important for building rapport with clients.

This was very useful to me as a future counselor as it allowed me to really dig into what makes an effective counseling session as well as what builds rapport with clients. These skills and the ability to identify them will help me to know when to use which skills in my counseling sessions.

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This assignment required that I create a collaborative group handout for a hypothetical counseling group. The objective was to organize a handout that would entice potential group counseling clients to join the group meetings. It had to include clear information such as the location, what members could expect, the purpose, etc. in an accessible and attractive format.

Being able to create graphics such as this to gather potential client attention will be very useful in my future practice as I will need to advertise myself and my services frequently.

In addition, this improved my ability to communicate my ideas and learn to collaborate within a group setting. Communication is a major skill required of counselors and professionals of all sorts.

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In this class I was tasked with creating a proposal that would address a specific need within my community. As a homeschooling mom of course I chose to address a need within the homeschool community. My approach included researching the community and its needs, designing a program that would address those needs, and presenting a proposal that was persuasive and concise.

Overall, the assignment strengthened my ability to develop interventions, especially those that address the community, as well as advocating for the resources necessary to implement the program. I’m my future role as a counselor this will do me well as I may very well choose to undertake such projects such as this that I will need to propose to committees and the likes. Again, collaboration is a vital aspect whenever it comes to counseling.

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This presentation was one that focused on understanding the theories that we use in counseling. I had to pick a counseling theory, research it and its origins, and discuss its impact on modern day counseling. I chose humanistic theory and discussed its evolution over time as well as how it applies to counseling techniques today.

All of this enhanced my understanding of how today’s practices have been shaped my historical ideas and contexts. I will be able to apply this theory, and others, with greater ability through my understanding of their origins. This knowledge is quite important as it will mold me into a more informed and adaptable professional in my field.

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The professional role development assignment had me exploring the responsibilities and evolution of my role as a counselor and a professional. I had to explore various aspects of what it means to be a professional, such as ethical guidelines, functional skills, and my professional identity and reflect on how they align with who I aspire to be as a professional.

This activity gave me valuable insights into the very expectations within the counseling profession. It also reinforced my commitment to doing the work that I love, which is helping people as much as I can in an ethical and client-centered way. This is essential to foster growth in me as a professional and ensure that I am able to practice effectively and professionally.

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The ABC crisis model assignment focused on learning to apply the crisis intervention model in a scenario. I had to choose a client scenario to analyze by identifying the emotions and behaviors exhibited by the client. I had to determine what the needs were and then determine what I could do as a counselor to help the client and discuss what the client could do to improve too.

All in all, this enhanced my ability to address a crisis situation with the structure and empathy necessary when handling any sort of crisis. By having this model and skills that come with it, I will be able to address the issues within the chaos with a sense of calm and control. It is certainly important to solidify these skills of planning and responses during the critical moments in any sort of crisis.

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The professional ethics and disposition assignment’s objective was to analyze various ethical codes, reflect on my personal values, and align these with professional standards. I reviewed the various dispositions such as work ethics, professional relationships, adaptability, and more. Then I presented these dispositions in my own words, to include their intent. Then I discussed my personal experience with each. Lastly, I developed my own new disposition that I felt I could benefit from as a professional.

All of this reinforced the importance of maintaining ethical and professional practices in a client-centered approach. This framework ensures accountability and professionalism within a counseling environment.

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The case study critique required that I analyze a case study in order to evaluate its application of counseling theories and strategies. The objective here was to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the counselors approach to the session and then provide evidence-based recommendations for any necessary improvements. My approach was to assess the theoretical frameworks and examine the ethical considerations such as considering the client’s socioeconomic status. Then I reflected on potential alternative strategies that could provide a more positive outcome for the client.

This activity helped to further develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These are vital for adapting interventions into practice so that I can better serve my future clients in the best way that I can.