Comprehensive Program Review and Reflection by Laurie Hulse

Introduction

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:07:10 UTC

Hi! My name is Laurie Hulse, the proud mom of two incredible girls and Balto, our Great White Pyrenees. I am also an elementary school counselor in Round Rock ISD. I have been a school counselor for 9 years, before that I was in the classroom for 18 years. I have a bachelors from Texas A&M University, a masters in School Counseling from Angelo State University and I am currently working on another masters from Angelo State in MHWC-LPC. I will complete my second masters in December. After I graduate in December 2023, I am taking the National Counselor Exam in February. Hopefully after I pass the exam, I will begin my 3000 hours in my current position and eventually become a Licensed Professional Counselor. In about 5 years I plan to retire from school counseling and open my own practice as an LPC. I almost dropped out of school in January after going through a very personal traumatic family situation. My daughter said to me, "Mom you can do this!" I am so glad I stayed in school and I cannot wait to see what God has planned over the next few years. I will continue to follow HIS plan and let Him guide me in this next chapter in my life.

EDG 6396 Capstone

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:11:31 UTC

Currently I am taking EDG 6396 Capstone in Mental Health Counseling. This course has been a great reflection of all the classes I have taken for my masters in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling-LPC Bridge. The artifact I chose was Professional Ethics and Disposition Presentation. In this assignment we dug deep into the American Counseling Association 2014 Code of Ethics. It was good to go back and review this document. In my opinion the topics discussed in this assignment is basic fundamental work ethic. We reflected on topics such as: dressing professionally, time management, flexibility, diversity, collaboration, continuing to learn, reflection, honesty and integrity. In this course we also updated our resume and made it digital. At first this was a little scary being a new concept for me, but I love the idea of being more creative in building the perfect digital resume. As a future LPC, I will have many takeaways from this course. I am eager to continue to update my digital resume. I also vow to be a lifelong learners as I enter my new profession as an LPC. I will continually research and dive deeper into learning new theories, best practices and strategies to help my future clients. I am so excited about this next chapter in my life and I cannot wait to see where the Lord takes me on this journey in life. I just know I must continue to follow HIM and HE will guide me and use me.

EDG 6338 Counseling Methods

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:12:52 UTC

EDG 6338 Counseling Methods was one of my favorite classes. I enjoyed learning about the different types of counseling methods, along with different therapeutic strategies used in each method. During this course I discovered I believe in using a combination of several counseling methods. I do not believe there is a single method that will work on all clients. I think it depends on each individual client, and their situation. The artifact I chose was a group assignment. We selected a type of counseling method that we were interested in and we were placed in groups. I chose Faith-Based and Spiritual Therapy. In our group we researched the history, origin, definition, theories, and strategies used in the method we selected. In the future I plan to be a Christian Counselor and Faith-Based and Spiritual Therapy will be the center of my practice. Interestingly, I discovered many of the strategies used in this method, I do daily in my life such as: prayer, journaling, reading scripture and memorizing scripture. I am so excited about my future journey as an LPC and where the journey will led.

EDG 6335 Counseling Ethics

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:13:12 UTC

This course was EDG 6335 Counseling Ethics and the artifact I chose was an Online Scavenger Hunt. This assignment was very practical and informative. We had to research and find documentation for a variety of topics such as: records management, storing files electronically and physically, confidentiality, note taking, what should be in our counseling notes, court records/documents, how long records should be retained, a professional will, and who should have access to our records. This was very valuable information that I will need as a future LPC. I would like to have my own practice and I need to be knowledgeable in the best practices, the ethics and laws of counseling.

EDG 6337 Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:14:10 UTC

EDG 6337 Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology was a very informative course. It was fast and furious and I learned so much in this class. While in the course it immediately began helping me in my current role as an elementary school counselor. Several of my students have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, which some are treated through medications and I was very unfamiliar with certain medications and the side effects they might have on my students. With the resources from this class I was able to easily research and review different medications to help in my current role. I am confident this course will help in my future role as an LPC as well. In this class the artifact I chose was a presentation I completed on the medication Wellbutrin. I researched and discussed the chemical make up of Wellbutrin, sides effects, mental disorders that it might be prescribed for and other interesting facts about Wellbutrin. I still ponder with the thought of why we prescribe medications such as Wellbutrin that can cause suicidal thoughts to someone with depression.

EDG 6334 Addiction Counseling

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:14:58 UTC

EDG 6334 Addiction Counseling hit close to home, I had many enlightening moments throughout this course. Addiction runs in my family and in my ex-husbands family. I worry about my daughters and the genetic possibility of them and their future family being effected by addiction. Addition tore my marriage of 28 years apart and I want the cycle to end! The artifact I chose was a case study from the movie Beautiful Boy. It is about a family and their struggles with their sons addiction to methamphetamines'. It was a heartbreaking reality of the pain and suffering that addiction can cause a family. As a future LPC no matter what type of counseling I go into I know without a doubt addiction will be the cause and source for many heartaches. Whether I go into family counseling, trauma, domestic violence, couples therapy, children counseling or a combination of all, I predict addiction will be a factor in at least 70% of my future cases. This course has begun to prepare me for my next career as a future LPC.

EDG 6332 Introduction to Trauma

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:15:29 UTC

EDG 6332, Introduction to Trauma was a very informative class professionally and personally. I learned so much in this course and was literally experiencing trauma in my personal life, while taking this course. I have learned trauma not only effects ones mental health, but effects our physical health too. Self care is also very critical in the healing process when healing from trauma. For the past 20 years I have been on high blood pressure medication, thinking it was genetic, however after leaving an abusive marriage of 28 years, my blood pressure has stabilized and my cortisol levels have normalized. I am no longer on high blood pressure medication. I was also surprised to learn the neurological changes in the brain from trauma, but glad to know the negative effects can be reversed. In this course we had to complete a group project on a particular traumatic experience. I was so intrigued when I saw Human and Sex Trafficking as a topic. As a mom I have tried to make my daughters and their friends aware of the dangers and the luring tactics used by human traffickers. It is a scary reality the number of children and adults taken in the Texas triangle between San Antonio, Houston and D/FW with Austin being in the middle. In this artifact we discussed statistics associated with Human and Sex Trafficking, signs, the traumatic effects, trainings, resources and steps involved in therapy and healing from this traumatic experience. This is a topic we need to bring awareness to and we must come together and help stop this terrible torture. I can honestly say, I hope I do not have a client in the future who has experienced this type of torture. Regardless we all need to be educated on this topic and have our eyes open and report anything suspicious.

EDG 6351 Counseling Practicum 2

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:17:19 UTC

The artifact I chose for EDG 6351 Counseling Practicum 2 was my counseling log for direct and indirect hours. While tracking hours in this log as an elementary school counselor, I quickly realized I will not have a hard time getting my 3000 hours for my LPC. Daily I see students one on one, in a group setting or during lessons. Understanding what activities count as direct or indirect will be useful when I begin tracking my 3000 hours. I am ready to pass my test, turn in my papers to the state and begin logging my hours!

Reflective Conclusion

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:56:29 UTC

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF2JEQXlAE/xOsI7RrYOzi3XH3vvkvgWw/view?utm_content=DAF2JEQXlAE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

Color Coded Key

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 04:59:57 UTC

Key-Purple

Introduction- Blue

Courses-Light Peach

Reflective Conclusion-Light Blue

EDG 6336 Marriage and Family Counseling

lhulse3 — 2023-11-22 05:32:45 UTC

EDG 6336 Marriage and Family Counseling was a great course. Ironically it was during this class that my marriage of 28 years ended! The artifact I chose was a fictional case study of a retired couple who had been married for over 30 years. Upon retirement they realized there were issues with depression, addiction, unresolved family struggles from childhood, and years of emotional detachment in their marriage. I used bits and pieces of my marriage in this assignment. I loved this course and I have thought about a future in Marriage and Family Counseling. My girls and I have gone from surviving to thriving and I am so excited to see where my journey will led as a future LCP.