Dr. Constance Kindrick Patterson: Virtual Field Experience

Virtual Field Experience

Dr. Constance Kindrick Patterson demonstrates the journey a counselor must undergo when counseling an individual seeking to explore and understand their sexual identity. Tracy is a 39 year old married woman with a very conservative family background. After a recent dinner party where a lesbian couple was in attendance, Tracy has begun revisiting the notion of having children outside of her marriage and in a lesbian relationship, however she experiences anxiety and stress based on the presumed response she may receive from her parents. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the session while drawing attention to the competencies demonstrated by Dr. Patterson. The paper will also describe insights gained and the effective

Patterson demonstrates the APA guideline #10, by attempting to understand how Tracy’s family will respond to the potential idea of her leaving her husband and entering into a lesbian relationship. Guideline 10 states, “Psychologists [Counselors] strive to understand the ways in which a person’s lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientation may have an impact on his or her family of origin and the relationship with that family of origin” (APA, 2012). The impact a sexual orientation may have on a family is varied, but often leaves about the individual and the family feeling fragmented. According to Pachankis (2004), “individuals who hide their sexual identity experience a discrepancy between their true selves and the selves that they present to others. These individuals may feel inauthentic, as if they are living a lie… These individuals are likely to avoid social situations, especially those in which they feel their sexual identity will be called into question”

Patterson clearly displays a level of awareness with in the therapeutic environment consistent with the aims of Multicultural Counseling. As Hays (2008) notes, that Multicultural Counseling is unlike the major counseling theories in that instead of describing how therapy is done, it stems from the question “With whom is it done?” (p. 177). Focusing on the person is a practice that encourages respect and rapport vital for maintaining a healthy counselor-client relationship.

A particular insight I received from viewing this session and discussion is the continued probing Dr. Patterson used to help encourage Tracy to think and talk about the way in which sexual orientation impacts her life and family relationships. Dr. Patterson was not forceful or disrespect and she also displayed a level of confidence necessary to help the client.

Additionally Dr. Patterson made a noteworthy suggestion that future counselor should consider. When the counselor is uncertain, or lacking in experience, or feels a particular bias which may influence the therapeutic relationship there is always the option of referring the client to a counselor more apt at handling the client’s particular situation or circumstance. This was a suggestion showing very good self-awareness and maintaining the client’s best interest even if it is in opposition to the counselor’s own beliefs.

Cultural