I had my internship again and got three more hours. I’m feeling slightly concerned about the way this is going. They have this case worker there who is an undergraduate intern and is paid in a full-time position. While at our meeting yesterday, as each of the women came in for their turn, she sat next to each of them and announced all the things she’d taken care of with their case. She gets them signed up for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), gets doctors appointments scheduled, arranges transportation for whatever things, etc. I was actually very impressed.

But I felt very unneeded and like I wasn’t contributing. It’s been difficult getting a clear picture of what my role is in this facility and what it is I’m actually going to be doing. The two personal meetings we had were either cancelled or rushed for this or that reason. The supervisor is a little distracted with a full-time job in the public schools and then this as her thing she does in the evening. It’s fine because I’m distracted too, and that’s part about what I think I like about being here, that this is not like other places I’ve heard of where I am required to be making and keeping appointments.

When I clarified that she said, “Oh no no no no no no no.” It’s more like when I am here then they will find some people for me to talk to. It sounds like it’s mostly going to be the kids, which I’m fine with, and a lot of the moms are also getting counseling through public services as arranged by the case worker. These systems, I can hardly believe how taxed they are. There’s a playroom upstairs which seems like the best place to meet with the kids. They’ve mentioned doing groups about respect and personal boundaries and normal kid things. I wish I could tutor more, it seems like they need it.

I had the first class meeting last week, which counts as group supervision. My tolerance for sitting in class has really shrunk as of late. I am still getting emails about tetanus immunizations needing to be within the past 10 years and Sexual Harassment yearly campus education requirements with logins. I honestly cannot believe all the hoops and I truly pray (or will now) that it wasn’t foolish to come here. We had to go around and introduce ourselves and say which concentration track we had chosen. They have Clinical Mental Health, Marriage, Couples, & Family, and School Counseling.

I chose Clinical Mental Health because that is the one where my previous Spirituality elective would count. There was a woman there who was on her seventh semester of internship and had 80 hours left. She was hoping to finish in the spring. I was kind of shocked to hear that but also I admit it made me feel better. It was in that moment that I also switched over into what I’ve named the “it’s fine” track. I know I keep saying that but I think I do mean it. People take on second sites and take breaks in the program and everyone has their own way of doing things to get in their required hours.