ACA Blog

We all need to feel connected, valued and supported in life. As counselors, fostering this is an important part of our work. Sometimes, I can become so focused on helping others to build connections that I forget to encourage my own. Recently, I attended a fashion show-fundraiser for a program that I managed for 8 years – The Looking Forward Program. This program provides cancer support, education and wellness services to those living with cancer and the people who support them. It was founded by a breast cancer survivor in 1994 whose philosophy once diagnosed with cancer has been to always look forward. The fashion show is an annual fundraising event to support the “extra” services that people going through cancer treatment often need but cannot afford. I hadn’t been to a fashion show since 2008 after leaving to take another position; I am so glad I attended.

Now that we are talking about marketing (see my blog posted June 4) your private practice… I’m sure the question “So where do I start?” comes to mind.

We had Brucie for 11 years, he was healthy American Bulldog until the moment he died while playing; the vet said it was his heart. We had hoped to make him a therapy dog but he was about as calm as Marmaduke and weighed in at 75-80 pounds, a combination that clients just could not deal with so he stayed our pup upstairs in our home and only ventured into the office at night and on weekends. He was so calm when others were not around but once a stranger came they would be tackled and licked until they were totally coated.

Continuing education is important and the company that I work for Truman Medical Center, provides staff with many opportunities for continuing their education. Over the years I have appreciated the opportunity to attend the American Counseling Association’s annual conference where excellent educational opportunities exist. In my specialized area of work, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care has afforded me the opportunity to upgrade my knowledge in mental health and health care in corrections. I think that you will agree that this is quite a specialized area of interest.

Let’s face it: Today’s United States military faces more pressure than any other fighting force in world history. I’m not talking about the pressure to survive and emerge victorious from conflict or a battlefield—this has always been a pressure. What I’m saying is that in today’s military, the same individual named “Warrior” upon graduation from basic training must also answer to “Humanitarian,” “Scholar,” “Technical Expert,” “Model Family Man/Woman,” “Compassionate Leader,” “Professional,” “International Ambassador,” “Healer,” “Media Fodder,” “Political Pawn,” even…”Public Relations Guru?” All at the same time.

I once was a little girl around the age of 9. Our family always went on vacation with my dad’s side of the family. We rented cabins along a lake in the northern woods of Wisconsin, and we would spend the week hiking, fishing, swimming (if the water wasn't icy cold in the month of June), playing Frisbee golf, biking, hanging out by the camp fire, and oh-so-much more... Some of my best childhood memories are centered around these trips, and there's one in particular that I'm thinking about today. I believe that significant memories of our past show up in a BIG way in our present and our future. If only we will pay attention, we can learn so much about ourselves.

With the completion of my Internship came many mixed emotions. There is of course the extreme relief to reclaim a little of my time and energy back in my personal life. I would be lying if I said that I will miss the 2am dates with an assignment after the babies are dreaming. However, there are parts that are difficult to let go of. The clients I have worked with all these months are now no longer going to be a part of my weekly life.

[caption id="attachment_4859" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Jennifer Bingaman"][/caption] About 90 days ago, I had a client who was barely of age sit in front of me and tell me intimate details about how he fell into opiate addiction. It started as most drug addictions do – with the gateway drugs – but it also started with another common theme we rarely talk about as a motivator for addiction; self-love.

Not really, but sometimes-maybe? I don’t have to discipline my dog daily, I don’t have to do homework with my dog and I don’t have to teach my dog life lessons. Parenting is exhausting. Not really news to anyone but at the end of a day with a ten year old girl I am beat. But with my dog-Maximus (Max) I’m nowhere near worn out.

I recently resumed the role as the Connecticut Counseling Association's Executive Director after a brief break from service. I made the decision to resign nearly a year ago and finished my term in December, 2011. In many ways, I sensed a need for a break from the responsibility and time for internal reflection and recommitment to my spiritual practices. I have found that when I am able to feelclear on the inside of the issues that are getting in my way of feeling grounded and centered, clarity often follows. The gift of the professional clarity that came during this break has reenergized me andreignited my passion to serve the counseling profession.