Building Mental Wellness with our Intern: Joy

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning.” – Mahatma Gandhi

 

Alone is a TV show on the History Channel.  The simplified premise of the show is to survive in the wild, absolutely alone, with only ten items you bring from home.  Do this for at least 100 days, or longer than any other participant, and you win a million dollars.  Might I add that the wild we’re speaking of is usually a far-off location that freezes over within a matter of weeks, leaving the participants to survive on what they can scavenge together. These participants have spent years of their lives taking survival classes and learning outdoor survival skills. The most successful of the participants are those who have not only focused on the development of physical skills but also on the acquisition of mental health skills. In fact, these participants cannot be selected for the show without first demonstrating some mastery of these skills.  An untrained individual would never be a part of the show and yet life often asks us to participate in events we are not mentally or emotionally prepared for. This is where mental health professionals are vital. 

 

A person cannot help themselves be prepared for the sudden loss of a parent or family member. Children who have never had emotional regulation strategies demonstrated for them do not suddenly know how to handle a stressful situation with a sibling or classmate.  This is where therapists and other mental health professionals can become the facilitators of healing conversations and educators of behavioral management skills. Similar to an outdoor guide educating a client on the proper ways to read a map and safely navigate a trail through the forest, therapists can help their clients navigate the realities of grief and learn how to safely manage stress.  

 

Throughout my life I have worked in a number of different helping professions. After graduating from the College of Saint Benedict with a degree in Elementary Education, I travelled to the Czech Republic and taught English as a Second Language. I then moved to Washington State and worked as the Academic Coordinator for the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies at Washington State University.  It was not until I moved back to Minnesota and began work as a Physical Therapist Assistant that I felt I was in a professional setting that utilized my skills and where felt I was making a real positive difference in the lives of my patients. While my work in physical therapy was challenging and rewarding, I felt like I could do more. It was not until I joined an organization through my church called Befriender Ministries that I found my calling.

 

Befriender Ministries is an organization that emphasizes being an authentic, caring, nonjudgmental listening presence. In Befriender Ministries, I learned the power of listening 90% and talking 10%. I learned that being a healing presence, contrary to what my physical therapy background taught me, was not about always having the right answer. It is also about helping someone find their answer within themselves.  Befriender Ministry helped me see that working in Mental Health Care would help me combine my skills with my passions: teaching, learning, helping people, and health care.  

 

As a clinical intern in pursuit of my master’s degree in professional clinical counseling from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, I believe mental health influences every aspect of a person’s life.  Just as not every person is born with an internal compass that points true north, not everyone is born with relationship intelligence or knowing how to set appropriate boundaries. I utilize a combination of therapeutic strategies to foster a client-centered, empowering, holistic approach.  I enjoy working with all types of people and believe every person has a unique and innate value. I am passionate about creating a supportive and safe place for clients to explore, reflect and grow while they navigate the realities of grief, relationships, and other challenging life transitions. 

 

We wouldn’t ask someone with no camping experience or training to head out into the wildness, but we ask children and adults who have never had behavioral and emotional management skills taught or modeled to them to go out into the world and navigate relationships, trauma, and life changing events.  I want to be a counselor because I want to help facilitate conversation that teaches someone the skills they need to not just survive but thrive as they move towards their goals.

 

Blog by Joy Strunk, Wild Tree Intern