The first week back at work has been tough, though mainly due to work being taken away that I had expected to be able to rely on, students choosing other tutors over me and trying not to take it personally, meeting at the job centre in the wake of this, which felt punitive rather than supportive, and miscommunication with an agency resulting in them stopping my onboarding process after having gone through a long interview process, unpaid safeguarding training, unpaid admin… all because my references didn’t respond in good time.
All I really want to do is study, and that’s what I’ve been doing this weekend mainly… aside from trying to get more income. Meanwhile, I’ve been overcoming challenges on placement and becoming more confident. Having started my one-to-one appointment, I’m now about to co-facilitate a group this week, so this brings up a whole new set of challenges. I’ve been reading a lot of Yalom. Though I am also conscious about the balance between the clinical work and the assignments I’m writing.
Aside from this, I went to the pub quiz as a last hurrah, having set my intentions to really minimise social activities. I’ve been dealing with personal stresses reasonably well, artmaking, exercising, and even did some ukulele one evening. My friend also told me about this idea of a gratitude jar – each day writing something to be grateful for and then you read over them all at the end of the year (or 6 months as a boost). It’s such a lovely idea!
Watching: Traitors, Israelism: How Young American Jews’ Views of Israel Are Shifting, How Israel Won The West
Reading: Faces in the Water by Janet Frame, The Changing Shape of Art Therapy by Andrea Gilroy, and Introduction to Art Psychotherapy by Anthony Bateman, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy and Inpatient Group Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom, The Work of Whiteness by Helen Morgan, Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama (audiobook)
Podcasts: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast
Music: Weezer, AURORA
Again, if you’re able to share or donate to my crowdfund as I train to become an Art Psychotherapist, or buy some books, please do!
Poet on page and stage. Creator of She Grrrowls. Facilitator. Writer. 