Description
Instructions
The reflection log is designed to encourage self-reflection and self-evaluation. It is a tool for the student to reflect on specific field activities and experiences. The student is challenged to analyze the field learning experience from both a personal and professional perspective. Using a critical thinking model, the student must examine his/her work performance and apply social work knowledge, values and skills to understand and evaluate their performance.
The instructor will provide written feedback to the students. It is at the student’s discretion whether they share their logs with their field site supervisor. In order to protect confidentiality, please do not use any client names in the log. The reflection log is not a substitute for supervision and the students are encouraged to discuss their concerns with their field supervisor.
The logs should be no longer than two pages double-spaced, and no shorter than 1 page; at least one paragraph should be devoted to each section of the assignment. You should provide headings for each section of the log so the instructor can clearly tell each section apart.
Choose one meaningful situation/task/experience to explore critically in your log. This should be an important experience that you can explore in-depth—note that sometimes, very brief interactions can be very meaningful, and that in-depth exploration is possible with even if the situation/task/experience was not lengthy. While this situation doesn’t need to be an ethical dilemma, it should be an experience that has impacted your learning and your development as a professional social worker.
Description: This is the section of the log where you will provide the information about what occurred. Describe in detail the situation/task/experience that happened in the field placement. This should be a significant and/or meaningful experience that you can explore critically. Talk about what occurred and your actions in the situation.
Evaluation/Critical Thinking: This is the section of the log where you will review your actions (or the situation as a whole) and think critically about how the situation/task/experience occurred. Looking back on this situation, how do you feel about how it was resolved? What were you happy about? What would you improve? How would you change your response in the future?
Next Steps: This is the section of the log where you will connect this experience to future interactions, your learning, or the profession as a whole. How could you bring this situation to supervision? How will this situation impact your internship as you move forward? What could you learn/practice in the future to improve in this area?
Unformatted Attachment Preview
Student Name
Reflection Log #X
Date
Description
This week at my internship, we had a new family come in for intake at the shelter. The family
was comprised of a 23-year-old mother and her three children, who ranged in age from 6 months to 4
years. The mother, who I will call “Michelle” for purposes of protecting client confidentiality, was
seeking shelter because she was fleeing domestic violence and did not have any friends or family it
was safe for her to stay with. I was able to sit in and observe the Advocate completing the lengthy
intake packet. I had read through the packet several times, and also read completed forms in client
files, but I had never participated in a live in-person intake interview before. During the meeting,
Michelle shared lots of graphic details about the abuse she has experienced over the course of many
years, including physical and sexual assaults. She cried as she shared feelings of shame, helplessness,
hopelessness, and fear for her own safety and the safety of her children. I did not say anything during
the meeting since the Advocate was in charge of conducting the interview. It was a very emotionally
intense experience, and I had a hard time staying calm. I had to keep reminding myself to take deep
breaths. I noticed that I felt like I could cry and it was all I could do to hold it in. After the client had
left, I asked the Advocate how she managed to stay so calm, and she said, “I’ve been doing this a
really long time. I’m used to the sad stories and they really don’t get to me anymore.”
Evaluation/Critical Thinking:
One of my big learning goals for this semester is to improve my skills with engaging adults
(EPAS 6 –Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities). Because I
have worked with children for so long, I feel pretty comfortable developing relationships and getting to
know kids. I am less comfortable doing this with adults, and that discomfort felt very clear to me
while I was observing this intake appointment. I was imagining being alone with Michelle, and felt
like I did not know what I would have said or done to help her. The Advocate seemed very natural
while meeting and interviewing Michelle. She did not refer back to the papers too often and asked lots
of follow-up questions that are not on the forms. The Advocate was also very kind and gentle with
Michelle, and it seemed like Michelle was feeling better by the time the intake meeting was over. The
Advocate has a lot of skills that I know I want to develop.
In addition to highlighting things I want to work on, this interaction also made me curious
about the Advocate’s response that sad stories “don’t get to her anymore.” I don’t ever want to be
numb to the sad stories, or to start to normalize domestic violence in my mind in order to survive the
work. I wonder if the Advocate is experiencing burnout or if she meant something different about the
stories not getting to her. I can’t imagine hearing that story and not having it get to me on some level.
Next Steps:
I know I am very interested in working with survivors of domestic violence, so I am going to
ask to sit in on as many intakes as possible so that I continue to learn. My supervisor has told me that
soon, I’ll be doing intakes on my own, but I don’t think I’m ready for that yet; I will ask for my
supervisor or an Advocate to sit with me so that I have support and they can give me feedback before I
do intakes on my own. I am also going to need to talk with my supervisor about what I should do if I
am with a client and feel like I want to cry or feel overwhelmed by her story so that I can build skills in
that area. Since I don’t want to get either burned out or numb, I am also going to keep focusing on
self-care, like we’ve talked about in class, because I can see more than ever how important that is.
I’m not sure if I’m going to talk to the Advocate about her comment about the stories not
getting to her. I’m curious about what she meant, but I don’t want her to think I am criticizing her! I
think I might ask her to talk to me about how she manages the stress of the job, and see if she has any
tips or suggestions that might be helpful to me.
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Student Name
Reflection Log #X
Date
Description
I shadowed a mental health assessment intake for a DCFS client. The client was recently
transferred to Agency X and has been in therapy for about a year. He is mandated to attend
counseling because he does not have custody of his 1-year-old son and newborn daughter. His
children are currently with their aunt. DCFS got involved because his son cracked his skull a few
months ago.
The intake session was informative and insightful. I learned the process of explaining each
form the client needs to sign. Additionally, I receive insight on probing the assessment questions.
I was not familiar with DCFS and its clients prior to this session, so I went off based on comments
I have heard. For example, I have overheard people say that DCFS clients do not want to be in
counseling, so they are disengaged. However, the client was the opposite. He mentioned he had
been in counseling for about a year, and he liked it because he was able to speak to someone about
things going on in his life. I also learned he has multiple jobs, is certified in his work, and is an
active member of his community’s center.
An instance that caught my attention occurred when the therapist went over the substance
abuse section of the assessment. He asked the client if he smokes marijuana or uses other drugs.
The client said he does not. Before we entered the session, the therapist told me he smelled like
marijuana and I noticed it right away as well when I entered the room. After the client answered
“no”, he went on to explain that he passes his random drug tests at work. He also mentioned he
heavily smokes cigarettes and the smoke leaves him with a bad smell. Since the client has put so
Weekly Log
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much effort into his job and other responsibilities to get make and income and receive custody of
his children, I believed him.
Evaluation/Critical Thinking:
The session allowed me to check my assumptions about clients, such as mandated ones. I
learned to enter a session with an open mind because every client’s narrative is unique. One of the
Social Work Principles is to individualize each case because every client has distinct experiences.
I was able to observe a case of a father who is engaging in counseling and his community.
Everything he is doing is for his family to come together. Regarding to the client’s answer of not
using substance, I think it is important to believe the clients I will engage with because they are
the experts of their life.
Next Steps:
Previously, I mentioned changing my physical position in sessions to be able to better
observe the therapist and client. I sat across from both members in this session and was able to
pick up non-verbal and body communication. I was able to follow the flow of the session by
looking over each question that was being asked, but I did not write down notes on the assessment
packet. Instead, I wrote personal notes on a sheet of paper. Next time, I would like to write in the
packet to get accustomed with the order of the sections.
I want to learn more about DCFS and its services and programs. I also want to be familiar
with the assessments I will be conducting soon. The session I shadowed provided me with insight
on the process of explaining participant rights, sessions, appointments, and service fees. Now, I
have to incorporate my personality and character because I do not want the session to be
monotonous. Overall, the session also highlighted the importance of creating a flow in the
conversation and maintaining appropriate eye contact as well as body language. f
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