Problem:
For this assignment, I interviewed my professor, Dr. Sonia Gooden-Alexis. She is a part time lecturer at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. She has many counseling licenses and certifications, including being a licensed mental health counselor and substance abuse counselor. I really enjoyed talking with her because she has a lot of experience helping children, teens, and families. During our interview, Dr. Gooden-Alexis talked about her education and everything she had to do to become a counselor. She explained that it took years of school, training, and supervised work before she could become licensed. She also said that counselors never stop learning because they have to stay updated on new information and continue growing in their careers. That stood out to me because it showed me that being a counselor is a lifelong commitment. She shared that she has worked in different places, including schools, community programs, and private practice. Most of the young people she has worked with have been males. Some of them struggled with alcohol or drugs, while others were dealing with problems at home, anxiety, depression, trauma, or making poor choices. She explained that many of these issues are connected, so it is important to understand what is really going on in a student's life instead of only focusing on the substance use. One thing I learned from Dr. Gooden-Alexis is that building trust is one of the most important parts of counseling. She said that young people are not going to open up if they feel judged or feel like nobody understands them. She takes time to listen, be patient, and let them know they are in a safe place. I liked hearing that because I think everyone wants to feel heard before they are willing to accept help. We also talked about how she helps students make changes. She said change does not happen overnight, and every student moves at their own pace. She helps them set small goals, learn healthier ways to deal with stress, and recognize that they have strengths even when they are going through hard times. She also believes families can play a big role in helping young people stay on track when they are willing to be involved. When I asked about her counseling approach, she explained that she does not treat every student the same because every situation is different. She uses different counseling techniques depending on what the student needs. I thought that was important because it reminded me that counseling is not about following one plan for everyone. It is about meeting people where they are. Dr. Gooden-Alexis also talked about self help groups. She said they can be very helpful for some students because they give them support and help them feel less alone. At the same time, she explained that not every young person is ready for a group, so it depends on the individual. I learned that counselors have to think about what is best for each student instead of using the same treatment for everyone. I asked her why she decided to work in substance abuse counseling. She told me she wanted to help people make better choices and improve their lives. She enjoys seeing people grow, become healthier, and realize they can have a better future. Hearing her talk about her passion for helping others reminded me why I decided to study counseling. Before we finished, I asked what advice she had for me. She encouraged me to keep learning, ask questions, and take every opportunity to gain experience working with children and families. She also reminded me that counselors have to take care of themselves so they can continue taking care of others. I think that was really good advice because it is easy to forget that helpers need support too. We also discussed spiritual beliefs. Dr. Gooden-Alexis said that faith can be a source of hope for some students and families, but counselors should always respect everyone's beliefs. She explained that counseling should never force religion on anyone. Instead, counselors should support whatever positive beliefs help students stay encouraged and continue moving forward. Overall, this interview helped me understand that substance abuse counseling is about much more than helping someone stop using drugs or alcohol. It is about building relationships, understanding what people are going through, and helping them believe they can make better choices. Talking with Dr. Gooden-Alexis made me even more excited about becoming a counselor because I want to help young people overcome challenges and become the best version of themselves. Need Assignment Help?