Counselor Connections
Chi Eta Sigma Newsletter | Volume 1, Edition 5 | Spring 2017
Chi Eta Sigma
Meet Dr. Rashunda Miller Reed
Name: Rashunda Miller Reed Family: I'm married to Andre Reed. We have 3 sons: Caleb (17), Jacob (7), & Ethan (5). Everyone in the family has a 5-letter name, except me. Where did you grow up? In the small city of Slidell, LA which is North of New Orleans Where were you before coming to Ft. Wayne/IPFW (demographically and professionally)? I worked in New Orleans, LA providing counseling to middle-school students and their families at St. Mary's Academy. What do you like most about Ft. Wayne so far? Definitely the people. What do you like most about IPFW so far? The students and their enthusiasm to learn. Additionally, I admire the camaraderie within the cohorts. You seem to take care of each other. What is an area in your field that particularly interests you? Working with families and preparing students to counsel families in a wide array of settings What are some of your hobbies? I enjoy going to the public library with my boys. I enjoy reading Intrigue books. What is your favorite food? Cheese (cheese pizza, cheese cubes, cheesecake) Share an interesting fact about you... I like quotes and old proverbs. Oh wait, you said interesting. Sometimes people think that I'm extroverted, and I'm not. Anything else we should know? I like to wear authentic cowboy boots. What quote do you feel you live by or inspires you to do what you do? The old proverb: Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; Teach a man to fish, feed him for life. Bruce Lee has a quote about water. I like the flexibility of water. I can go with the flow or I can be like a mighty wave. What advice do you have for students in the program? Be open to help. Trust the process! Think in terms of both/and instead of either/or when you can. What is your favorite part about IPFW's counseling program? I admire the expertise of the faculty and their commitment to the success of students. The program is professional and has a strong systemic focus. One day students will be colleagues in the field, that's exciting. Especially coming from the South, what inspired you to join IPFW's faculty? I wanted to experience life beyond my Southern roots. During my first visit to the campus, the faculty and students were easy to get along with. The cookies at the airport helped too. Dog person or cat person? Neither, I like plants. I don't have to feed, walk, or do a lot with plants. Favorite sports team? I'm not really into sports. What are you most passionate about in the counseling field? Counseling families and seeing the growth in the counseling profession.
Thank you Dr. Reed for allowing us to get to know you better! Looking forward to the semesters to come as we further our counseling education.
Celebration of Excellence
Thanks again to Esther Higginbottom for creating the presentation, and Casa's Restaurant and the Casaburo family for the delicious food.
Friends
Memories
Congrats!
Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Chi Eta Sigma Officers & Chairs
In Case You Missed It
Presenting at the ACA Conference
Cassie Halbert, Alyssa Hale, and myself had the opportunity to do research about working with LGBTQAI groups in counseling settings. Through our research, we found helpful and unhelpful practices when working with this population. In our research we explored ways to advocate, counseling considerations, how to better understand personal values and beliefs and how those effect the counseling process, and lastly the importance and necessity for supervision.
After we found the research, we came together with what we thought was most important for other counselor’s in the field to know. We created a poster highlighting each area of the research we found. This past March, we had the opportunity to attend the American Counseling Association Conference & Expo in San Francisco, California and present our research in a poster presentation.
What we learned from this experience is that there is not enough research being done and published regarding LGBTQAI counseling and group work. What we found was tremendously helpful, but not enough. When there is not a lot of research supporting a group or population, that is a call for us as counselor’s to ask questions, find out why, and begin filling the holes that are currently blank and empty. Our experiences we had during our time researching and presenting has been so monumental, and one experience we will never forget. We had the opportunity to meet so many amazing counselors and other professionals throughout our time in San Francisco.
Our advice for anyone in the future is to take advantage of every opportunity you get within this program to step outside the box, do research, and present at a conference.
The Internship Experience
Written by Josh Troyer
My name is Josh Troyer and I am in my final year of my master’s degree in School Counseling. Third year students are required to complete 600 hours for an internship as a school counselor. I chose Lakeland High School located in LaGrange, IN as my internship site.
In the winter I was asked by the human resources department if I would be willing to fill in for the school counselor at Wolcott Mills Elementary School due to the current counselor going on maternity leave. They even said they would compensate me financially, of course I said yes! I started working at the Elementary school in February and have been there since.
I fulfill many roles as the school counselor at Wolcott Mills. My first and foremost role is to be there for the students, whether it’s academic, or social/personal related issues. Other roles that I fulfill entail: coordinating RTI meetings between the teachers, instructional coaches, and the principal; leading small groups 1x per week on social/personal issues, administering assessments such as Connors/KTEA/KBIT, tracking & recording attendance issues, communicating with parents/teachers, and substituting classes. As you have read the previous few sentences I am a counselor that wears “many hats!”
Performing the role of the school counselor at Wolcott Mills has prepared and developed me to become a full-time school counselor next year. This role has allowed me to get first-hand insight as being the “school counselor,” and only having the principal as a supervisor, where as being in the High School I had two other counselors there to assist me. This job has also further prepared me to know how to manage my time, be organized, problem solve, develop curriculum, and think “on my feet.” I am very grateful that I was asked to fulfill this school counseling position, and am truly blessed.
Yoga & Tie-Dye
Chi Eta Officers & Committee Chairs
President
Nicole Howard
Vice President
Gianna Casaburo
Secretary
Ashley McMahon
Treasurer
Alex Harvey
Professional Development
Logan Ellowsky & Alyssa Hale
Fundraising
Susan Geels & Brittany Neireiter
Newsletter
Alicyn Ervin & Allison Joy
Social
Cassie Halbert & Brooke Wright
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Kerrie Fineran