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Welcome President Carter

 

Welcome: President Yvette Carter

I am honored and delighted to extend a warm welcome to each of you as we embark on another exciting year together. As the newly elected President of the Tennessee Counseling Association (TCA), I am filled with enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility to lead our respected community of dedicated professionals.

Our association has always been a beacon of excellence, providing invaluable support, resources, and advocacy for counselors across the state. Our collective mission includes promoting the development of all counseling professionals and using the profession of counseling to promote the well-being, respect for diversity, and human dignity of all Tennesseans.

This year, we are focused on several key initiatives that I believe will greatly benefit our members and advance the field of professional counseling:

  1. Continuing Education and Professional Development: We are committed to offering a schedule of workshops, webinars, and conferences designed to enhance your professional growth.
  2. Advocacy and Public Policy: Our association will continue to advocate for policies that support the counseling profession and the clients we serve. We will work tirelessly to ensure that our voices are heard at local and state levels.
  3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where all counselors feel valued and supported.
  4. Leadership Development: We plan to create a pipeline dedicated to identifying, recruiting and developing future TCA leadership.

As we move forward, I encourage each of you to actively participate in TCA activities, share your insights and expertise, and take advantage of the resources available. Your engagement is vital to our collective success and the betterment of our profession.

I am excited about the journey ahead and confident that, together, we will continue to make a significant impact in the lives of those we serve. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and commitment to the field of professional counseling.

 

Warm Regards,

  

Yvette Carter, Ed.D. 

Tennessee Counseling Association President, 2024 - 2025 

Middle School Counselor, CMCSS 

 

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Newest Lifetime Member

 

Congratulations to our Newest Lifetime Member: Dr. Kitty Shanks Pruett

 

Annually, the TCA Executive Council is privileged to deliberate on the recognition of long-standing leaders for the highest distinction within our organization—the esteemed Lifetime Membership.

During the 2023 TCA Conference, we took great pride in conferring the Lifetime Membership upon Dr. Kitty Shanks Pruett, a well-deserved honor that sent waves of excitement throughout the event.

My initial acquaintance with Kitty dates back over 20 years to my graduate student days when we regularly convened at the monthly meetings of the SMCA Chapter.  Kitty's dynamic presence, boundless generosity with her time, and passionate advocacy for counselors were a constant source of inspiration. As I ascended the ranks of leadership within TCA, Kitty's unwavering support served as a rock, assuring me that not only could I conquer new heights, but she would be there every step of the way. Her leadership has been pivotal, resonating at both the Chapter and State levels. Yet, it's her impact on fellow leaders, including myself, that truly encapsulates the profound influence Kitty has bestowed upon TCA.  Kitty is more than a leader—she's a living testament to the belief that counselors are an unstoppable force when united.  Her contributions have been diverse—ranging from orchestrating state conferences, spearheading innovative initiatives as Membership Chair, skillfully crafting and updating bylaws, to adding aesthetic flair as a member of the decorations committee for conferences.

Her impact on TCA goes beyond measure, with a relentless passion for nurturing and elevating our leaders. In times when the weight of presidency, conference planning, and juggling the demands of young kids pressed upon me, she emerged as an unwavering pillar of support. Her commitment wasn't just in words; she promised to do whatever it took, and true to her word, she delivered!

The specific date she joined TCA eludes her memory, but it is inconsequential, for we cannot recollect a time without her, and for this, we are profoundly grateful.

Let the virtual drums roll and the digital confetti fly as we collectively raise our voices in an exuberant cheer for Dr. Kitty Pruett, our newest, most dedicated addition to the distinguished league of Lifetime Members!

 

Kat Coy

TCA Executive Director

 

In Kitty's words: 

I learned about the importance of being professionally involved first thing in graduate school at the University of Tennessee.  Dr. Larry DeRidder was the head of the counseling program and was known by us and by members of TCA as “The Father of Guidance and Counseling in Tennessee”.  Students were expected to attend the local TCA chapter meetings, to present at conferences, and to grow into association leadership.  Dr. DeRidder attended the meetings as well as the other counselor educators in the department.  They took leadership roles in TCA and modeled professionalism at many levels.  They attended conferences with their students and presented workshops with some of them.  These counseling leaders taught us that participation in professional organizations, reading professional literature, conducting research, and presenting at professional conferences was not an option – that those professional activities were required of a true counseling professional and that professional involvement was part of our ethical code.  Larry DeRidder, Bill Poppen, Sig Dietz, and Chuck Thompson set the stage for my long, satisfying career as a counselor and as a leader in TCA.  I will always be grateful to these educators.

 

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December President's Message

 

December: A Message from the President, Jay Tift

As I sit here considering my December post, I am clearly influenced by my surroundings because what is resonating inside at the moment is gratitude.

Thank you.

To the community mental health counselor sitting with some of the clinically most challenging people, walking alongside them as you try to keep yourself from burnout. Thank you.

To the school counselor with an enormous caseload balancing mental health, SEL, and all the other roles the school system puts on you (wanted and unwanted). Thank you.

To the addictions counselor sticking with your clients through relapse and recovery, providing that solid attachment figure. Thank you.

To the career counselor helping people who feel that they are just going through life mechanically try to find work that is meaningful and fulfilling to them. Thank you.

To the rehab counselor working with clients to identify and highlight their strengths and resources so that they may live independent and integrated lives. Thank you.

To the child and adolescent counselor working with little ones to navigate confusing and challenging experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Thank you.

To the private practice counselor working with people struggling through a progressively more disconnected and divisive world. Thank you.

To the counselor educator working to encourage and support the next generation of counselors from all specialites. Thank you.

To the counselor advocate standing up for the voices that are not being heard and advocating for the policies and systems that will better serve our communities. Thank you.

To all of you amazing counselors with all of your many approaches, specialties, strengths, struggles, and dreams.

Your work is deeply appreciated by so many, though you likely don’t hear it often enough.

Let me give it voice. Thank you for all that you do, for all that you are, and for all the ways (both large and small) you make the world a better place.

Thank you!

Jay Tift, Ph.D., LPC-MHSP

TCA President 2023/24

 

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November President Message

 

November, 2023

Dear TCA members,

As we roll into fall, I am aware of feelings related to the shortening days, changing leaves, and lowering (very slowly) temperatures. For some, these feelings are warm and are associated with thoughts about family, fires in the fireplace, slowing down, and tasty food. 

However, I am equally aware of the struggle that this time of year is for many. Whether it be due to increasing academic or occupational demands as we approach the end of the year, stress related to the upcoming holiday season, tension with or absence of family, and even general lowering mood with the lowering light and temperature.

Fall can be such a time of opposites in this way. As counselors, we often encounter our clients when they are struggling with the changing of the season. It is so important to be able to sit with them where they are in that struggle, aid them in finding their own resilience and support systems, validate the stressors they are encountering, and notice with them the strengths and skills they have to navigate those stressors. We walk the line of those opposites.

While this is highlighted for me in the Fall, it is always the case in the work we do. We must alternately be fully in the client’s struggle with them while also seeing and holding hope for a brighter alternative. Clients need us to hear them without trying to “fix” them but at the same time they need us to give them a sense that there is something to do, a way to climb up.

I am continually impressed by all of you as I hear stories of working with clients, helping them find their way through the dark and cold to the warmth and strength on the other side. You are all amazing and the work you do is vital.

Please continue to share with and support each other and to let me and all of the TCA leadership know how we can best support you in your work and in your own growth.

Warmly,

Jay Tift, Ph.D., LPC-MHSP

TCA President 2023/24

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Addressing the State of Mental Health in Tennessee

 

Addressing the State of Mental Health in Tennessee: Breaking the Stigma and Seeking Solutions

By: Eric Farmer

In recent years, mental health has become an increasingly significant topic, garnering attention and concern across the United States. Tennessee, like many other states, faces its own unique challenges regarding mental health. This blog post aims to shed light on the state of mental health in Tennessee, discussing the prevailing issues, the impact of stigma, available resources, and steps being taken to improve mental health care within the state. 

Tennessee faces significant challenges regarding mental health. Recognizing the increasing demand for mental health support in the state of Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee introduced a $250 million trust fund dedicated to providing essential mental health services for children in schools (Mangrum, 2021). This staggering number highlights the pressing need for increased attention and support in the state. 

One prominent issue is the prevalence of substance abuse and addiction. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that Tennessee ranked third highest in the country for prescription pain reliever abuse in 2019. Co-occurring mental health disorders often exacerbate substance abuse, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health as a crucial component of combating addiction. 

Stigma surrounding mental health continues to hinder individuals from seeking help and receiving the care they need. In Tennessee, the stigma can manifest in various ways, such as discrimination in employment, housing, and social interactions. This stigma prevents many from openly discussing their mental health concerns and seeking proper treatment. 

Stigmatized beliefs can be especially prevalent in rural communities, where limited resources and cultural factors may contribute to the lack of understanding and acceptance. Breaking down these barriers and establishing open dialogue is essential in eradicating the stigma and supporting those struggling with mental health issues. 

Despite the challenges, Tennessee offers various resources to support individuals with mental health concerns. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services oversees a range of programs and initiatives aimed at providing prevention, treatment, and support services to residents across the state. 

One such initiative is the Tennessee Recovery Navigators program, which delivers peer support services for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. These navigators, who are individuals in recovery themselves, understand the unique challenges faced by those seeking assistance, providing empathy, guidance, and hope.  

Furthermore, Tennessee operates a 24/7 mental health crisis hotline, accessible to anyone in need of immediate support or intervention. This helpline ensures that individuals have someone to turn to during times of crisis, demonstrating the state's commitment to mental health support. 

Recognizing the critical importance of addressing mental health concerns, Tennessee has taken several steps to improve mental health care within the state. Initiatives such as the Tennessee STRONG Act aim to enhance services and support for military veterans and their families, acknowledging the unique challenges they face in regard to mental health. 

Additionally, the Tennessee General Assembly has enacted legislation to expand mental health services in schools. This legislative action recognizes the impact of mental health on a child's well-being and aims to address issues early on by providing necessary resources to the educational system. 

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September President Message

 

 

September is Latinx Heritage Month and as we crest, hopefully, out of the summer heat it seems to me that this provides us with a valuable opportunity to not only honor the contributions and achievements of Latinx individuals but also to address the unique mental health challenges they may face due to cultural, social, and historical factors.

The Latinx community is incredibly diverse, comprising individuals from various countries, traditions, languages, and backgrounds. This diversity is a source of strength and resilience, but it can also lead to identity struggles, feelings of marginalization, and acculturation stress.

As mental health professionals, it's crucial for us to acknowledge and understand the cultural nuances that can influence our Latinx clients' and colleagues' mental well-being. Here are a few key points to consider:

  • Cultural Competence: Being culturally competent involves not just seeking to understand but also to engage through cultural humility the values, beliefs, and practices of the Latinx community. This sensitivity helps build trust and rapport with clients, creating a safe space for them to share their experiences.
  • Family and Community Support: Many Latinx individuals have strong connections to their families and communities. These connections are often significant sources of strength, but they can also add pressure to conform to cultural norms. Seeking to understand these dynamics can help in providing effective support.
  • Acculturation and Identity: Often, Latinx individuals straddle multiple identities—cultural, ethnic, and perhaps generational. Balancing these identities can lead to stress and conflict. Acknowledging and validating these experiences is vital in counseling.
  • Language and Communication: Language barriers can affect access to mental health resources and effective communication between clients and therapists. Bilingual and bicultural counseling services can bridge this gap making their development an important advocacy effort for all counselors.
  • Stigma and Mental Health: In some Latinx communities, discussing mental health concerns openly might be considered taboo. Approaching this with cultural humility while working to break down the stigma can help increase access to those in need.

This month, let's celebrate the diversity, resilience, and strength of the Latinx community. As members of TCA, let's also commit to providing culturally sensitive and inclusive mental health services. By doing so, we contribute not only to the well-being of the Latinx community but also to the overall richness of our profession.

I encourage you all to share your insights, experiences, and resources related to providing effective mental health support to Latinx individuals. Let's continue to learn from each other and work together to make a positive impact on the lives of those we serve.

Thank you for your dedication to our profession and your commitment to cultural understanding in mental health.

Warm regards,

Jay Tift, LPC-MHSP

TCA President, 2023/24

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Welcome New President: Jay Tift

 

 

TCA Welcomes New President:  Jay Tift, 2023 - 2024

It is with immense pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I step into the role of President of the Tennessee Counseling Association. I extend my warmest greetings to each and every one of you, whether you are a long-standing member or a new visitor seeking to explore both TCA and the broader world of counseling.

Counseling plays a pivotal role in promoting mental well-being, personal growth, and the development of healthy relationships in our state. TCA’s purpose is to foster excellence in the counseling profession by supporting our members through professional development, research, and advocacy so that you can continue the work you do to make such a positive impact on individuals and communities.

As President, my primary focus this year will be increasing the educational offerings to our membership and expanding our efforts in legislative and policy areas. It is my strong hope to continue the work of the past two TCA executive councils in re-engaging our membership in the wake of having to be virtual for a couple of years. Our plan as your executive team is to foster an environment that encourages collaboration and innovation, equipping you with the tools and resources necessary to excel in your work and the meaningful contributions you make to your students, clients, and to our state.

I invite you to join us on this journey as we embark on a path of growth and positive change. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a student aspiring to enter the field, TCA is here to support you every step of the way. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions, suggestions, or simply to grab coffee in person or virtually. I look forward to any and all interactions in the years ahead.

Warmest regards,

Jay Tift, LPC-MHSP

Managing Partner, Brentwood Counseling Associates, LLC

Adjunct Faculty, Vanderbilt University

Tennessee Counseling Association President, 2023-2024

 

 

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Advocacy efforts to help with Human Rights

 

 

 

As counselors, no matter the type or specialization, we all fulfill the role of advocates. As TCA’s Human Rights Committee, we acknowledge how we want to advocate for all human rights. At times our committee found ourselves stuck, because we could feel ourselves being pulled in too many directions. The reality is we want to continue to advocate for all human rights that affect our clients in the state of TN. For the focus of this post, we finally homed in on the children in the state of TN.

The state of TN legislators have become very focused on laws in the education system. Earlier this semester I was notified of a list of troublesome bills that would negatively affect our children in the school system. These bills were negatively targeting the curriculum in regards to social and emotional development, race and accurate racial history in our country, as well as censoring the curriculum of including any focus on individuals who are in the LGBTQIA+ community. If you are following legislation in other states, there are many similar bills popping up all over the country. As a committee we believe heavily in our job as counselors is to advocate for our clients, and we want to make sure you all feel equipped to advocate for our youngest of clients. We believe it is crucial that we are ensuring that our children are provided with an accurate and thorough education.

So, what can we do as counselors?

  1. Follow and track bills that are of relevance to the population and/or to the clients that you serve.
    1. https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/mybills/Login.aspx
    2. Create an account at the above website, and you can create a personalized list of bills to track.
  2. Establish a relationship with your state representative and legislature.
    1. Invite them to coffee when they are not in session in Nashville. Get to know them on a personal level.
    2. Watch what committees they are serving on.
    3. Catch them when they are supporting bills we appreciate and/or when they vote the way we want them to. Call and/or send a handwritten card thanking them for supporting the bills we agree with, particularly the ones that help our clients.
  3. Work with others in TCA to brainstorm ways you can advocate for your clients.
    1. If you live in the same district, you can all have coffee with your above legislators.
    2. You can also plan your own town hall to get to know them better.
  4. Begin to evaluate how your professional environment addresses the needs of certain marginalized populations.
    1. Are you able to provide SafeZone training in your professional setting?
    2. How can you signal to your client that your office is a place that cares about their trauma?
    3. How can you broach the topics related to culture in a safe and effective manner with your clients?

We want to provide you with help and assistance in supporting all humans, but particularly the children in the state of TN. Maybe you are reading the above list and feel stuck. Maybe you would like some additional help or assistance in one of the above action items? Reach out the Human Rights Committee Chair at [email protected]. Tiffany Brooks is the chair of that committee, and she would love to connect you with someone on the committee who can help you brainstorm and create an action plan to help support you and your clients in this important advocacy work.

 

Authors: 

Tiffany P. Brooks, Ph.D., APC, NCC

Junwei Jia, MA

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Doctoral Programs

 

Get the Inside Scoop: Counseling Doctoral Programs in TN

January 22, 2022 at 12 pm CST/ 1 pm EST

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get your doctorate in counseling? Do you feel anxious because you don’t even know where to begin, or worry that you wouldn’t be good enough? Debating what format (online, hybrid, or in-person) works best for you?

Come join us for a panel made up of faculty and current doc students from the CES programs located in TN to get these and other questions answered. The first 30 minutes will be a panel discussion/Q&A with faculty, at which point the faculty will leave so that you can ask current doc students what their experiences are really like!

This meeting is open and free for all. 

Join us here: https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/5973265638

 

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What has gone right?

 

 

Two Thoughts:

  • What has gone right?
  • Hold On To Me

This year has been hard, right?  I mean, I can hear the resounding (and probably deafening) "YES” from across the digital landscape!  I was recently on a conference call for the American Counseling Association’s Foundation, where I serve on the Advisory Committee.  We were discussing what themes we wanted to focus on for our micro-grants this year.  Someone mentioned maybe something potentially Covid related, and a committee member spoke up with a statement that shocked us all – can we pause on the trauma and focus on the strengths we have gained? He noted this past year has been universally hard for all of us.  Though the scale of the impact has been different for everyone, it has truly been life-changing for all of us on some level. He noted it is NOT that our past year and a half has not been traumatic – it has been almost universally traumatic.  However, maybe it is time to stop focusing on the trauma and perhaps move forward with a strengths-based approach.

**Mind-Blown**

To be honest, we all just paused and some even uttered a prophetic “wow”. 

You know what, I feel it. I have spent so much of my time and energy talking about how hard Covid has been for me.   I have not felt competent in any of my roles (wife, mom, friend, daughter, school counselor, Executive Director, etc.), but I am tired of continuing to focus on how I have failed.  I am ready to focus on where I have gone right!  I mean, my Covid-adopted dog (Jasper - pictured to the right, simply because he is ADORABLE)  and #1 snuggle partner would say that I do things right (particularly when I sit still and stay off of my computer), so why can’t I see this from other perspectives?  Isn’t this what my favorite solution-focused therapist or perhaps a strengths-based therapist would do? 

Well, yes… but aren’t counselors the worst clients?  Yes. 

So, I am ready to use my 21-22 to focus on the strengths I have gained in surviving the past year and a half of my life.  I am ready to celebrate the micro-steps I have made to survive and embrace the purpose they serve in my future year.  Will you join me? 

If you need some inspiration, I want to share my current favorite song – which can currently be found on repeat on my Apple music.  So much so, my kids *may* have asked for a respite from it (*insert loud begging for a reprieve from the backseat of a mini-van) - hahah!  Check out “Hold On To Me” by Lauren Daigle (watch video here).  The opening lyric gets me every time:

When the best of me is barely breathin’
When I’m not somebody I believe in
Hold on to me

 

So – if you will ‘Hold On To Me’ for another year, I promise to keep you strengths-focused and believing in you!  I was thrilled to see Dr. Nicole Cobb, TCA President for 21-22, echo the same sentiments in her first address to membership: “As we come off the cusp of an unprecedented year, I am humbled and enthusiastic about this time in our history along with the progress being made by counselors in Tennessee.

Here we go TCA… let’s make 21-22 memorable for GREAT reasons! 

Kat Coy

TCA Executive Director

 

Also – apply here for ACA Foundation grants by 7/15/21 

 

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Be On Our Team

 

2021 - Do you want to be involved in TCA?

Many years ago, I had a leader of SMCA ask me, "have you ever thought about getting involved with SMCA/TCA?" I am forever thankful for that "ask" because it has led to an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience with TCA.

Do you want to get involved but don't know how? Do you have something to give TCA and we just haven't asked? TELL US! We are always looking for more leaders, contributors, and energetic individuals to grow our professional organization.

If you are interested in getting involved, I encourage you to let me know by filling out this survey. You are not committing to anything! We will review the responses and contact you with an individualized plan on how you can get more involved with TCA.

Click here for the survey - This survey will close on June 28th.   

Thank you ! ! !

Kat Coy (Executive Director) and Nicole Cobb (TCA President-Elect)

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Let Us Now Praise Famous Women

 

 

Let Us Now Praise Famous Women

James Agee wrote a book in 1941 titled “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men”, with photographs by Walker Evans. They documented the lives of migrant workers during the Great Depression. That title popped into my head as I realized that March is National Women’s History Month.  I do enjoy learning about important men and women in the history of our profession. Rather than highlight a famous mental health professional I’d like to share with you a bit about two women who impacted my development as a therapist.  These important people in my life are most likely not well known nationally or internationally. But to me, they embody everything that is good about our profession. I would love to “Praise” these women who are famous to me.

One of my early mentors was Dr. Lisa Alex at the Northwest Community Mental Health Center in Memphis. Lisa was compassionate, patient, and a skilled clinician.  Our clients were typically low-income, with a long history of struggling with mental illness.  It was a difficult population to work with in many respects.  While some practitioners may develop a hardened approach to working with these clients, Lisa was always willing to look at the clients’ strengths rather than deficits, projecting an optimism that these clients desperately needed. I was able to observe her work with some unstable and difficult clients. My most memorable consultation with her involved my work with a client struggling with Bipolar Disorder. Our work together had stalled and I was having a hard time focusing our sessions. I met with Lisa and she suggested referring him to a therapeutic group where he could get feedback from other group members as well as from the therapist. When I met with him to present this shift in treatment, he did not handle it well. He became agitated, threatening, and loud. I was able to remain calm, empathic, and used the broken record technique to reinforce the change in treatment. The client ran out of steam, became tearful, and said that he loved me and didn’t want our sessions to end.  It was a draining session as I thanked him for his thoughts about our work together and helped him accept joining group therapy.  Naturally, when that session was over I went straight to Lisa’s office. “Thanks for that advice!  He went ballistic!” Then I described what happened. Lisa was calm, accepting, and said, “I knew you could handle it.  It’s okay.  He needs to be in that group and it’s going to help him.” She helped me shift my focus from my own discomfort to the well-being of the client. Her faith in me allowed me to work through and process a difficult situation.  I began to develop confidence in myself as a counselor.

During my doctoral internship at the University of Pittsburgh’s counseling center, one of my supervisors was Dr. Carol Elkenberry.  We were assigned supervisors and I had no idea what Carol would be like.  I loved her calming presence, insightful comments, and patience with a novice counselor.  My other individual supervisor (we were assigned two) believed in short-term therapy, even one session therapy (I know, I know, it’s difficult to even write that, but this is what he believed).  She believed in the counseling process, focused more on long-term therapy. I loved that approach as it shook me out of a symptom-oriented, short-term focus. The counseling relationship became relevant to me through her guidance and I learned the benefit of going on an extended counseling journey with a client. During our supervision sessions, Carol would give me a stack of yellow legal-sized pages full of her detailed comments on the recorded session of mine for that week. I still have them.  Her comments are great, so insightful in that they focus as much on the experience of being with the client as they do on the tangible issues the client brought to the session. Carol encouraged me to be honest about my own reactions to clients and to process them.  One note she wrote about one of my clients sticks with me:  “This client is so difficult to like. You’re doing a great job connecting with her.”  It was so refreshing to learn that counselors could be humans and not just empathy robots.  Carol wanted me to recognize that a counseling relationship is a relationship, involving the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of two people.  She showed me the value of self-reflection as a counselor, to monitor not just the counseling techniques I used with a client and their impact, but also to pay attention to my emotional reactions and connections with my clients. I remember working with Carol on developing and conducting a support group for “creative and unconventional people”. Later Carol authored several books on the subject.

Lisa and Carol are enduring influences on me as a person, counselor, and counselor educator. Take time this month to reflect on the important women in your own professional journey, those exceptional female counselors who helped you develop and deserve your praise.  If you feel moved to do so, share your stories here, either in the comments or by writing your own blog post.

 

David Dietrich, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Master's Program in Counseling
[email protected]

 

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But what does Black History Month mean?

 

But what does Black History Month mean?

Wow! It’s Black History Month, again. The Tennessee Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development (TAMCD) asked me to submit an article for the TCA blog, and it got me thinking. What is Black History Month? What does it mean to me, a Black Instructor of Counseling? Well, here are my thoughts.

Black History Month became a federal holiday under President Gerald Ford in 1976. Since 1976, Black History Month has evolved from a pleasantry to a “bit” of significance. In fact, this is the first month I can recall the Tennessee Lottery celebrating Black History Month with commercials. But what does Black History Month mean?

If Black History Month is boiled down to a bunch of cliches; “keep hope alive,” or “if there is no struggle, there is no progress.”  In keeping the pleasantries alive the status quo is kept alive. I offer a different perspective.

The United States just came off one of the most consequential presidential elections in my lifetime. If nothing else, the past administration bought front-and-center the fact this country has a long way to go in terms of racial, ethnic, sexual, religious, and (put other identity here) freedoms we spout from the Constitution. If we are to move forward, this country needs an intentional effort to promote inclusion, compared to diversity. Diversity is meeting the “numbers.” Inclusion is having an equal seat at the table. Diversity is a watered-down effort by those in power to appease those in the struggle. Inclusion is acknowledging the evils of the past and making an effort to correct them. Diversity is the buzzword. Inclusion is action.

As I conclude, I cannot help but think of the old saying, “this too shall pass.” Yes, Black History Month 2021 will pass, but to what end? We owe it to ourselves and our profession to just not let this pass. So, what is Black History Month? Black History Month is an effort for inclusion, just like Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May), National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th – October 15th), LGBT History Month (October), or National Native American Heritage Month (November). Black History Month is not just one month or a metric to meet, just like the other designated months that celebrate the diversity of marginalized populations. Black History Month, along with the other marginalized populations' months, is a time to reflect and ask, “what am I doing to promote inclusion?”

 

Derrick Shepard, MA 

Instructor of Counseling 

University of Tennessee, Martin 

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Advocacy for Continued Education and Training

Download full article here.

Virtually A School Counselor

 

Virtually A School Counselor

One of the most rewarding things I get to do as a counselor educator is to meet with practicum students for supervision. It is normally an exciting time for students as they step away from the theoretical side of counselor education and step into the real world of crowded school hallways, noisy lunchrooms, and active school counseling offices. COVID-19 hit last Spring, just as school counseling students were getting settled at their schools. Seemingly in a blink of the eye they had to worry about the health of their students, their own health, and the practical question of completing their required hours at their site. Schools scrambled to cope. School counselors worked diligently to help faculty, staff, students, and parents adjust. School counseling interns and practicum students observed it all, and felt their own level of stress and concern. 

Each week the issues accumulated:

  • One student was placed at a school that has 90% of students failing at least one course (no, I won’t tell you which school). How do you connect with students who are physically disconnected? How do you convince students to attend virtual classes, complete virtual class work, and care about their grades, when it appears schools may just shrug their shoulders and move students along regardless of the pile of F’s?
  • Another practicum student walked the neighborhoods around her school with her site supervisor checking door-to-door on students who had not yet enrolled or attended class virtually or in-person.
  • One group supervision session was taken up discussing the ethical issues involved in a situation in which a middle school student had not been enrolled in school yet, and the father was refusing to do so. The student had special needs and there was some concern about safety. Normally a truancy report would be made, but that was not being considered by the school administrators because of COVID.
  • There were opportunities for data collection and analysis. One of our students had tracked academic progress at her placement and had found gender differences in virtual school attendance and passing grades. Male students were more likely to not attend and to fail their virtual courses than female students.
  • One practicum student was at a school that had 60% of students back on campus in face-to-face classes.  Still another completed all of her hours virtually as no students or faculty were allowed on campus.

School counselors, and all educators, were thrown in the deep end of the pool last Spring when COVID emerged. There was no playbook to follow, or experts to call. People were learning on the fly, balancing the needs of the students with the state-wide academic standards expected to be achieved (or not).

Students in the schools were often given the choice between attending physically or virtually. That is a great idea until you understand the demands this places on teachers and school counselors who then had to develop online versions of their services while also maintaining their face-to-face services.  As one of my practicum students wrote: “Our department had to prepare to give comprehensive services virtually which meant we all had to learn how to operate the platforms that would allow us to deliver services. So much of my time was spent in trainings to learn how to build a Canvas course for our students, adapting our content to be able to be added to Canvas, learning about our video platform TEAMS, and once it was time to actually put these newly learned objectives into practice we had to troubleshoot the effectiveness and adjust over and over and over again. These tasks carried immense pressure! While all of this was new and difficult, so were the problems our students faced because of COVID so the number of students in need of services was a constant flow.”

Another practicum student described how the school counselors she worked with had adapted to identify and meet the needs of students by using online services. “The students fill in a bi-weekly survey about their mental health status and each time a student expresses a concern, it automatically sends the response to that student’s counselor. The next steps for this new procedure is for the counselor to reach out to the student for more clarification on their emotions, and provide the proper treatment from the student's elaboration. It has allowed many students the opportunity to express concerns that they have with themselves, how they are feeling, in a way that remains confidential because their responses are only seen by their counselor.  The most effective type of counseling support has been through the bi-weekly Navigator survey. It is required for every student that logs in to complete the survey every other Thursday, and students have become more open with the process. Students have been explaining their emotional and mental hardships with the changes and uncertainty of society right now and counselors have been persistent in checking in and following steps to ensure each student receives the support that is best for their situation.”

The practicum students and interns in my program are virtually school counselors in every sense, close to graduation, not quite there yet, but eager to join their new profession.  And most of them were working with their sites virtually. They didn’t have the experience they expected, but learned the virtue of flexibility in school counseling and admired the dedication of their site supervisors.

David Dietrich, Ph.D.  
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Master's Program in Counseling
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Slouching Towards Empathy

 

Welcome to the TCA Blog! As the new Publications Chair, I plan to contribute to and help curate the monthly entries found here. A bit about me:  I am the program coordinator for the graduate program in counseling at the University of Tennessee at Martin. While I have been in higher education for 21 years, I also was a school counselor for 3 years, and afterward the clinical director of a residential facility for violent juvenile offenders in Memphis for 4 years. My professional life has been enriched by this mix of higher education, school counseling, and clinical work. 

What I hope to do is to encourage all of our members to feel comfortable sending in submissions.  Yes, that is a bit selfish…less work for me.  But, I also envision the blog to be a place where commentary, insight, and opinion can be shared in a safe place.  Our membership is diverse professionally and personally.  Each of us has a perspective to share, a story to tell. An example of this is Andrew Arehart’s description of attending the TCA Annual Conference for the first time. I appreciated reading his perspective and the chance to consider conference attendance from a different point of view. I was particularly moved by Derrick Shepards’ recent post. It was personal and universal, a challenging commentary that sparked introspection.  If this is also the type of blog you prefer I hope you visit this site frequently, and, of course, contribute your own thoughts.

David Dietrich, Ph.D.  
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Master's Program in Counseling


Slouching Towards Empathy 

I’m tired.  Worn out.  Like I paddled out into the tranquil Gulf for a relaxing swim and, as I turned to wave to the family on shore, had the full force of Hurricane Sally smack me in the back of the head.  But I’m not alone. The 2020 memes are everywhere, each one highlighting the stress and pain being felt across the country and the world. We can’t avoid COVID-19, rampaging fires, hurricanes, social unrest, political folly. As a result our society seems to be shredded into increasingly distinct pieces.  Us and them.  Good and bad.  Right and wrong. Choose a side.  The tension is palpable, heavy in the air. And the weight of it adds to my fatigue.

As I considered the intense emotions felt by people from every side of the political/social/community issues straining our world, it occurred to me:  where has empathy gone?

Empathy is the lifeblood of counseling. It infuses each session with the warmth, acceptance and understanding necessary to develop the counseling relationship. This is the first building block toward client change.  As a counselor educator I preach its value to my students and urge them to understand their client at a deeper level, to walk in the client’s shoes and feel what the client feels.   

I turned to my overstuffed bookcase and dusted off my copy of Carl Rogers’ “Client-Centered Therapy”.  Rogers writes: “…it is the counselor’s function to assume, in so far as he is able, the internal frame of reference to the client, to perceive the world as the client sees it, to perceive the client himself as he is seen by himself, to lay aside all perceptions from the external frame of reference while doing so, and to communicate something of this empathic understanding to the client.” 

Considering empathy’s place in our world today, here he was talking directly to me, and to you:  “…there appears to be a strong trend toward…bringing to modern man an increased peace of mind.  It would seem that our culture has grown less homogenous, it gives less support to the individual…Each man must resolve within himself issues for which his society previously took full responsibility.” Yes, that was written for then, for now, for all time.

Why does it seem that so few people are capable of empathy in the world we see in the news today? Everyone seems on alert, and quick to attack the other side. Compromise is more than an illusion, it’s a sign of weakness. The battle lines are drawn and empathy has no place in this type of war.

Should our leaders be modeling empathy for us? Could this help to set the example for us all, and blur those lines of division? Rogers gives us some guidance here as well: “One hypothesis would be that group members identify with their leader and in the process internalize some of his attitudes and behavioral patterns. This would mean that group members may gradually begin to behave toward others in the group in much the same way as the leader behaves toward them.”  It was reassuring to read that and wag a finger at the national leaders I don’t agree with, hoping that kinetic energy was felt miles away in their souls, stirring them toward guilt and change. But was this missing the point a bit? Is empathy a hammer to be used to bludgeon the other side?

I feel this tension and struggle on a personal level. I have no answers. But I also wonder about this issue from a professional level. Counselors hold an optimistic view toward mankind, rooted in the belief that change is possible.  How do counselors maintain their own empathy, while it seems to be eroding in the public and private faces of our society? What is our responsibility to step up into that leadership role and model empathy?

Recently I had an issue to resolve with two students enrolled in one of my graduate counseling courses. They were paired together in order to complete a series of counseling role plays and needed to negotiate times to meet.  There was a bit of confusion about the due date of the first assignment, a difficulty in being able to communicate with each other, one feeling pressured and rushed, the other still reeling from adjusting to graduate school and unsure how things worked.  One student panicked, completed the assignment with another person, leaving the other partner alone to figure things out on her own.  Both were angry.  Both felt disrespected. As I met with them and talked about what happened and why, I brought up the larger issue here:  the counselor disposition of empathy.  Could they understand the experience of their partner?  Here I was impacting my sliver of the world in the only way I could, modeling (hopefully) what empathy looks like and encouraging it in my students. Passing it on, not on a national level, but a professional (and personal) one.

In 1919 W.B. Yeats wrote the poem “Second Coming” as a reflection of the state of the world at that time, in the aftermath of WWI, the beginning of the Irish Revolution, and the continuing effects of the 1919 Spanish flu epidemic. The world was emerging from one catastrophic event only to be confronted with others. It was a time of uncertainty, fear, and doubt flavored by the elation of the ending of the most brutal war the world had seen. He used the phrase “slouching towards Bethlehem” to describe the crippled, labored journey of man toward a second life.  A life of renewal and hope.

We may see some similarities between that challenging time a century ago and our current one.  And here we are: a society slouching toward empathy.

David Dietrich, Ph.D.  
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Master's Program in Counseling

 

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Welcome New Leaders

 

 

 

 

Welcome 2020-2021 TCA Leadership Team

 

July 1st marks the change of our leadership team. 

We are beyond thankful to all of the leaders that served in this past year, especially given the uniquely challenging one that it was!  Their solid work has created a path for our new leadership team to keep pushing forward on the quality work they began. 

We will kick off our work, together, at our annual Leadership Development Institute on July 17th and July 18th, occurring virtually this year.  

 

 

 

TCA Executive Council

 

Janet Hicks

President

Nicole Cobb

President Elect

Steve Zanskas

Past President

Terry Sharp

Secretary

Anna Millard

Treasurer

Cherrie Holden

Membership Secretary

Kat Coy

Executive Director

TCA Governing Council

 

Yvette Carter

Awards

Jay Tift

Bylaws, 2020-2021

Mary Mayorga

Ethics, 2020-2022

Layla Bonner

Human Rights

Kevin Doyle

Membership Chair

Chris LaFever

NBCC Liaison

Lisa Henderson

Public Policy and Legislation, Co-Chair

Jordan Tatom

Public Policy and Legislation, Co-Chair

David Dietrich

Publications

Derrick Shepard

Strategic Planning

Lisa Henderson

TCA Foundation

Open - Elections in July

Graduate Student Representative

Ad Hoc Committees

 

Claire Dempsey

Archives

Tracy Cagle

Parliamentarian

Patrick Murphy

Research Co-Chair

Elizabeth O-Brien

Research Co-Chair

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Pleasantries are not enough anymore...

 

 

"Pleasantries are not enough anymore..." - Derrick Shepard, TCA Human Rights Chair

Dear colleagues,

It is with great anger and numbness I write to you today.  The recent killings of African Americans and civil unrest is just that recent.  But these incidents are not atypical for African Americans living in the unjust and structurally racist society, known as america.  I also come to you today not only as the Human Rights Chair for the Tennessee Counseling Association but as a Black Man from Birmingham, AL living in america.

To understand my positionality better, I am a Black Man from Birmingham, AL.  I remember stories my Grandmother would tell of living in Alabama under “Bull” Connor and George Wallace.  She told stories of times, where those that were charged with upholding justice saw African Americans as less than and would let you know with certainty how they felt with sayings such as, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” “greeted with the most vicious dogs.”  For me, learning to live in america was taught as a means of survival.  I was taught to understand that I’m Black, I’m poor, and society does not value me.  Those lessons have not left me and I use the lessons as a means of surviving in america.

In understanding my positionality and place in society, I see visuals in media that are all too familiar of past stories of racial injustices that are common for Blacks, those fighting for social equity, and other marginalized populations.  Other impressionable events for me include the 1961 riot at the University of Georgia over the suspension of two admitted Black students, the 1962 bombing and burning of Black churches in Sasser, GA, the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Riders murders, the 1965 Watts riots, the 1966 Chicago riots over Black children wanted to use fire hydrants, the 1969 assassination of Martin Luther King, the 1970 Kent State massacre, and the 1970 murder of two Black youths by local police.  These incidents remind me of the old saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

            The same pleasantries are not enough anymore.  The listening and town hall meetings, and putting out statements only serve to placate the unrest, while the systemic injustices remain.  Without strategic actions these endeavors, as well-meaning as their intentions, will only perpetuate the failures of america.  I am only one Black man and can only provide, from my vantage points, thoughts start to change the process.

            First, vote with meaning in federal and state elections.  Voting is a way to make your voice heard.  Too many have paid the price for all of america to have this right.  However, a uniformed vote is a meaningless vote and will not help us navigate out of this cycle of social injustice.  Here are listing of resources to make an informed decision on the federal and state level:

  •  https://www.followthemoney.org/The nonpartisan, nonprofit National Institute on Money in Politics promotes an accountable democracy by compiling comprehensive campaign-donor, lobbyist, and other information from government disclosure agencies nationwide and making it freely available at FollowTheMoney.org.
  • https://www.opensecrets.org/: Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. 
  • https://www.lwv.org/: Since 1920, an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that voters should play a critical role in democracy. 
  • https://votesmart.org/: Vote Smart's mission is to provide free, factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials to ALL Americans.

Next, vote with meaning in county and city elections.  The recent deaths of African Americans transpired on the local level.  The Ahmaud Arbery crime happened with the knowledge and possible consent of local officials.  It was only until the video was leaked that the State of Georgia felt the need to step in and address the crime.  The need for active participation at the local is required because we live in systems and the first political system is your local municipality. 

What I write here is not without reflection.  I reflect on my life as a Black man in a Counselor Educator and Supervision doctoral program.  The challenges of navigating an unfamiliar system with fear and convention because what I’ve encountered does not hold water to those that made it possible for me to be on this journey.  I also reflect on my life as a Black man living in a city where my life was threatened late last year in the parking lot of local eatery for only being Black-think about the recent Central Park incident. 

If you are angry…good.  Because I am angry also.  But I want you to know that TCA is angry too and stand in solidarity with counselors who serve those impacted by recent and historical injustices.  TCA encourages its members to engage action, be it political action, community outreach, advocacy, research, and education to advance human rights in america.

Derrick Shepard

The University of Tennessee - Counselor Education Doctoral Candidate

Tennessee Counseling Association - Human Rights Chair



 

More Resources

  • School Counseling Resources: https://www.tcacounselors.org/tnsca
  • ACA Statement on Undue Police Violence - posted on 5/18/20 - here
  • Counselors for Social Justice: Virtual Town Hall (6/3/20 at 7pm EST) - more information here
  • Counselors for Social Justice: (6/8/20 at 6:30 EST) "I Need A Minute: A Time for Collective Mourning" for ACA members to be together and share their feelings and experiences regarding recent and continued violence.  More information here.
  • Anti-Racism Resources: This document is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work - here
  • TED Talk - Racism Has a Cost for Everyone - here
  • "The Psychology of Rioting: The Language of the Unheard" Denouncing symptoms of disease without treating the root cause is bad medicine.  By Joe Pierre M.D. - here
  • NAMI - African American Mental Health Resources - here
  • Being Antiracist - here
  • "How to talk to kids about race" resources here

 

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Covid-19 Helpful Resources and Member Spotlight

 

Covid-19 Helpful Resources

Are you a student or counselor educator and looking for updates from CACREP? Click here to read CACREP’s statement regarding COVID-19, get information about practicum and internship accommodations, read about accreditation extensions and dues, and more!

Are you a school counselor looking for some guidance? ASCA has put together a great update on their website which provides suggestions, online training, and other free materials to assist you in supporting your students. Click here to access webinars, position statements, and other virtual school counseling resources.

Are you a mental health or professional counselorClick here to access the resources put together by ACA including telebehavioral health information, insight on how to work with clients in light of difficult public health conditions, and how to take care of your own emotional health. 

NAMI has put together a great resource and information guide that can be found here. The guide provides resources for a lot of common questions such as: where to find support if you have lost a loved one to COVID-19, how to handle increases in anxiety or feelings of isolation, and much more!

Finally, SimplePractice has put together a resource to assist in providing continuity of care in the face of COVID-19. Click here to gain access to some great resources for private practitioners such as webinars to increase your knowledge about telehealth, templates for letters to your clients, and a telehealth resources directory.  



 

Member Spotlight: Sandra Terneus



Bio:  Sandra Terneus is a Professor in the Department of Counseling and Psychology at Tennessee Tech University.  She has been a member of TCA for approximately 20 years. Originally, she was a member of Cumberland Chapter, but when membership waned, she transferred to MTCA, while holdings memberships in TACES and TASGW.  She holds licensures as a LMFT, LPC, and LCPC. Lastly, she is on the editorial boards for the Journal for Specialists in Group Work and the Tennessee Counseling Association.

Hello everyone.  A most important message that I can share with the TCA Membership pertains to my recent experiences with the recent tornado relief:    As you may know, survivors most likely will be disoriented from a surreal experience. After the immediate concerns of receiving health care and finding loved ones, it is natural that survivors want to return to their homes.  

In their efforts to be helpful, most volunteers usually throw away the apparent debris in efforts to clean up for future renovation.  However, this action of throwing everything away does not allow the survivor(s) to think and process their property. The survivors are not only left with literally nothing, but their guilt escalates for “not being able to think” in order to evaluate whether a muddied broken belt buckle from Great Grandad was worth keeping.  

 

It may be helpful for communities to provide portable storage pods to allow the survivors to temporarily house their mementos; this allows the mementos to be saved from potentially more bad weather, and it allows survivors to review the mementos when they are ready to do so.  

For the first day, it may be more helpful if each survivor has a small group of volunteers as their personal assistants, and the volunteers may take different roles as needed.  One volunteer could be more attentive to the survivors while they process the destruction and rebuilding before them, normalizing their feelings of surrealism, and listening to their life stories.  Other volunteers can scan a section of the debris and look closely for items. It would be helpful for volunteers to point to an object and ask the survivor if this is an object they would like to save and place in storage for the time being.  BE AWARE OF WEAPONS! Ask the survivor if guns were in the home and, if so, how they were stored/loaded. Depending on the force of the tornado, weapons from neighboring homes could have landed in your area. Share any information with police/first responder teams about lost weapons as well as keep a record of lost items for insurance purposes.

How else can you help?  Register with the American Red Cross to be a Technician II to provide services to the volunteers should they need to process and debrief.

How has TCA influenced our career or practice?  TCA is the most wonderful resource of professionals and colleagues who work in a variety of counseling and counseling-related roles from one end of Tennessee to the other.  It is the most inclusive body of great folks that I have encountered while I have been in Tennessee. I have learned so much about what professionals in other fields were facing, colleagues at other universities, faces who became familiar friends.  When I first attended TCA decades ago, I had the mindset of simply presenting at a conference. During the evening, I walked by Mary Brignole’s room. “Come on in,” said Mary. “You’re new. Tell me about yourself.” Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Mary knows that her room provides an evening of loud meaty political discussions, wild humor and good-natured jokes, creative ideas for future TCA leadership, and warm wishes and support for personal goals, and, of course, mixed with the staples of wine and snacks.  “Everyone is so nice,” was my first impression of TCA and that impression has stayed with me.  

Share a little bit about your background and your journey to becoming a counselor.   Well, I grew up being a big fan of Smoky the Bear, so I always wanted to be a park ranger.  My early college years were somewhat floundering; my interests were in occupational areas which were already full, and career advisors were suggesting other programs.  I was taking classes just to take classes, but I really didn’t know “what was I going to be when I grew up.” I was the first in my family to go to college, and the familial guidance I had received was simply to get a college degree so I could help provide for the family.

Then, a friend commented that I should try the Counseling Program because I was a natural helper.  I submitted my application and was shocked (and scared) that I was actually called for an interview with the faculty.  Luckily, my friend’s observation of my being a natural helper must have been true because I passed the “role play” and was accepted into the program.  

My faculty were current officers in either ACA Divisions or on the ACA Executive Council.  My cohort and I would timidly and gently walk among “The Giants”, and our mouths would drop open, flabbergasted, when we would see them departing from the hallway restrooms.  (OMG! They are like us!” Yes, we were that nerdy.). My faculty critiqued our skills (“Do it again.”), and poked at our self-awareness (“What does this mean to you?”) as we evolved personally and professionally.  As students, we understood the growth process. Some of the connections that we, students, had developed with each other have maintained; I still exchange an annual Christmas card with my first group co-facilitator, Dean Duncan.  After graduation, I moved and worked at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. It was phenomenal; everything the textbooks described became alive, and I continued to grow professionally as a counselor educator, supervisor, and practitioner.

What is your current work setting(s)?  My second career led me to my current position at TTU.  A typical day would be similar to other faculty such as providing course instructions, committee meetings, research, etc.  My particular area of interest includes: career and group development, crisis/suicide interventions, relationships, and abnormal psychology/psychopathology.

Do you have any career or practice aspirations moving forward?  You bet!  When I think about my third career path, a smile brightens my face.  As I approach retirement from TTU, I am, again, that young college student looking at all the different paths, except now I am full of excitement rather than the stress of ambiguity.  I am calm and hopeful in letting Life unfold the path before me. Yea.

What advice would you give a counselor-in-training entering the field?  It’s ok not to know everything.  I think the one comment I hear most often from students is that by the time they graduate, they realize how little they know.  But having that self-awareness and knowing what to do with it is instrumental. We are all teachers and we are all students. Don’t hesitate to ask a colleague or supervisor for help.

Is there anything that I didn’t ask you that you would like to share with your fellow TCA Members?   TCA is family.  Thank you. Several of my friends/colleagues have already retired, and I am following in those footsteps soon.  But while I am here, I will enjoy TCA and my TCA family. If I can be of help, just holler. 



Do you know a TCA member who is engaged in leadership, research, innovation, or service? If so, we would like to feature them in an upcoming blog post! Fill out the link below to nominate someone to be featured in the Member Spotlight section today!


Member Spotlight Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/uciVkHwEDpYhTbg96 



 

Publications Committee

Do you have content you would like to contribute to the TCA Blog? Email [email protected] with your ideas, submissions, or suggestions for improvement!

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In the Wake of Middle TN Tornadoes

 

 

Message from the Executive Director: Kat Coy

Having spent the majority of my life in Middle Tennessee, I was quite horrified to hear on our morning news that tornadoes had struck North Nashville, in the dark of night.  I frantically reached out to my parents, to confirm their safety.  An hour later, they let me know they were safe, and the day has continued checking in on many of my family and friends.

We want to also check-in on you TCA!  We hope that all of our members are safe. If you were in an area affected by the storm, we know that you are probably still coming to terms with what you experienced last night.  

Known as the Volunteer State, I know that if our community needs help, we will provide it.  Therefore, we wanted to reach out to you all and share some resources in the wake of this natural disaster.    


How can you help?

We all awoke today with news of a natural disaster occurring overnight in middle Tennessee.  Tornadoes, property damage, power outages, and the loss of life have occurred for many residents of Tennessee.   

If you would like to help, we recommend these organizations: 

Volunteer with the American Red Cross - Nashville
(Phone: 615-250-4300)

Volunteer with the Salvation Army Nashville - (Phone: 615-242-0411)

Volunteer with the Second Harvest Food Bank  - (Phone: 615-329-3491)

Volunteer and/or donate to the Community Foundation of Middle TN  - (Phone: 888-540-5200)

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is the primary charitable repository for cash and would maintain ultimate authority and control over the Metro Disaster Response Fund, a program designed to meet the needs of our community during a disaster. The agency would convene the Metro Disaster Response Fund Advisory Committee to evaluate requests for cash assistance and make distributions from the fund to tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations assisting with efforts to rebuild the lives of individuals and families affected by a local disaster - both immediately and long-term. The committee is comprised of a designated representative from the Mayor's Office, The Office of Emergency Management, Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, Middle Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (MD TN VOAD), the business community, and representatives with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Call the Crisis Center/2-1-1 (Phone: 211)

Hands On Nashville -  (Phone: 615-298-1108)

Often, during a community crisis, people are eager to volunteer their time and energy to help communities recover. During a disaster, the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management would rely on Hands on Nashville to connect volunteers with people and agencies that need help. Hands on Nashville links volunteers with available volunteer opportunities and helps coordinate large-scale volunteer efforts.

Donate Blood - Visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter your zip code to find a blood drive near you.



Do you have a need?

If you have a need in your counseling community that you think that TCA can help with, please reach out to Executive Director, Kat Coy, at [email protected]. This could be a need for counseling support, resources, etc.  



Do you need resources? 

Here are some great resources on counseling and natural disasters: 
American Counseling Association - Trauma and Disaster Mental Health

Disaster Distress Helpline - SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

American Psychological Association - Managing traumatic stress after a tornado.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Tornado resources for child trauma. 

 

 

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