Learning Portfolio

Tag: reflection

  • Reflect: On connotation

    5.3 Fat has many connotations to me. In the 1980’s when I was a teenager, growing up in an image-fixated time, being fat was the worst thing that could happen. I felt body conscious to the point of verging on having an eating disorder. The word ‘fat’ had negative connotations. Fat meant many things back…

  • Reflect: On your youth and ageism

    5.2.2 Watching Amalia, I kept noticing how I thought she was so adult for her age. Is that perception or judgment? I don’t know. Certainly hearing a young woman say she had to work on her confidence, and that she had started directing as an 11 year old contradicted my ideas on confidence. At the…

  • Reflect: On ageism assumptions and biases

    5.2 I’m 60 and I suppose I notice my age a lot and compare myself to others my age. Depending on the context I can feel less than or more than in the assumptions of my age. I lament my youth in a way that I think things like, ‘i wish I did this or…

  • Reflect

    What are some concrete questions or statements that could have helped Carly in this instance? 5.1.1 A key issue for Carly seems to be how extreme and intense the cafe experience is. From what I understand from working with people with autism is that they have a variation of sensory experiences in a world that…

  • reflect: Understanding personal biases when it comes to Aboriginal people.

    4.2 When I reflect on my attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, I notice a sense of curiosity and openness to learning. At the same time, I am aware of the stereotypes and narratives that have historically been constructed about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Having grown up in the…

  • Reflect: On sexism

    3.4 Have I ever had sexist remarks made about me? If so how did it make me feel? I feel that I’ve grown up in a sexist world with the conditioning that comes from that. My parents never placed importance on my career when I was a child in the 60’s/70’s. They tended to focus…

  • Reflect: Bonnies story

    3.1.1 Stories of gender identity Bonnie was generous to share her experience of intersexuality. I found her experience touching and informative in that intersex is an umbrella term that describes different variations: physical, hormonal and genetic. Woman have XX and men have XY, Bonnie has XY and looks female. Bonnie shared that she felt social…

  • Reflect: On Racism

    2.1.1 Racism, Prejudice and Bias Racism starts with prejudice, biases, discrimination, microagressions and macroaggressions. As a counsellor it is imperative to act in a reflective, responsible and responsive way to personal attitudes and assumptions. We must consider our own cultural backgrounds and intersectionality to gather information about how we may have blind spots in ways…

  • Reflect: On Systems theory

    As a counsellor and mental health support worker, I am curious about examining a client’s experiences through a systems theory lens. This includes exploring their family dynamics, such as relationships within the family, childhood experiences, and even ancestral influences. I also consider their work and social environments over time. By viewing a client within their…

  • Reflect: On acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

    What surprises you the most about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? What surprises me most about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is how strongly it emphasises accepting difficult thoughts and emotions rather than trying to control or eliminate them. For me, this feels like a natural way to orient to what is happening within myself, although it…