Reflection 4

Journal #4 Topic: How does your agency use policy to inform their practices and advocate for the clients served. You may also include other reflections in your journal but please ensure to speak about the topic for the journal as well. 

Be sure to utilize all headings, including paragraph headings, in your journal.  Paragraph Headings:  What, So What, Now What, Summary.

· What: State facts and observations of the event/situation. (objective)

· So What: Students to present personal thoughts, reflections, and/or feelings about the event/situation. May also include a discussion about how your perspective has changed. (subjective)

· Now What:  Based on educational knowledge already possessed or learned, how does that knowledge affect your future behavior or action in connection with the event/situation?  Clearly connect knowledge with social work practice. (see explanation below)

· Summary: Brief overview of the journal. Each heading discussion should be about the same event/situation.

Focus (discussion of Journal) may be any Topic of the Week on the Syllabus OR any experience or observation that you had during your internship at the agency. 

How to Connect knowledge to practice in your journal??  Discuss knowledge that you learned or know through your education and how you applied that to your practice in field placement.  Why are you doing what you are doing as a social worker?

Journals should be no more than 1.5 pages in length, double-spaced, and in APA 7th edition format.

The agency is Center to Rise – Here’s the website: https://centertorise.com/

This is the same agency where I completed my placement during Term 1 last semester. While the assignments for last semester and the current semester (Placement Term 2) share the same structure and requirements, the content must be original and not identical. However, it can reflect similar themes or experiences, given that it is the same agency.

Reflection 4 journal during the last term had a complete different question, so I didn’t attach the previous assignment here.

However as sample, I’ve attached the reflection journal 1, 2 & 3 that you completed on this 2nd term.

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Reflection Journal #3

Reflection Journal #3

What

During my internship at Center to Rise Wellness Spa Studio at Arlington, I observed strengths and gaps in how the agency operationalizes its mission of healing and equity. The organization stresses trauma-informed, client-centered treatment, yet some internal processes and routines may unintentionally mirror repressive structures. For instance, the intake procedure requires substantial documentation, which may overburden vulnerable clients who encounter systemic hurdles to care. Additionally, some service materials are only available in English, potentially alienating non-English-speaking clients. Though personnel are dedicated to justice, the agency's leadership and administrative team are primarily white, which may exacerbate power inequities. A lack of ethnic and linguistic diversity in leadership can hinder culturally competent and equitable treatment (Chua et al., 2023). The clinical team embraces diversity, but more culturally diverse voices in decision-making, outreach, and programming would correspond with anti-oppressive social work ideals.

So what?

These observations made me reflect on how good intentions alone are insufficient to ensure service delivery equity. Center to Rise acts compassionately, yet systemic obstacles like language difficulties or culturally biased administrative systems might repeat the patterns clients attempt to heal from. I found myself questioning how I define anti-oppressive practice and realized it must go beyond client interactions to include agency policies and staff composition. This has made me consider my role in the area and how I may unknowingly contribute to systemic prejudice. I now believe that actual anti-oppressive work requires consistent self-assessment and organizational accountability. Witnessing this disconnect between mission and practice has furthered my understanding of how institutional change happens and how critical this is for equity-informed social work.

Now what?

My coursework emphasized that anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks must be embedded at all service levels—from intake procedures to hiring practices. Moving forward, I will advocate for language-accessible resources and culturally competent programming in every placement or agency I work with. I will also advocate for participatory processes involving clients and community members in program development. I will highlight equity issues and advocate for inclusive recruiting and leadership development on supervision. This experience also reminded me social work is not neutral—it must actively work towards combating inequities. As a practitioner, I will combat institution-level bias by educating myself, having difficult discussions, and adhering to professional aspirations of dignity, self-determination, and social justice.

Summary

Reflecting on my time at Center to Rise, I learned more about how agencies can continue oppressive patterns even with an inclusive mission statement. Overwhelming paperwork, communication barriers, and leadership diversity can prevent equal treatment. This experience extended my thinking about anti-oppressive practice from an individual level to a systems level. This experience challenged me to apply what I have learned from my academic work to what I observe in real time. This awareness will serve me well in pushing for systemic change, inclusive policymaking processes, and views from marginalized populations. I seek to eradicate harm in social work, and this reflection cemented my commitment to provide more fair, accessible, and accountable services everywhere.

References

Chua, S. W. Y., Sun, P. Y., & Sinha, P. (2023). Making Sense of Cultural Diversity’s complexity: Addressing an Emerging Challenge for Leadership. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 23(3), 635–659. https://doi.org/10.1177/14705958231214623

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Reflection 2

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Name

Instructor’s Name

Date

Reflection 2

What

During my internship at Center to Rise, I discovered how Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is the foundation for client treatment and care orientation. One client presented with symptoms of depression and chronic anxiety, but the therapist first assessed the client's basic needs, such as housing stability, food access, and safety, before addressing mental health symptoms. This reflected Maslow's theory that unmet physiological and safety needs deprivation hinder psychological and self-actualization goals. The agency's clinicians employed social work evaluations to assess clients' environmental and psychological forces. This theoretical basis ensured that therapists looked at clients holistically and prioritized interventions that addressed unmet basic needs. I realized that the agency applies this hierarchy during treatment plan creation, especially for oppressed or traumatized clients, during team meetings and case supervision.

So what?

This experience made me more cognizant of the importance of a theory-based practice. Observing the therapist prioritize the basic needs of the client before turning to the issues of anxiety treatments revealed to me how theory influences diagnosis as well as actual interaction. It changed my perspective; previously, I thought therapy started with emotional unpacking, but now I see that sustainable emotional progress requires a strong foundational support system. I learned that until the problem of food insecurity or unsafe housing is addressed, it is unrealistic to expect emotional control. According to Onyeaka et al. (2024), individuals with housing or food insecurity have a higher rate of mental health problems, making it very important that such basic needs fulfillment be prioritized. It also allowed me to better understand and relate to clients, realizing how survival mode impairs emotional processing. Analyzing this experience helped me understand that I had certain unconscious prejudices and that meeting clients where they are is important.

Now what?

Moving forward, I will intentionally integrate Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs when assessing and planning for client care. My coursework taught me the significance of biopsychosocial examinations, so I will be more mindful to include early inquiries regarding fundamental living circumstances and safety. This theory will guide my referral, resource linkage, and treatment pacing decisions in mental health and trauma-informed social work. I will also advocate for multidisciplinary engagement with housing, job, and food security programs since these requirements are essential to therapeutic success. Through supervision and self-reflection, I'll monitor how well I align client goals with their capacity and environment. Maslow's framework will help me respect the client's pace and prioritize developmentally and contextually relevant goals.

Summary

This journal reflection highlighted how Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs has guided my evolving practice during my second-term internship at Center to Rise. I observed how meeting clients' fundamental needs helps them grow emotionally and psychologically. My evaluation viewpoint changed when I saw how theory promotes client-centered and practical treatments. Applying this theory helped me develop empathy, clarity, and purpose in client engagement. Maslow's framework will help me comprehend client challenges and set realistic treatment goals as I grow in my career. After this encounter, I became more committed to comprehensive, theory-informed social work practice based on client dignity.

References

Onyeaka, H., Ejiohuo, O., Taiwo, O. R., Nnaji, N. D., Odeyemi, O. A., Duan, K., Nwaiwu, O., & Odeyemi, O. (2024). The Intersection of Food Security and Mental Health in the Pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals. Nutrients, 16(13), 2036. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132036

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Journal Reflection

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Professor’s Name

Course Name

Due Date

What

In my second-term internship at Center To Rise, I learned how ethics and professionalism guide the agency. Therapists met regularly to examine ongoing cases while protecting client privacy. Only required client information was shared for professional advancement, anonymized. This practice demonstrated ethical behavior, particularly regarding client privacy and team information sharing. In a session I saw this semester, the therapist sought to rebuild informed consent with a returning client with changed treatment goals. This increased the agency's client autonomy and openness ethics. Professionally, the therapist described availability and field of practice without sacrificing empathy or warmth. Here, the Center to Rise demonstrated its integrity and therapist-client professionalism.

So What

This encounter reinforced the necessity of ethical reasoning in clinical and therapeutic social work. I related to the therapist's informed consent and limits while creating my professional identity. It reminded me that ethics is a lifestyle that affects client trust and safety, not just a list of regulations. I was struck by how the therapist handled sensitive themes with respect and confidence, proving that professionalism involves knowledge, attitude, and approach. I now see ethics and professionalism more nuancedly than in my first semester. I notice how they are used in subtle but major ways in client encounters, documentation, inter-professional communication, and self-regulation. I now see that ethical difficulties regularly occur in daily actions like managing dual relationships, setting boundaries, and reporting suspected abuse.

Now What

My study on the NASW Code of Ethics and ethical decision-making frameworks has prepared me to tackle ethical problems with purpose and clarity. I now realize that professional social workers must continually think, be self-aware, and consult when ethically unsure. My future fieldwork will include more systematic ethical thinking. I will evaluate my ethical behavior following client or team meetings, such as autonomy, fairness, and honesty. Self-care is also part of professionalism, especially in emotionally difficult instances. I now know that professionalism requires regulating my answers and being present and productive for my customers.

I will continue to work ethically by respecting confidentiality, professional boundaries, and client rights. I also want to improve my professionalism by communicating better, being prompt and documenting well, and seeking supervision to address ethical issues. These behaviors reflect my social work beliefs and Center To Rise's comprehensive, client-centered philosophy. This event reinforced the need to apply ethics to all social work practice, particularly clinical and therapeutic contexts. I related to the therapist's informed consent and limits while creating my professional identity. It reminded me that ethics is a lifestyle that affects client trust and safety, not just a list of regulations. I was struck by how the therapist handled sensitive themes with respect and confidence, proving that professionalism involves knowledge, attitude, and approach. I now see ethics and professionalism more nuancedly than in my first semester. I notice how they are used in subtle but major ways in client encounters, documentation, inter-professional communication, and self-regulation. I now see that ethical difficulties regularly occur in daily actions like managing dual relationships, setting boundaries, and reporting suspected abuse.

Summary

My experience at Center To Rise has improved my regard for therapeutic ethics and expertise. Observing client sessions, case reviews, and staff interactions has shown me how these concepts build trust and effectiveness. Ethics like confidentiality, informed consent, and client autonomy are essential to good therapeutic partnerships, and the agency upholds them (Johnson et al., 2021). As I complete my field placement, I will internalize and demonstrate these ethical and professional standards in all aspects of my social work practice.

References

Johnson, M. K., Weeks, S. N., Peacock, G. G., & Rodríguez, M. M. D. (2021). Ethical decision-making models: a taxonomy of models and review of issues. Ethics & Behavior, 32(3), 195–209. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2021.1913593