REFLECTION ON PERSONAL ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS
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Reflection on Personal Attitudes and Beliefs
Gabriella V. Read
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
REFLECTION ON PERSONAL ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS
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Abstract
The three questions that evoked the strongest reaction and that I found the most difficult to
answer were how comfortable would I be working with a man convicted of pedophilia and court-
ordered for counseling? How comfortable would I be working with a man convicted of domestic
violence? And how comfortable would I be working with a man recently released from jail after
serving a sentence for rape? Since I struggle with a general mistrust of men it would make sense
that I would be most uncomfortable working with the types of men that pose the biggest physical
and emotional threat to my safety. I believe part of my mistrust in men I learned from my mother
in my idolization of trying to be just like her and the male relationships that I continued to go on
to have as I grew up only reinforced this learned belief. I will use my knowledge of my role
being primarily one of support, to remind myself when I am working with convicted men of
physical abuse that my job is to support them and help them lead a full life regardless of their
history. My history with men does not influence how I treat these future male clients because the
counselor/client relationship is not a relationship that is give and take. It is not about me in that
relationship, it is about them and what they are going through in life.
Keywords: man, mistrust, learned, support, physical, relationship, life
