Professional Development Reflection of the Advocacy Project

Instructions for the Professional Development Experience and Reflection

This important assignment is used as part of your program for student professional growth and disposition score. The objectives of the assignment is to provide you the opportunity to express:

(a) your ongoing efforts for awareness of self and those with whom you work and

(b) your application of knowledge and skills for professional practices.

There are three steps for completing your Professional Development Experience and Reflection. Please begin the steps early in Week 5 so that your report reflects all components and objectives for the report.

1. Reflect on your overall experience for the Group Advocacy Project based on the following areas and guiding questions:

The Learning Process:

To what extent did work on your selected topic impact you personally? How might it influence what you are currently doing in your community?

What resources/new learning impacted you the most? How did your work on the topic challenge your opinions, ideas, or questions about the topic or the populations you serve?

What did you learn from any of your group members that personally impacted you? Was this good or bad? What did you learn about yourself from that experience?

Professional Identity and Practice:

What did you learn about the role and functions of a counselor as a result of this project?

What did you learn about yourself in the process of exploring the topic and also in the process of working in the team?

Who are some key people in your community/setting who you can identify that are critical to your success for translating your ideas relating to this project into practice?

Social Justice and Personal Mission:

What do you plan to do as a result of the project and when do you plan to do it? What are some steps associated with your goals?

What are some barriers, personally or professionally, that you might face in implementing work associated with the project?

What are some societal or cultural challenges from a systemic point of view for creating sustainable change and it what ways might you dedicate efforts toward meeting these?

2. Revisit some of the information you learned about your profession in the first course. Some of resources might include ethics, professional organizations, or advocacy groups. Reflect again on the guiding questions presented above. In what ways, if any, does your work align or highlight professional image/identity and any specific areas important in our field?

3. Create a report that captures (approximately 4 to 6 pages) your reflection on the topic and the way you perceive your role as a professional counselor. Use first person writing and provide references sparingly as the point is to convey a personal story that reflects your career and personal journey of learning and understanding the topic for professional growth.

Organize your report using headings that delineate your main ideas associated with your experience pertaining to the (a) topic; (b) group work; (c) personal and professional awareness; and (d) impact on your work in the community. Include a summary