At SafeNest I have learned about how well I can carry the weight of others and how well I can maintain my professionalism while others are in extremely emotional states. This internship has made me face some of the tough situations that I would experience as a therapist. While this internship is geared towards social work, I believe that is also beneficial for those who are interested in psychology related fields. At SafeNest you learn how important it is to develop a sense of trust with the residents, because they are in such vulnerable states there are times in which they will entrust you to listen to their struggles. Tensions are common in the shelter, learning how to act accordingly and maintain confidentiality are also essential to this work which is a transferable skill for any job really. To work here, the only education required is a high school diploma, and I feel that because there are so many training opportunities done here, that is really all you need depending on how and if you wish to move up into different positions. Since I am pretty set on a different path, I will not be pursuing a career here, however that does not mean that I would not like one. The community that they have built is great, and while there is hardship, there is also a lot of room for growth and there is lots of support from the staff which I really love. To work here full time I would want to work as a Hope Advocate, that would require a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in social work. They did mention that there are Hope Advocates who do not have that specific degree, that it just needs to be in a similar field. Training will be provided, so there is not much to worry about aside from the degree. If there is any advice I could give on the internship, it would be to be prepared for the unexpected, things can happen very suddenly and it can be intimidating at times. There can be turbulence along the way, but there is always sunshine after the storm. (Below is a picture from our admin office where I was able to complete a DV training)
I love your last sentence, there is indeed always sunshine. I know you're balancing so much in your life, but I have no doubt you are going to shine in the future. You're incredible, don't hold back your sunshine!
Hi Michelle!
It was very interesting to hear your experience as an intern at SafeNest as this is one of the internships I was initially interested in. I am glad to hear that there was a lot of staff support here, as that is important when working with DV cases. It sounds like it was a very beneficial experience for becoming a therapist, even if it was more related to social work. I am glad you had a pleasant experience at this internship site!
Hey Michelle,
I really enjoyed hearing about your experience and appreciated how much you shared. When I think about domestic violence, I think about the heavy weight victims must carry around with them, causing discomfort and affecting their reality. Still, I wouldn't be sure how to deal with that situation. Hearing about it from you gave me insight, Thank you!