Another name for Therapeutic Consultant
I have been called a lot of things in my life, but it was not until I started working as a Therapeutic Placement Consultant that I got some of the best nicknames. Maybe they are not nicknaming, per say, but they are ways in which families that have worked with me have referred to me. In the end, I am flattered by each of them, and will always work to help the families that I am serving as a therapeutic learning consultant.
The first name I was called was a Swiss Army Knife. Basically, an all-in-one tool to help the person in need. Sometimes they include nail clippers, scissors, a knife, a metal file, to name just a few. In referring to me as a Swiss Army Knife, that family was explaining to me that they view me as their all-in-one tool to help them navigate the treatment world for their young adult.
Another family had an ah-ha moment in telling me they viewed me as their golf caddy in the mental health treatment space. No, we were not assessing treatment options on a golf course. What they were saying was I could guide the family into selecting the “right” golf club needed in that moment to ensure they were getting the ball closer to the hole. Advising them on drive, distance, and environmental factors that would impact their performance. Having grown up in a family of golfers, I could not help but chuckle at this description. Do I tell other families that they can view me as a gold caddy? This is not my go-to, but for some it might just be the ticket to allow them to fully grasp what it is I can do for them.
My favorite is probably being called a Raft Guide. Having grown up in Virginia and spent a lot of time on whitewater during my young adult years, this one makes a lot of sense to me. Most of the families I work with may not be as familiar with whitewater navigation, or just high-intensity adventure like rafting. We are the ones teaching everyone on the boat how to safely paddle. We line the boat up to successfully navigate through the rapid, while coaching assertively what the people with paddles are supposed to be doing. We know the risks ahead, and yet we also want to make the ride as smooth as possible, ultimately having our guests leave with a smile on their face at the end of the day. It’s not easy to do, and certainly some people are harder to coach than others. Sometimes the boat is going to flip and that is something that may intentionally need to happen to get those on the boat to truly listen to direction. This comparison will always bring the largest grin to my face!
In the end, I see myself as a chameleon to being whatever and however it is that a family can make sense of who I am and the work I can do for them. If someone in the future wants to refer to me as a Flight Attendant, I just ask that they explain it to me. If someone in the future wants to refer to me as a General Contractor, I just ask that they explain it to me. And if someone in the future wants to refer to me as Track Coach, I just ask that they explain it to me. I will be whatever a family needs to be, when they need me to be it.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
