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Sammy Stevwing

PSYC 700

Dr. Jeremy Northup

10 November 2024

Mock Therapy Reflection

Throughout the semester practicing mock therapy, there are skills that I have intuitively

implemented in sessions, where other skills have not come as naturally for me. Performance

anxiety is a significant aspect of practicing mock therapy that I have encountered. Trying not to

think about every little thing that I do or worrying about remembering every bit of information

that the client relays to me, is an aspect that I have to practice in order to provide impactful care.

Many times when I felt overwhelmed with taking in information, I would grasp at straws and ask

leading questions, getting away from the main point being discussed. This is where I felt my

restatements were lacking. When watching back the video of my final mock therapy I could see

that simply stopping at restatements was difficult for me. I constantly wanted to apply an

additive response to the restatement or make an interpretation of thoughts and feelings, possibly

being too skill focused when I needed to add more process comments and questions. Part of me

believes that if I am not actively giving something to the conversation I am not contributing, yet I

know what I say would be more impactful if I simply restate, encourage, or ask more open

questions to then make restatements and impactful interpretations. Nevertheless, even though

these aspects of my abilities are lacking, I can acknowledge my deficiencies so I can improve

these skills in order to become a better therapist.

Through the start of the session to 2:25, I actively listened and encouraged rapport with the

client. Letting them provide me with their general concerns, not interrupting them and providing
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them my full focus. When discussing the client’s involvement in political science in their

undergrad, I implement an open question of feeling at 2:25, examining the cynical feelings they

stated occurred at the time of being more involved in politics. This was a better skill that I think I

initially implemented, spotting the significant word that initially sparked investigation of the

clients concerns. I then attempt to make a reflection of feelings at 3:50, yet this reflection of

disempowerment overlooks the bigger feeling of guilt that we eventually circle back too.

Focusing on disempowerment over guilt led me to a wall due to it not being the main idea in my

opinion, but hopefully in the future I can take more in and ask them to describe these feelings

more before I reflect. At 5:27 I made a reflection of thought, where I reflected on the client

thinking that nothing they do matters, where they believe in statistics and facts significantly but

when the statistics don’t represent reality, they feel confused and lose what they believe in. Here

I believe I separated the clients’ thoughts versus how these thoughts make them feel. Next at 7:10

I initiate a challenge, where I question their grievances with the election yet they themselves did

not vote, calling attention to their contradictory beliefs. This skill came with more ease as I could

see the parallels in their thinking versus their actions, calling attention to their deeper concerns.

An open question related to thought occurred at 8:50, where I question how their thinking

regarding others voting for a third party as one throwing away their vote makes them rethink

their actions. This skill was more challenging but when presented with how the client thought of

others voting, it was clearer to pull out their thoughts to reach a feeling. The restatements I made

were not as strong, where at times I did not stop and would add an additional element or feeling,

instead of taking my time to get to those points. Later in the session at 11:45 I made a

restatement, where I reflected that it seemed the client had avoided forms of media to not

experience the distress that comes with it from a lack of results. At 27:50 a stronger restatement
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was made where I was getting at the client having a hard time taking one’s subjective experience

and facts into account, not adding any additional feelings or thoughts. The silence implemented

at 11:55 was brief, lasting for about fifteen seconds. In this session it felt longer, where I also

interrupted the silence with my thoughts. This is a skill I need to work on and implement for

longer periods of time. Interpretation of the client’s perspective to opt out of certain forms of

medias occurred at 16:10, where I stated that they are able to read the titles of videos to know

what they are about and have the ability to turn them off if they do not agree with them gives

them a sense of control or security. I then ask about this sense of security but it did not land,

which then has the client clarify that before it felt overwhelming. Here I think my interpretation

was not too strong, where rather than control which may have been too powerful of a word, it

was the more the choice of what media and when. This could have landed better especially with

their stated feelings of certain topics once making them overwhelmed. At 17:50 a question

related to interpretation occurs, where the client states that they have felt cynical and

overwhelmed when involved in politics before and wondering if their arms reach to certain forms

of media is to prevent themselves from getting too involved and becoming cynical. They clarify

by saying they get to digest the media in the right doses. Finally, when the client begins

discussing the difference in opinion that they have from their partner, they instantly light up with

excitement when talking about their significant other, which is where I implemented the skill of

immediacy at 21:30. This skill was more natural when the client’s attitude clearly changed when

the subject shifted to their partner’s beliefs.

Overall, when I first began my mock therapies, the performance anxiety aspect is something

that I focused on significantly and has held me back from performing at my best. Throughout

each session I have become more comfortable but I still need to practice being completely
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present with the client so I can address their concerns sufficiently. Slowing down at the

beginning of sessions so I do not get ahead of myself would also be beneficial, and so clients

have time to explain fully how they feel. Restating thoughts and feelings are skills that I believe

came slightly easier for me, but at times I over implemented them and more simple restatements

would have been beneficial. Additionally, my interpretation was moderate, where asking an open

question about the interpretation helped pinpoint what it is about these forms of media that are

more digestible to the client at times. Nevertheless, I believe my immediacy and challenge in this

session were stronger for me, pointing out the instantaneous things I notice or the inconsistency

in one’s thinking. With these strengths and weaknesses in mind, I can work on the aspects I am

lacking to grow my scope of knowledge, connect to patients better, and overall be a more well-

rounded therapist.