Future Goals

The journey towards completing my MSW has highlighted to me the fact that I am just beginning a new journey as a social work clinician. When I entered this program I expected to emerge at the end of this journey having completed what I wanted to do. However, now that I am here I realize that my masters was a beginning rather than an end and I have a long journey ahead of me as I continue to hone my clinical skills and grow my practice.

My Career As a Public Servant:

I plan to continue my career in public service and would eventually like to work as a Mental Health Consultant with the Federal Government. This role would allow me to take the knowledge I have learned and help support front line case managers grow their practice to best meet the needs of the veterans they work with. I would also be able to continue to build on my clinical skills and grow my practice with the focus on trauma treatment for Operational Stress Injuries. There is a wealth of opportunity within the federal government and I am excited to explore the different positions available while working with Veterans and RCMP members.

Veterans Affair Canada (2021). Veterans Affairs Logo [Photograph] . The Federal Government of Canada. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services?utm_campaign=vac-acc-vacservices-20-21&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=bing&utm_content=ad-text-en&utm_term=veterans%20affairs%20canada&adv=2021-0091&id_campaign=396435815&id_source=1244647705618930&id_content=77790605448429&gclid=14f0de4b1db714a68c42be12523eb591&gclsrc=3p.ds

Continuing Clinical Work

Since I first began my social work career I have always felt the drive towards private clinical practice. The completion of my masters allows this dream to become a reality. The Operational Stress Injury Clinic in Calgary has offered me a part time role as a clinician where I could continue to gain clinical hours. I also have the option of partnering with several OSIC staff as they look to build their own multi-disciplinary team in Calgary. Another option I am currently exploring is working with the Canadian Armed Forces to provide trauma treatment to still serving members. As of yet I am not sure what would best suit me but I plan to pursue some form of clinical practice and continue to build my skills in this area.

My practice Interests

I have worked with military, veteran and RCMP populations for several years and I plan to continue providing trauma treatment to Veterans, CAF members and RCMP, whether in private practice, or as part of the federal government. I am also very interested in becoming a Subject Matter Expert in the area of Mental Health within Veterans Affairs.

However, I have several other practice interests that stem from personal experience. For example, I have had a very unique background in cultural hybridity and I plan to continue writing about my experiences and publishing academic papers to add to the growing body of work around hybridity. I also have an interest in Religious Trauma and am part of several different support groups for individuals leaving the church. My personal journey to leave was very difficult and I would like to provide support to individuals leaving organized religion. Another interest of mine is teaching sexual education and relationship classes to those still within Seventh Day Adventism, as I find these subjects are very taboo within the church. Providing a safe space to explore human sexuality and relationship topics would give women within my old church a platform to begin to define for themselves their relationship and sexuality values. Disability advocacy is another area of interest for me. I currently work with the local power hockey team to promote increased inclusion for non-abilitory individuals in Calgary. It is my plan to continue advocacy with this community, as the recent changes in Home Care funding are having significant negative impacts on the independence of many individuals.

Next Steps:

I plan to complete extended ART certification directly after finishing with my schooling
I am interested in exploring ACT training and incorporating this modality into my practice
I would like to continue to explore hybridity and the concept of belonging and am working towards publishing work in this area
I am interested in furthering my education around Moral Injury in RCMP populations and exploring how best to support this population
However, at the moment I am looking forward to enjoying a relaxing summer and focusing on family