Professional Anonymity

[zionchild]

Sometimes I think about whether I should just keep what I do anonymous. When people ask what I do, it would be relatively easy to say, "I work with kids doing this and that" or "I'm in education". If we ever moved or suddenly got surrounded by a new group of people, I'm about 75% sure that's what I'd do.

There's really no advantage to telling

Comments

[australiafemale]

Oh God. I understand where you are coming from! I once got this speech from a flatmate that has no understanding of my skills about how I would be doing a disservice to my clients if I took a job as a support worker at a drug and alcohol rehab centre. What a bitch I thought. She told me only psychologists should do that job. If they wanted a damn psychologist they would have advertised for one. Of course she had no understanding of the difference between psychologist, counsellor, support worker and AOD worker. I ended up working as a family support worker instead which I was great at btw. Its quite humiliating as well to be told by someone who knows nothing about what you can't do. The friendship didn't last long after that.

My favourite school counsellor is the one on Six Feet Under in the first and second season. He was great.

Good luck with your work :D

[zionchild]

I should really start watching Six Feet Under, I keep hearing really good things about it. I powered my way through How I Met Your Mother, and that's not exactly high fare. :)

[souldreamer]

I haven't gotten far enough along in my education to face what you are describing, but I can only imagine. What I have seen is the rather heated discussion about the use of medication in cases of learning disabilities (which is what I'm specializing in). But even so, it continuously shows me that people love to have opinions about things they know nothing about. You have my support and sympathy and encouragement!

[zionchild]

I appreciate the support. :)

To a certain extent, I can understand people having opinions about things they don't understand - you can't just walk into a situation with no clue about how you're going to act. It's when people continue to hold those opinions in the face of people who are actually involved with that subject...and then I wonder if perhaps I do the same thing sometimes. I'm sure I do.

What's the hubbub about LD and medication? My general impression of medication and therapy was that the two were much more powerful when used together than when used separately, and people favored discontinuing meds once therapy had progressed well enough...?

[souldreamer]

Well, my focus has been ADD, specifically. And it's just that I hear people saying that ADD doesn't really exhist, shouldn't be medicated and that kids (or adults) with ADD just need to try harder. Oooh, that makes me so mad.

Disclaimer: I'm not saying that medication is the end-all for handling ADD or that every kid who shows symptoms of it should be clinically diagnosed with it and medicated...

...but I believe every person is different and it makes me so mad when people try to judge others because they don't fit into their own conceptual view of the world. To me, saying that there is no such thing as ADD is like saying that there's no such thing as color-blindness and calling someone stupid because they have a hard time distinguishing reds and blues.

((Okay, sorry for the long rant. I'm done.))

[zionchild]

Wasn't long, or a rant. Sokay! When you start out-ranting me, we'll talk. ;)

I don't get how someone could disclaim its existence either. Short of being a Scientologist, I mean. Have you read much on neurofeedback being used with ADD kids? I keep hearing a lot about it, and I actually got to experience a session myself. Seems like an interesting non-pill, non-therapy way of addressing things, but I haven't heard much objectively reliable info on it.

[telsh7]

RAR RAR STICK TO MAKING SCHOOL SCHEDULES RAR

You should be more like me. I have no opinions. (jk) In truth, the best advise I can give you is to stop listening to advise- see the paradox? I found that what works for me is to surround myself with people who respect me- because I know I'll be outspoken until the day I die. But, you're not me, so find what works for you. If I can help in that regard, lemme know. I'll do anything for you. Well, almost anything- there was something about punching a pirate in the back of the head...

[luthersavage]

I'm glad you have opinions, Matt, and I hope you decide against shutting up