I had a little anxiety about this internship before. As I could still remember, we were busy and stressfully thinking where should we learn best for our future. Remember the time where we were so desperate to start our OJT last November of 2009 and we turned out to be the last group to have an internship? We were almost in tears when in the January of 2010, 2 days before the next orientation of interns, we were accommodated by NCMH, which is a globally-accepted learning Center that provides responsive and comprehensive mental health care services, promotes patient empowerment, pursues self-sustaining programs, and excels in training and research.
National Center for Mental Health gave us that rare opportunity to be educated furthermore within our interest. This was the time in which I experienced the most professional growth as a Clinical Psychology major student. It will be odd to just say my experiences; rather, my learning and realizations should be included here as well.
Needless to say, experiences are always endless. How will I be able to carry out a better self if grasping the opportunities for experience would be taken for granted? The entities I got through my field with the help of the center incessantly enhanced not just my knowledge but, to my personality as well. Through here, we were able to practice what I learned from school. In additional to that, I made new friends, which I never thought would happen! I was able to share openly and genuinely with others regarding feelings, opinions, thoughts, and perception about problems and other conditions. By being friendly to the other interns means accepting for who they are not where they come from. We influenced each others, unintentionally and in a good way. Though there are people who love to criticize and make irrational opinions, there are still individuals who were not overbearing and welcoming.
I learned that I could encounter individuals with personality disorders, chemical addiction, and with grave criminal cases in a respectful and fearless manner. The nurses and clinical instructors taught me to listen to and trust my clinical instincts. This knowledge contributed much to increase my confidence as a clinical student and helped me to further develop my identity.
The things I experienced being an NCMH intern provide a rich experience that all clinicians in the future should be exposed to. I appreciated this kind of internship as the center highlighted the many mental health needs. In addition, I was also provided the opportunity to work with Ms. Susan Sabado, who is an excellent Clinical Instructor. She is well versed in a variety of ways. I was allowed multiple opportunities to relate in different cases from a variety of different orientations. It was really an excellent learning opportunity. This center is challenging and fast-paced. The people around are a joy to work with and provide a rewarding experience. In addition, there is considerable flexibility in pursuing areas of interest. Like at most times, our learning leads us out of curiosity.
There was a significant opportunity to do testing like IQ and projective tests. Testing does include Psychological Test Report writing. There are times where we were able to do testing for adult males with different diagnoses and criminal cases. Nevertheless, being intrepid or fearless in handling subjects prepared us for extremities in the future.
What I will miss the most? The times where we have nothing to do but to sleep in our table [with lights off], talk funny stories, call other friends, eat, say goodbye to the fishes and turtles whenever we're about to go home, and most especially, the “party” [which includes the sounds, pictures, and webcam(?)].
Better things are yet to come. No matter what happens, I will forever be grateful to have my internship at the center and was able to mingle with different kinds of unbelievable people like the blue and green individuals, students, nurses, doctors, clinical instructors, even helpers and guards. How I wish our 300 hours of internship isn’t over yet. Kidding.
