LBC Echo Fall 2022 - 15

sat with them during the dental appointments. As a result, dental clients have left feeling relaxed
and cared for. Ironically, the dental room is housed in a former counseling room.
" It was really a simple solution under our noses, " McAlester says.
The start of the simple solution
Most simple solutions usually have a long story behind them. And the story of this
solution was no different. Each semester, Butcher, who has been at LBC | Capital since
January 2021, oversees approximately three students in practicums and internships as
well as students shadowing counseling care.
" They are really seeing all ages and all mental health issues at Hope Within, " says
Butcher. " It's an opportunity to see what private community health looks like. I've
watched our students grow so much in a wide variety of experiences. They can take
their classroom experience and biblical aspects and put them into practice. "
It is outside the classroom where Butcher often sees students reach the " ah-ha "
moments of connecting content, training and skills with the real-life interaction and
experience in the counseling field. Those moments are happening at Hope Within.
Throughout the internships and practicums, LBC students meet with Butcher-
sometimes in individual meetings, other times in group settings. In supervising
these students, she discusses with them what's happening, what's working and
what's challenging. At the beginning of care, she is also present to help the
students adjust, as " it's scary at first to sit with a client, " she reminds.
Throughout coursework and these meetings, students also work on
case conceptualization and training as well as emphasize self-care
for counselors.
" Our students are working on heavy stuff, " Butcher says. " We
don't want them (or any counselor) to take on their client's
stuff. " This leads to conversations on how to not take work
issues home and how to come down from a long day. The
goal focuses on self-care strategies to prevent exhaustion
and burnout, especially as confidentiality limits counselors
from talking about their day in detail with family and
friends.
Butcher also walks alongside students as she prepares
them in the classroom for questions such as, " You
are so young or not married or don't have children,
how can you help me? " She says the students are
prepared to respond by saying, " You are right, but
I'm trained to do this. " She reminds that doctors
don't have to have cancer to treat cancer; instead,
they are trained in the skills and knowledge to
transfer to all situations.
These conversations and interactions inside and
outside the classroom allow students to think
outside the box about how to work with clients
creatively.
Creativity, counseling and playing
Creativity is what came into play, literally, with
the Sand Tray (see page 16) developed by Nyasha
Paulus ('23) and Caitlin Fitzgerald ('23), who were
instrumental in not only providing counseling
at Hope Within but also with the counseling
efforts for the dental patients. Both are earning a
master's degree in Marriage & Family Counseling.
Paulus is following the traditional master's path,
- Continued on page 16 -
ECHO 15
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LBC Echo Fall 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of LBC Echo Fall 2022