MFT6106-6(2)

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Psychology

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Apr 3, 2024

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Interviewing a Clinician In the nearby community, there are several therapists and counselors. However, getting connected with someone available for a 15-minute interview was difficult. With some determination, I was able to connect with Joy Wong Liu, MFT. She is a faith-based therapist who specializes in clients who have suicidal ideations and/or tendencies and is trained in Emotional Family Therapy (EFT). She understood that I was a student and was eager to help with my interview. Handling Crises After some banter and introducing myself, I began the interview. Joy explained that there are different types of crises, and she deals more regularly with clients who have suicidal ideations or tendencies. She said the most challenging aspect is the clients who frequently recycle crises. She meant that some clients occasionally have crises, but others have one crisis after another. It can be difficult to continually find new resources or even the right resources for that client. Also, keeping and discerning boundaries can be difficult. Learning how much of yourself you can lend for support so as not to blur lines. She said that to manage those challenges, she seeks additional training and continued consultation when needed. Joy said she speaks to her group of colleagues, which allows her to debrief and distress by talking to colleagues who understand. She believed the support helped. As a separate question, I asked if the resources, such as the additional training and her group of colleagues, came with her graduation or if she had to find those resources herself. She told me that as a California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) member, she can find courses she is interested in and take advantage of those that help her better help others. The group was created after meeting a few like-minded colleagues, and they all depend on each other for consultation without getting too in-depth with client information. Managing Risks When managing risks, Joy talks about them from the beginning and continually brings them up to normalize them. She stated that since there are not many places to talk safely about suicide and suicidal ideations, she tries to make it so that her space is safe for everyone. She said that some people may have ideas but no plans; they still need a place to talk about what brought them to that space. While the client expresses their feelings, she continually assesses how to develop a suitable safety plan or self-care plan that will be helpful early on. With every client, it is different; some do not need to talk about it, but for those that do, she wants to be prepared. In her safety plans, she creates enough support to help her clients get through those times of trouble if she is unavailable. Responding to Violence Joy admitted that although she works with couples, she has yet to encounter a couple or an individual who dealt with intimate partner violence, domestic violence, or sexual violence until the aftermath. She admits that that is something

2 that she has received additional training on and has a list of resources ready if the case ever comes. She states that in the aftermath, she is assessing if the occurrence was a one-time occurrence from a heated argument or if the violence is continuous. From there, she can collaborate on a plan if a line is crossed or if a safety plan with resources is necessary. Self-Care Joy told me she wholeheartedly believed that self-care important. Self-care, such as meditation or socialization outside of work, helps keep Joy grounded. Being able to debrief and distress with colleagues or her husband, who is also a therapist, so he knows how it can be, also helps keep her grounded. Joy also stated that keeping personal boundaries is a form of self-care for her. Knowing the difference between empathy and vicarious trauma. Something that I want to keep with me: “If you listen to someone’s story and you think about what if it had happened to you, that is the doorway to vicarious trauma. But if you listen to someone’s story and think about how they must feel because it happened to them, that is empathy.” She keeps track of how she is, “How full is my cup? How can I be there for my clients without crossing my boundaries?” We spoke a little more about meditation and journaling to stay grounded. Coming Out Joy agreed with LaSala (2018) that deciding to come out to family members can be one of the most stressful experiences, especially in the fear of rejection. When asked, Joy also agreed that internalized sexual stigma can control the coming out process as the client has witnessed something from a family member that might make them feel they will be rejected if they come out (Alonzo & Buttitta, 2019). Joy stated she had not experienced a client that had a negative outcome after coming out, but she has walked clients through the internal struggle of deciding whether or not to come out and how to do it in a way that feels safe. Joy stated that if she were to have a client with a negative outcome, she would use her EFT training and go back to empathy and helping the client connect to internal, interpersonal strengths to care for the part of themselves that is hurting. If the client is suicidal, she reminds them that it is the time to connect to safety and support and to enact the safety plan they have made. Conclusion Although in this portion, I should be comparing our conversation to this week’s assigned reading, listening to Joy not only aligned with this week’s readings but also with everything I have learned in my journey thus far. With every response, I could reflect on a previous lesson that told me to work the same process. Knowing that she has had success gives me hope as a student. I found it fortunate that she has not had to experience the negative aspects that may come with being a therapist. We exchanged contact information so that if I needed another resource in my journey, I had one.

3 References Alonzo, D. J., & Buttitta, D. J. (2019). Is “coming out” still relevant? Social justice implications for lgb-membered families. Journal of Family Theory and Review, (3), 354. LaSala MC. (2000). Lesbians, gay men, and their parents: Family therapy for the coming-out crisis. Family Process, 39(1), 67–81.

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