Drew Rogers, a member of our Creative Jedi, caught up with Tess Pollard from our Behaviour Support team…
What led you to study psychology?
Well, 1) I wanted to better understand mine and others’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
And 2) I could not find anything more fulfilling in life than helping others (although of late gardening is a close second!!). Psychology provides me with some of the tools to support me to do both of these things.
What does completing your provisional psychology registration look like while working with Jeder as a Behaviour Support Practitioner?
It looks exciting, busy, and extremely fulfilling.
I’m so grateful to Jeder Institute for providing a working environment that allows flexibility, autonomy and understanding while I’m off at lectures, in class, working on assignments or on placement three days a week. I am also incredibly thankful to the participants and families I currently support. I haven’t been able to give as much as I usually would like to, but I’m excited to shift my focus back fully on my Jeder work at the completion of my placement in December.
What are the challenges?
I having difficulty managing the expectations I place on myself – feeling like I have to bring all the answers and solve all the presenting problems for either clients receiving behaviour or psychological support services. When in fact, this is not the reality. Rather a psychologist is just one resource or guide for those who are seeking to improve their wellbeing. Other challenges in this line of work include listening with total empathy, and unconditional positive regard, as this can lead to vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. But as challenging as this may be, the joy, honour, and wisdom I get to experience in this field makes it all so worthwhile.
How will your psychological studies influence your behaviour support work at Jeder?
Being a provisional psychologist, I’m finding that my behaviour support work is incorporating an emphasis on different therapeutic modalities to help reduce or replace risk behaviours. Where barriers existed for years with certain clients I support, I am finding by using certain psychological lens, such as Internal Family Systems, the individual is able to understand and overcome those barriers to successful behavioural intervention. I believe behaviour support and psychology are so intertwine, and I’m excited to continue learning, incorporating and improving the two similar professional practices for the benefit of those I currently support and those I may have the pleasure of working with in the future.
