Sorry as always for the long delay since posting last, but I completed my practicum and graduated (diploma came in mail with my official final transcript yesterday!) on August 4th with straight As. I earned the bragging rights 😉
My pre-practicum and practicum were at WWR in Canyon Lake, Texas and everyone I worked with was amazing, helped me learn all areas of treatment from intake assessment to discharge as well as the different treatment types and offered me a part time position after I get my license as an LCDC (Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor). I am especially grateful to Kira, Brian and Casey as well as Deanna, Desaray and Johanna. Debbie makes the place keep running. These people have the right idea. State-of-the-art modalities in a beautiful setting with staff who are top at what they do, but most importantly, genuinely care about their clients and want to help them with their underlying issues. It was an unbelievable experience and I thank them all.
So now what? I am studying for the licensing exam. I purchased the Study Guides and sample exams for the licensing exam for LCDC in Texas and plan to schedule an appointment to take it in person as soon as I am prepared. I don’t want to wait too long to take it either because I don’t want to forget the practicum experience in each of the 12 core functions plus I am anxious to return to work and get paid too.
My dad is after me so much to get my doctorate that I just promised him I would, so I guess that’s going on my long term goals list! More importantly is that I get to see him before getting quarantined again. I worry and regret that I am not spending enough time with him and his age and health problems are like a ticking 🕰 clock to me. I have decided that attending my graduation ceremony may need reconsideration because of the spiking numbers of people who are getting sick and hospitalized.
Please get vaccinated. My position on this is clear. If the evidence shows that those who get vaccinated may get a variant of COVID but milder symptoms, then it’s probably worth getting it.
I just returned from a 2-week vacation to see my son and my partners son who both by strange coincidence live in Wisconsin, mine in school at UW Madison finishing his doctorate in Medical Physics and my partner’s son is a tenured professor of philosophy at UW Oshkosh.
When we finally got home, I was feeling poorly and my partner went to get COVID-19 tested at the local pharmacy, but had to make an appointment, so instead he bought 2 different kinds of home test kits. I took the first one and it turned out positive so he took the second one and it turned out negative. I texted my doc and he told me to come get tested at his office the next Monday. The rapid test was negative and he wanted to be sure so he had me take the antibodies test which came back negative yesterday. Whew! Dodged a bullet!
So what did I have? Some stomach bug with a sore throat probably from the hotels and air conditioning…I guess….
Back to work! I plan to schedule my test today if possible and get on studying. I need to discuss my graduation ceremony issues with my partner and my best friend I was planning to visit with while in Phoenix.
If you read all my blogs you know my daughter was Director of Athletic Training at Northern Arizona University for over a decade. She finally moved on to a much better job where I believe the staff and management will appreciate her skills. She is now a supervisor for one of the largest practices in orthopedic surgery and medicine in Arizona and I am so proud of her as well as impressed and inspired by her (more bragging 😉).
My daughter grew up to be the woman I always wanted to be. My son, continues to inspire me and the whole family to complete their education (dad will be grateful). He will complete his PhD, then go on to complete a residency just like an MD, but will work in the nuclear side of medicine (his father, grandparents and other family angels smiling down from heaven). He works harder than any man I know…and continues to amaze me.
I am motivated by my kids to keep dreaming and going after my dreams: go become a licensed addiction counselor and therapist. Until next time, peace, love, good health and blessings to all….
NMRecoveryHOPE 