As a requirement in the course Psychology 117, we are asked to have an off-campus practicum in two different setting: Clinical and Industrial Setting. We are required to complete a 200-hour practicum in Clinical and 100-hour practicum in Industrial. Yet, in my “very special” case, I was only asked to complete my practicum in Clinical Setting as a kind of consideration.
It was on November 10, 2009 when I first landed my feet in a mental institution in Mandaluyong, the National Center for Mental Health. This was the day when I and my fellow student Diamitsu were still accomplishing the papers needed before the practicum proper, while our other ten fellow students were already having their orientation. We were kind of late because of the changes we encountered in the first institution we applied at. Yet, when we have accomplished all the things needed for admission, we were then sent to someone and said that we will be under her, meaning that she will likewise be our clinical instructor. We were not introduced to the person that well because it was already the end of office hours and people were busy preparing to leave. Because of that, we were asked to go back the next day. But still we were provided of one kit per student, which is included in the admission fee, which then contains several psychological tests and interpretations that will surely be useful in the clinical setting.
The next day, November 11, 2009, was the official day that we started as interns in National Center for Mental Health. We were escorted to the department we were assigned which is the Women and Child Protection Unit where Miss Jenny Ebio will be our clinical instructor. She was a woman in her early thirties having long hair and who seems to be approachable. First, she familiarized us with the place and told us some background about what the department does for the society. And as the name implies, it was something intended for the protection of women and child. According to her, the very common case of the client that was referred there is being physically or sexually abused. I became was shocked with what I heard because for me those kind of cases were very sensitive.
Miss Jen also introduced us the psychological test we are about to administer to every client. The tests include Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale and Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children, Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test, Draw A Person Test and Sach’s Sentence Completion Test. She reviewed the proper ways of administering the test as well as the guidelines in asking questions for the interview proper. She even discussed the protocol that we are ought to submit before we could get our grade and evaluation.
Later that day, a client came and of course she was apt to take the psychological tests before the formal interview with the psychiatrist. We were called by our instructor and lead us in the testing room, as well as the client. She looks okay and seems finally aware of the tests she was about to take. She was also responsive that is why we haven’t had a hard time in the course of the administration of the test. She took the entire test for about four hours and through the interview we have found out that she was physically abused by someone. Yet, the client’s tests results show that she is still functioning well despite the traumatic experience she had. That one client is a good encounter for us. We felt some kind of confidence that we passed through that one case.
Day after day clients come and go. Some only for follow-up check-up which means that they don’t need the psychological tests anymore and some with the most serious cases that we were not allowed handling them. Yet there were days when the unit have no client at all and all we could do in the place is clean, sort papers, talk and take a nap.
Yet, during Christmas season, our clinical instructor required us to prepare one simple party for the selected patients. She said throwing a party was done yearly by the interns assigned there. So we did the same thing. We conducted the said party on December 11, 2009. Approximately twenty patients attended and enjoyed the program we prepared for them. We had parlor games and of course a simplified eating session.
Our instructor required us to pass three protocols before she gave us our deserving grades. That means we have to interview at least three patients and made a good psychological report about them. My second patient was a teenage girl who is very timid and rarely had eye contact while communicating. She kept her head down even when she walk or talk, which for me is a sign of her low self-esteem. In the process of the administration of the test and in-take interview, I have known that the patient is sexually abused by their neighbour who used to be a friend of her father. According to her father, they were filing a case against that man that is why they are asking for assistance in the said institution.
I was astounded of my third patient. She was six months pregnant when she came in the unit. She was almost the same as my second patient in terms of her way of communicating. She rarely had an eye contact and has a poor comprehension skill. As the interview progressed, I have known that she was raped by a neighbour who used to ask a favour to come to his house and help him wash the dishes. And unfortunately, that is where the traumatic incident happened and it even caused her pregnancy.
I also encountered several patients that I have not included in my protocol. It was enough for me to know their story and the reason behind why they are referred to the institution. They were of different cases and sadly, most of them were sexually and physically abused. Some were under aged, some were middle aged and some were adults. Each had a story to tell and surely each had a very traumatic experience that affected their whole life.
I enjoyed my stay in that institution. I have learned a lot of things that is very appropriate for my course. I believe I have encountered the right people to that showed what being disturbed or mentally retarded really meant. For me it was a good exposure to those kinds of people...and it was surely a moment to remember as long as I live.
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