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Micro-Assignment CRSJ – Part 2
Name
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University
PSYC 6104 – A Biopsychosocial Approach to Counselling
Micro-Assignment CRSJ – Part 2
I returned for a second counselling session and the counsellor asked how I had been
feeling and if anything had changed. I told them I had been making some small changes and was
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feeling encouraged. I wanted to further discuss the problems I have been facing at work and
explained that many of my colleagues have not had a problem adjusting to the schedule and
don’t understand why I am struggling. I feel they are critical of me when I ask for help or
support, and that I am falling short of their standards. I was overwhelmed at work the other day
and went to my administrator’s office to discuss how I’ve been struggling, and I broke down in
tears. He was uncomfortable and suggested I was being unprofessional and that I shouldn’t let
anyone see me crying.
I went to a family dinner over the weekend and was discussing my difficulties with my
family. My father is an immigrant from Germany, and he has always valued hard work. He thinks
I just need to work harder, and that working hard is the most important thing. He doesn’t
understand that I feel like I’m working as hard as I can. He told me that he thinks teachers have
an easy job because we get holidays and the summer off. He told me he heard on the news that
teachers are negotiating to get a pay raise and that it’s not fair to taxpayers to expect the
government to give us more when we already get so many benefits. He told me I should just be
grateful for having such a good job.
My mother is upset that I don’t have as much time to answer her calls as I used to. We
used to chat on the phone all the time, but when I explain to her that I’m too busy with now, she
says she doesn’t understand how I don’t have time for my own mother which makes me feel
guilty and like a bad daughter. I feel like nobody understands my experience, and so there must
be something wrong with me.
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Discussion of Social Factors
The counsellor explained that it was okay that my feelings didn’t align with colleagues.
Every person has different values that shape their worldview, and it is expected that individuals
respond to experiences differently. They reassured me that all values and beliefs are valid
(Shebib, 2022). They suggested that before I engage with a colleague, I reflect on how past
interactions made me feel. If it is worse, I should consider setting a boundary for myself and not
engage with them. Rather, I should prioritize interactions that make me feel better, or search for
online groups with teachers who are more like-minded as this will benefit my mental and
emotional health (Nash, 2023).
The counsellor continued the discussion of boundaries regarding my mother. They
suggested that I take some time to reassure her that our relationship is important to me, and that
my unavailability to answer all her calls does not reflect my love for her. They suggested I plan a
phone call once a week and communicate clearly that I am not always available. They said I
should not feel guilty about setting this boundary with my mother, as it will prevent me from
becoming resentful, and that it is important for me to prioritize my own well being (Nash, 2023).
We then discussed the interaction with my male administrator, and how his response
should not cause me to feel ashamed or wrong. Societal norms often discourage men from
expressing emotions, and my administrator’s reaction reflected his cultural upbringing (SlayWesbrook, 2017). We discussed that gender stereotypes are internalized at an early age and how
this can shape personal biases and worldview (Dunham, 2017). They explained that expressing
emotions may make communication difficult in this context, and that an awareness cultural
differences between us may make it easier for me to communicate effectively (Shebib, 2022).
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Discussion of Cultural Factors
The counsellor then discussed my how my father may have been shaped by his
experience as an immigrant, and how his cultural influences differed from mine (Collins, 2018).
They emphasized how these influences shaped our individual worldviews, and this may impact
his capacity to recognize and value the work I do as a teacher (Shebib, 2022). The counsellor
suggested that simply accepting my father’s worldview as different from mine may ease the
pressure I feel in our relationship (Slay-Westbrook, 2017). They suggested that I try to respect
his views but recognize that there is no “correct” set of values (Shebib, 2022), and suggested I
try to view our differences with empathy and compassion, regardless of his attitude toward my
work (Slay-Westbrook, 2017).
The counselor then acknowledged the perspective that teachers were being greedy and
informed me they had done some research on the issue and assured me that many people
disagree (Collins, 2018). They encouraged me to share my perspective as they valued my insight
as a teacher (Shebib, 2022). I appreciated their objective position on the issue and felt
comfortable digging deeper into my feelings. I explained that what really bothered me was the
impact on the students. I became a teacher because I wanted to help young people, and the
current school climate impacted my ability to succeed in this.
The counsellor discussed the broader cultural and social implications of the underfunding
of schools and the impact on students. They encouraged me to reflect on how I could advocate
for positive change for my students, colleagues, and myself. The discussion helped me realize the
struggles I face are justified, and a reflection the dysfunctional system more than my capacity as
a teacher.
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References
Collins, S. (Ed). (2018). Embracing cultural responsivity and social justice: Re-shaping
professional identity in counselling psychology. Counselling Concepts.
Dunham, C. (2017). Third generation discrimination: The ripple effects of gender bias in the
workplace. Akron Law Review, 51(1), 55–98.
Mobasseri, S. (2018). Emotions at work: Norms of emotional expression and gender dynamics in
workplace communication. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sq537pr
Nash, J. (2023, April 19). How to set healthy boundaries & build positive relationships.
PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/great-self-care-setting-healthyboundaries/
Shebib, B. (2022). Choices, interviewing and counselling skills for Canadians (8th ed.). Pearson.
Slay-Westbrook, S. (2017). Respect-focused therapy: Honoring clients through the therapeutic
relationship and process. Routledge.