Why we do what we do

This has been a really tough week for me at work. It's been mentally and emotionally draining. I had to make two phone calls to DCFS--one being for a kid who has been dealing with trauma his entire life and is still suffering. I saw a ton of kids for all different things. I also had several special ed meetings along with my regular job duties of seeing kids I normally see, running groups, and consulting with teachers and counselors. And today I had a meeting for my absolute favorite kid and had to say good-bye to him, as he'll be going to another school. Even though I know it's best for him because the school is smaller and he'll have more support, it actually has made me pretty upset. Because let me tell you a secret: We get attached. We care. And we care deeply. Even when we've just met a kid. There is so much hurt out there and part of our job is having empathy, and when you are constantly practicing active listening and feeling everything your clients feel, it's natural to take some of that home with you.

I wish this kid the very best. I'm worried for him--He's one I have no idea what the future holds for him. He's so capable of forming caring and trusting relationships with adults even though he has no reason to trust them. I hope this placement is the right one for him and that he gets the help he needs to get on, and stay on, the right path. They say there is always at least one student from your internship you will never forget. That's definitely this one.

This week, crazy as it has been, has made me more confident in myself as an independent practitioner, and has made me even more certain that I made the right choice in choosing this profession. We make a real difference every day. And at the end of the day, I may come home exhausted, but I come home knowing that I made at least one kid feel cared about that day. That's all any of us really want in the end. To know another person on this earth truly cares about what happens to us.