Professional Skills 2:
Self As Agent of Change

This is the second of 6 Professional Skills seminars.

This training focuses on the ways you impact our clients and they impact you. Explore:
Why are you in the field? 
What have been the important influences from your families? 
When you “lose it” what does that look like? 
What pushes your buttons? 
What are your interests/talents/strengths? 
What situations/behaviors are you most afraid of/uncomfortable with?

We are all “human”.  This is hard work; often our responses need to be counter-intuitive. This is a constant struggle. Those who wrestle with it and allow their supervisors and colleagues to help them with on-going self-awareness and how it is manifested, will grow in this field.


Instructor Pamela Parkinson, PhD, LCSW, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a licensed clinical social worker with over 26 years in the field of providing services to children and families. Dr. Parkinson been trained in two disciplines (psychology and social work) and has worked as a residential counselor, a teaching assistant for special education, and a recreation specialist in residential treatment. Additionally, she has worked in the full continuum of services from residential and non-public school to community-based services such as outpatient clinics, school-based programs, diversion, kinship, etc.