Education and learning

“Wisdom…. comes not from age, but from education and learning.”   Anton Chekhov

This week we are discussing education, and this comes in a number of ways. 

As a social worker, each year – we need to undertake continuing professional development, and this is over a number of different aspects.  Clinical supervision helps us to discuss our workload and clients and may highlight areas that we may need further training and development in.

Education for me, can either be formal or informal.  Formal is courses, workshops and/or conferences.  Informal can be reading a book or journal article or a conversation – both are valuable and provide learning opportunities.

Over the years, I have completed a number of educational endeavours – ranging from a diploma, graduate certificate, bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees.  Each has had advantages and moments of terror.  It takes me a while to learn a subject and, in the beginning, it was like learning a new language.  After graduating, I have also spent some time getting some training in therapies, ranging from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Family Therapy, Sensorimotor, Emotional Freedom Techniques, and more recently – Sand Tray Therapy.  These are all beneficial to the clients that I work with, as we all have preferred styles.

For those who I supervise, I also engage in ongoing supervision training to ensure that this is also up to speed.

Having paid off my Higher Education debt only in the past year, I would hate to add up all that I have spent on my education and learning over the past twenty years.  The fifteen years of social work practice and the five years prior to this, attending university obtaining the initial degree.  Some things are best not knowing!

I also look at the Sand Room and the collection of symbols which is required to allow the client to have a great choice and hopefully find the symbol that they need for their sand world.  Unfortunately, this investment will be easier to locate, however, I choose to avoid that task.  Denial can be a wonderful tool at times!

Learning can also be recreational; I utilise mosaics as part of my self-care plan which assists me in turning off from work.