Book of D: What About My Career

Often times, I get asked how I like my job. I usually answer in some exclamatory fashion: "I love my job!" I don't get asked too often what my job entails. My family just knows that I am a coordinator of health and wellness promotion. Usually they say I work helping students with mental health issues. LOL. That's kind of true, but it's not all I do. My colleagues are also perplexed by what my career at the U covers. They just know that I am the "favorite employee" of our Associate Vice President for Student Services (AVPSS). I'm not sure how I really feel about that because our AVPSS usually doesn't hide the fact that I am his favorite, and it makes me feel awkward, and I just don't like having that kind of attention - especially the kind of attention that could mar how my job performance is viewed by those whom we should talk about (Harry Potter)😏. My colleagues have on occasion had me reach out to our AVPSS because I'm his favorite, but honestly, I don't buy it. And, I do not refrain from telling my cohorts that "most of the time, it doesn't feel like I'm his favorite." That's the pure and simple truth.

First and foremost, my current job title at the U necessitates that I have a master's degree. I was granted the opportunity to do the job back when I started the clinical mental health counseling grad program, so I am glad that obtaining a master's degree is checked off. Now I can focus on what I was brought over to Student Affairs (moreover the Dean of Students) from Student Success to do. 

I facilitate four major programs: BASICS / CASICS, Tobacco Use Cessation, Bystander Intervention, and Students in Recovery. The last one is my absolute favorite. As a person in recovery, I fully appreciate university-sponsored programs that support students trying to overcome any setbacks. Our University's mission statement is: The Center for Students in Recovery provides a supportive community where students in recovery and in hope of recovery can achieve academic success while enjoying a genuine college  experience free from alcohol and other drugs. 

Our AVPSS made it possible for me (and a couple of other staff members and student workers) to get SMART Recovery trained last year. I am proud to be an official SMART Recovery facilitator. The program itself is an evidence-based program, and it has helped thousands of people in need of recovery support by way of the SMART Recovery Four Points (not steps). The program refrains from being religious or a 12-step type of treatment program, which makes it better for those who are not religious or just want their first amendment rights (freedom from religion) to be observed. It makes it nice for facilitators like myself who are more spiritual. The main keys to SMART Recovery include non-confrontational communication strategies, the implementation of healthy boundaries, and the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), and motivational enhancement therapy (MET). My favorite is REBT by Robert Ellis. This was my go-to form of therapy with my counseling clients. I am certain I will keep using it a lot throughout the Recovery project. 

As for BASICS & CASICS, the respective acronyms mean Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students & Cannabis Screening and Intervention for College Students. BASICS is a harm-reduction intervention for college students. For example, UTPB students who have an alcohol violation on or off campus, or an alcohol-related visit to the emergency department at the University-approved medical center are required by the University to complete the BASICS program administered by Health Promotion and Wellness. Students who do not have a violation but who are interested in learning more about alcohol are also encouraged to use the confidential service free of charge. CASICS is is a program designed to assist students in examining their cannabis other drug-use behavior in a judgment-free environment. This is not an abstinence-only program.

Tobacco Use Cessation helps students, faculty, and staff decrease their tobacco habits to eventually stop smoking altogether. Our campus is 100% smoke-free campus (it is illegal to smoke in the parking lot).

As for Bystander Intervention, per our University's mission statement, ". . . is recognizing a potentially harmful situation or interaction and choosing to respond in a way that could positively influence the outcome." This program is also important to me as a survivor of domestic abuse and violence. We partner with the local agencies that provide aid, support, and resources to people in dangerous situations. We collaborate with the agencies to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). I also create and facilitate University Bystander Intervention presentations to new students, transfer students, student organizations, athletics, resident advisors, staff, and faculty through guidance and awareness of how to prevent and de-escalate potentially violent incidents through the willingness to take action and help someone in time of need because, often, domestic and sexual violence is preventable.