My short term goal is to find a job in private practice where I can broaden my experience working with older adults, their loved ones, and their caregivers.  A good example of a practice that I would like to be a part of is Silver Linings in Cary, North Carolina.  My internship was in drug addiction, and I want to apply all the skills I obtained through school and internship to work with the elderly population.  The first thing I need to do is learn to employ my competencies with the older population.

Over the next year, I want to gain as much experience as possible working with older adults and their caregivers.  My supervisor is extremely important to me.  I want to find a patient, kind, supportive supervisor who is extremely good at his or her job.  I had wonderful supervisors at my internship, and it made a world of difference in my learning.  In the next year, I want to find the same type mentorship in my work with the elderly.

My long term goal is to establish my own counseling practice that focuses on older individuals, their loved ones, and their caregivers.  I can see doing this in about three years.  By then, I hope to feel comfortable with 1) myself as a counselor and 2) my abilities to help my chosen population.  This is a big step and will require knowledge, self-confidence, and patience.