Jake Byma
Seasons Center for Behavioral Health
2/2-2/6
Hours Worked: 9
1. Work-This week brought much of the same as the previous week. I was supposed to do an IQ test observation, but we had a cancellation. Instead we met to grade tests that were given the last week. Even though I haven't been doing the grading for that long it has come pretty easily to me. Most of what I do is just simple addition in my head and then looking up charts and appendixes to find what those numbers mean. I am starting to learn just a little bit about what the impact of those numbers on a person's counseling profile. For example, a certain number on one test is a very good sign of inattention and when coupled with other factors can help diagnose ADHD. I have also learned this week about packing files for the company. Now, Trevor can tell me, "We are testing a 15 year old male next week with a full battery," and I know every test I need to pack into the file for them. The most important thing I have learned is what exactly we test for certain situations and how to find those tests in our filing system.
2. Evaluation-So far I am still enjoying everything. It is all new and keeps me interested and engaged. It can be tough because I really want to do some test observation but can do that shortly. It also can be kind of slow around the office. Tuesdays and Fridays (if we need to meet those days) are just Trevor and I. It can be kind of quiet because we both need silence to think and add up the data for tests. I don't know if I'd like his set-up where he works all by himself on Tuesdays. It might drive me crazy. But I really do like learning about all the tests and the ins and outs of them.
3. I really haven't found many problems. The only thing is just remembering in certain test batteries the age is a huge deal because that changes if we include certain tests or not. But I make sure to ask Trevor about that and double check when packing files. And remembering every sheet needs client initials.
4. Topics to discuss-If anyone has felt like this experience reinforces what you want to do career-wise or makes you second guess anything?
Monday, February 9, 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
Entry 1
Name: Jake Byma
Organization: Seasons Center for Behavioral Health
Week: 1/26-30
Hours: 6
Work Description: My field experience so far has been a bit delayed for a few reasons-waiting on the background check to pass, my supervisor getting jury duty. Right now I am very early on in the process. I went in on Monday to do some observation hours. Seasons does a lot of intelligence testing through various tests, mainly for average to below average functioning people. For me Mondays are primarily going to be observation days. I am supposed to sit in on the testing while Trevor Wolterstorff conducts the tests. He even mentioned how after some time they may let me give a few of the easier tests. Unfortunately, during the day they had some no-shows and moved people up. By the time I got there they were already done testing. Instead Trevor and I started to walk through the ins and outs of the WISC and WAIS tests and how to score them. We scored a couple of them together very slowly to make sure I understood everything. Friday I came in for some more hours and we did a lot of the same things. He went over the previous tests and I scored a few by myself and learned all of what the scoring means. He also introduced a few new tests and we learned how to score those together and eventually I scored one by myself. The most important learning opportunity was being able to sit down with someone who had to go through the same process of learning and explain everything to me in a clear, concise manner.
Evaluation of Experience: Right now this is all very new and exciting. I took psychometrics last year and learned about these tests. It is cool now to use them in a hands-on way. I get nervous at times because I don't want to mess up my addition while scoring these tests. They don't double check my math so as not to insult my intelligence. But one error could be a costly mistake when thinking about insurance difficulties they have to deal with. I try to be very cautious when scoring. I also have the feeling that later in the semester things could start to get repetitive and redundant when scoring the same tests over and over again. For now, however, I am enjoying myself and trying to learn as much as I can.
Problems/Difficulties: I mentioned it above but one problem is the importance of each error. To my knowledge I have not made any yet (I hope). It can be a bit stressful at times knowing that my math mistakes could have big ramifications.
Questions/Topics to Discuss: I guess my only questions would be what everyone else is doing? I am not in the loop on where everyone else is and want to know.
Organization: Seasons Center for Behavioral Health
Week: 1/26-30
Hours: 6
Work Description: My field experience so far has been a bit delayed for a few reasons-waiting on the background check to pass, my supervisor getting jury duty. Right now I am very early on in the process. I went in on Monday to do some observation hours. Seasons does a lot of intelligence testing through various tests, mainly for average to below average functioning people. For me Mondays are primarily going to be observation days. I am supposed to sit in on the testing while Trevor Wolterstorff conducts the tests. He even mentioned how after some time they may let me give a few of the easier tests. Unfortunately, during the day they had some no-shows and moved people up. By the time I got there they were already done testing. Instead Trevor and I started to walk through the ins and outs of the WISC and WAIS tests and how to score them. We scored a couple of them together very slowly to make sure I understood everything. Friday I came in for some more hours and we did a lot of the same things. He went over the previous tests and I scored a few by myself and learned all of what the scoring means. He also introduced a few new tests and we learned how to score those together and eventually I scored one by myself. The most important learning opportunity was being able to sit down with someone who had to go through the same process of learning and explain everything to me in a clear, concise manner.
Evaluation of Experience: Right now this is all very new and exciting. I took psychometrics last year and learned about these tests. It is cool now to use them in a hands-on way. I get nervous at times because I don't want to mess up my addition while scoring these tests. They don't double check my math so as not to insult my intelligence. But one error could be a costly mistake when thinking about insurance difficulties they have to deal with. I try to be very cautious when scoring. I also have the feeling that later in the semester things could start to get repetitive and redundant when scoring the same tests over and over again. For now, however, I am enjoying myself and trying to learn as much as I can.
Problems/Difficulties: I mentioned it above but one problem is the importance of each error. To my knowledge I have not made any yet (I hope). It can be a bit stressful at times knowing that my math mistakes could have big ramifications.
Questions/Topics to Discuss: I guess my only questions would be what everyone else is doing? I am not in the loop on where everyone else is and want to know.
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