A clinical counselling experience at Catholic Family Services Saskatoon

Abstract

This practicum report is a reflective review of my clinical placement as a University of Regina MSW graduate student at Catholic Family Services (CFS) Saskatoon. The objectives of the clinical placement were to conduct a literature review of issues related to rapport-building in a counselling setting with criminal offenders; participate in direct practice in the form of clinical therapy and group facilitation; and to develop individual therapy techniques and assessment and intervention skills with a focus on court-mandated clients. The development of specific learning goals bridged with identified objectives guided my learning experience. The report is divided into two separate sections. Section 1 is a literature review on counselling court-mandated criminal offenders in the community. Section 2 discusses my personal reflections, as well as the CFS counsellor values, ideologies, theories, and strategies guiding therapy with clients. Section 2 also examines CFS counsellors’ perspectives on the relationship-building process with court- mandated clients. This section also offers insight and recommendations for future social work practice.