 |
Hi everybody;
My name is Riki Smith and I am a substance-abuse counselor and CASAC-T. I graduated from The Resource Training Center in May of 2008. I walked in those doors bright eyed and full of questions, i.e: would I be a good counselor?, did I have what it takes?, and so on and so on. What I found out from Ms. Dee is that you can give facts, history, demographics, populations, pharmacology, etc; but you can't teach counseling. It's a lifelong journey to learn to BE a counselor. TRTC held a job fair and one of the prospective employers hired me for my internship. It was the St. Vincent's MICA clinic in brooklyn. After 5mos there, I was hired permanently at the YMCA Counseling Svc in my old neighborhood, where I grew up. I was hired as an Intake Counselor part-time while I go to school full-time in the evenings for Mental Health Counseling. The Y also sent me back to school on a scholarship for my Family Development Credential given through Cornell University and I accomplished that goal. I am hoping to be able to get my LMHC and my CASAC, so I can open my own agency. I never would have made it here without TRTC. With Community Health Action being first and VESID being second, the TRTC is the third in a long line of people and organizations helping me to fulfill my dream and realize my life's work. I am forever grateful and always available if ever needed to help the next one behind me at my alma mater. Thank you so much TRTC, especially the Donna's. I will keep you all in my prayers and stay in touch.
|
