Bon Voyage Belfast!

One of the messages Phillip keeps giving us is that we can’t just earn our degrees and hang out diplomas on the wall.   Engagement with the communities we work with is the only way to earn their trust.  And without this sense of trust, we have no hope of being effective clinicians.  His advice is one of the most profound lessons I will take with me from this trip.  It is intimidating to step outside your comfort zone and engage with people that are different than you.  But what I have learned here is that when I take that leap, the rewards are priceless.  By opening myself up to people, and simply listening to their experiences I have been able to learn more about trauma and conflict than I could from any book.  What Phillip didn’t add is that by reaching out to a community and working to gain their trust we can also learn about their ethos and how they make meaning in the world.  I am hopeful that I will be able to carry this message with me as I work to become a compassionate and competent clinician.  I would like to thank Dr.s Galezewski and Ideran, my colleagues and PIPs for their encouragement and support throughout this process. It is has been an unforgettable experience I will remember the rest of my life. Bon voyage!