A Day in the Life of an Olive Branch Intern

Hello, my name is Marla and I am one of the undergraduate interns here at Olive Branch Counseling Associates. So far in the internship I have been able to work with children ages three to five at Acorn Child Care. Serving as a behavioral specialist, it’s a tough job when trying to communicate with little children effectively. Throughout the weeks I have been going I have definitely learned a lot. First I learned to be very patient because children do not learn the first time around. Second, be very repetitive with the children, repetition helps them remember that certain actions are not okay for them to do. It is a tough job but it is amazing once we start to see positive changes in the children’s behaviors.

I have also had the opportunity to work with Heart Connections at Little Company of Mary Hospital. Heart Connections is a grief support group for children of all ages. There, the children are divided into age appropriate groups and learn to express what they are feeling, learn that it is okay to feel sad and help them talk about the person in their family that died. I work with the 6 and 7 year olds. It is sad to see how much these kids hurt but also a great feeling that they are trying their best to express themselves. I am looking forward to the end of the program and see how far these children have come emotionally.

-Marla