leading a support group= clinical experience?

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shehak20000

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Hi everyone!

So i've done job shadowing....4 hours a week with a PM&R doctor

I've done volunteering....at a children's development center....it was a special education "school" but these kids were the kids that were too low functioning for the special ed department's at the local public school so they were sent here....more along the lines of a "day group home." I loved every minute of it, and it's hte reason i want to do PM&R.

So here's the thing...theres this option to lead a support group for kids. I've pasted the info about it below:

"One of the primary services provided by Ele’s Place is our peer support group program for children and their families who are grieving the death of a family member or close friend. The men and women who volunteer as facilitators with this program work in teams with one of the children’s bereavement support groups. These groups are organized according to the child’s school and/or developmental level, and serve children ages 3 - 18.

All Ele’s Place support group facilitators are required to complete our 18-hour training program, which provides a framework for grief and loss, reviews the developmental stages of children, stresses the importance of empathic listening, and provides instruction regarding how to be an effective facilitator. This training program is generally offered twice each year; more information about the next training program will be provided to candidates who submit a volunteer application and indicate that they are interested in becoming a facilitator with the bereavement support group program. Facilitators are also expected to attend additional in-services as presented."
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So do you guys think that becoming one of these facilitators counts as clinical experience?

thanks!
 
Honestly, I am going to say probably not. Clinical experience to me means anything that can give you insight into the life of a doctor. Going on rounds, shadowing, something of that nature. But it sounds like you've gotten some great volunteer/leadership experience!!😉
 
screw the definitions of what is or isn't. When you go to apply, you have to be able to say that you know what being a doctor is like, and you're sure that its what you want to devote your life to. Until you feel comfortable saying that, you need more "clinical experience". If this experience is helping you experience what medicine is, then it definitely counts.
 
This job description sounds like something related to clinical psychology, clinical social work or psychiatry. In that psychiatry is a clinical specialty, I'd say that you are getting a clinical experience that "counts".

You can also tie in your interest in PM&R with psychiatry as issues of grief and loss are also a big part of helping injured patients deal with newly acquired disabilities.
 
After taking a handful of clinical-based med school classes, I am convinced that talking to your friend on the phone could, theoretically, qualify as a clinical experience.




I'm not even joking.


(really, I'm not)
 
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