tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:32:02 +0000overseasillnessbossargumentsunemployedsuperon call casualassessmentmoviesloanbillcompetitionnaturerelationshipspollhellnew houseClientrelaxcorporateanxietyprisonpsychologyassistancejobsupervisionweight gainconversedifficultindividualcounsellorregistrationcelebrationnew carmazda2friendworktraining2008PTSDcontestnew jobtherapyprizecelebrateincompetentunderqualifiedboredomprivate practicesecuritysuccessholidaygovernmentpost tramatic stress disorderdepressionworriedTorres strait islandergenogramemploymentpaid for bloggingforensicresumeinterviewholidayssuicidepayoutconsellingpaydayunhappysickmeetingsflowersheliumsupervisonbrokenervoustourarticlespayrisescitzophreniatrusttempnecklaceinspiredlistindigenouspsychologistcounsellingoffenderebaychangenew positionNAIDOCcenterlinktemplatephotosapplicationred shoescoughingstar warscasualphone calldisabilityto-do listprocarepaidinductionchild servicesparolemurderPS2new yearjob interviewstressedlayoutrecruitmentdrivingaboriginalsistercarshoesfirst dayIQ testexhastedstressphotographymeetbillsmoving outnewspapergoalsincomeblogdepressedrelaxinghome loanlunchconflictsupervisorHECSvrsfoodspice girlssellingcashsmortyMyers-briggscareerchild safetyjob shadowwritingdiagnosisdrugshealthymoneySuddenly I find myself unemployed... but how can that be? I have a psychology degree. If only a uni degree meant instant qualification and employment. Follow my path from unemployment to success and everything in between. This is my rags to riches story!http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)Blogger142125whenigrowuphttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-3081945475938223723Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:12:00 +00002009-08-12T13:15:30.415+10:00new houseIt's been forever since my last update. We have been in our new house for 3.5 months now. There were a lot of glitches initially, including the need for our our hot water system and oven to get fixed. But now all is going well. The house is still in a state of un pack in places, but looking more and more like a real house every day.We are yet to have a house warming party to celebrate our big http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2009/08/now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-6525984409216815216Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:23:00 +00002009-04-17T12:25:00.528+10:00new houseStill waiting on our first home buyers grant to be approved and this has caused a massive delay in our settlement date. We should have had keys to our house tuesday, but at this rate, we'll be lucky to get them by monday.We need to be out of our rental by Wednesday so I'm stressed beyond words right now. We might have to start transferring our stuff to one of our parents houses until we can get http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2009/04/stressed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-2578926831861974105Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:27:00 +00002009-04-03T15:28:11.856+10:00new houseWe now have unconditional finance approved on our house. That means now it's all a matter of time. Settlement is due 14 April. Fingers crossed nothing delays it!http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2009/04/finance-approved.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-3620387716782215693Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:13:00 +00002009-04-02T08:16:59.999+10:00supervisionsupervisorpsychologistOn further exciting news, my 2 year supervision program has come to an end. My supervisor signed off on my competencies and assessments on Tuesday and the paperwork has all been submitted to the Psychologist Board to determine if I am suitable for full registration as a psychologist. Finally big things are happening! The Board sits at their next meeting on 16 April, upon which they will go http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2009/04/completed-supervision.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-2473611802857727450Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:08:00 +00002009-04-02T08:09:24.762+10:00home loannew houseLess than 2 weeks until we own our own home. Settlement date is 14 April and we move in that following weekend. Our finance has been approved so now it's waiting for that final paperwork to get signed off. It's all very exciting.Now I just have to pack!http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2009/04/less-than-2-weeks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-9029433661538709090Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:51:00 +00002009-03-27T21:55:13.601+10:00psychologistHere in Australia, we have two alternative pathways for becoming a fully registered psychologist. One is to complete a masters post graduate degree and the other is through supervision. I chose the supervision path as I wanted some practical experience after so many years at university and really could not imagine another 2 or 3 years of study at that time.The supervision program runs for a http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2009/03/full-qualifications.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-4791132999213494815Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:27:00 +00002009-03-25T08:28:53.752+10:00new houseThe house thing is coming along... slowly. Still waiting for the final stage. Finance approval. Which should be fine, but the cut off date is Friday and as yet, no answer from the bank. Our broker is chasing it up every day. It is so stressful all this waiting, however we are confident all will go fine. It's just a matter of time.I have also started packing, which is exciting but painful at the http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2009/03/waiting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-6972700157554165137Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:14:00 +00002009-02-25T19:27:08.386+10:00home loanAt the moment here in Queensland, Australia, there is a bonus government incentive for first home buyers. If you build a home, you get a bonus $21k to use towards your home loan or set up costs, or if you buy an established home, you get a bonus $14k. Not only is this a massive incentive to buy a home, but our interest rates have started to drop after being at an extreme high for a long time.So http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2009/02/investment-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-7722110356293322462Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:51:00 +00002008-08-13T22:07:39.733+10:00workillnessI have been very slack but that is largely due to the very lousy internet I have. It is one of those wireless ones that connects by USB and is supposed to be fast broadband speed etc. Yeah right! It is the slowest, must unreliable internet ever. And we're stuck with it for 24 months.However there is not much news to report at this point in time anyway. Work is much the same. Although I am http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/08/long-delay-between-blogs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-2256957866675937052Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:37:00 +00002008-06-25T07:39:55.345+10:00workjobcareerIt has been a year today since I started my job at the prison. I can't believe that it was more than 12 months ago that I was unemployed and frantically seeking work.In that year I have gained so much valuable experience in the field of psychology, learnt so much and shown my ability. I have gone from a correctional counsellor with no experience, to holding down the fort, to now being second in http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/06/time-flies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-8619128168564977783Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:27:00 +00002008-06-15T17:31:34.428+10:00trainingpayriseIt seems it has been quite some time since I posted an update... so what is new? Well nothing too drastic. I am still waiting for my new contract and payrise to come to affect. That will be next pay onwards though so finally some extra cash. I have been extremely busy and had a few health issues so a huge workload teamed with a few early finishes due to doctors appointments has left me a wee bit http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/06/slack-with-blogging.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-6700920392989020460Tue, 27 May 2008 21:22:00 +00002008-05-28T07:24:51.028+10:00offenderprisonI have been at my current job at the prison long enough now that I too am now experiencing the pattern of the revolving door. It has now reached that point where even under a year I see the same faces coming in and out. Most of them are offenders who have breached their parole conditions or failed to comply with probation orders. But then you get the ones who stay out for a couple of months then http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/05/revolving-door.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-3850122789200035645Mon, 26 May 2008 21:00:00 +00002008-05-27T07:04:29.415+10:00payrisecareerI have not yet received my updated contract at work to reflect my pay rise. I was told the contract started yesterday so it is concerning I have not yet signed it. I'm not sure if that means today's pay is higher or from next week. I would say from next week makes more sense. The thing I am happiest about is for a person still in training, there are few industries that allow you to break the 50k http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/05/still-waiting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-1660555011777472023Mon, 19 May 2008 21:15:00 +00002008-05-20T07:21:17.562+10:00payriseSince February and for the second time since I started my job, almost a year ago, I have been covering two positions at work. Most of the time this is managable, by sharing a few tasks out, but sometimes it is insanely busy. I was wondering when they would hire a new psychologist for the other role, assuming they would of course do so eventually. However yesterday I got an unexpected call from http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/05/appreciated-at-last.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-5010351013136327840Thu, 08 May 2008 01:37:00 +00002008-05-08T11:39:33.741+10:00supercounsellingMy assistant supervisor asked me to research empathy for a session in the future with the sex offender I have been working with. After completing a questionnaire on schemas, he ranked as having a very maladaptive view of empathy so by doing this it will be like real intervention for a change. I am quite excited but I will admit, also quite lazy. She told me to look it up about a week ago and I http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/05/empathy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-6404733205783130511Sun, 04 May 2008 05:37:00 +00002008-05-04T15:41:25.906+10:00workpsychologistThe past few weeks, since the new senior psychologist started, things have started to feel really good in terms of my position at work. Suddenly I am able to do more psychologist related tasks, including conducting psych tests and individual sessions with offenders. My supervision is more relevant to my work finally and it just feels like I am learning so much.I am doing my fortnightly sessions, http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/05/feeling-more-like-psychologist.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-5053090075105462895Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:04:00 +00002008-04-27T12:08:22.248+10:00offendersupervisonI had my first session of supervision with my assistant supervisor. I can already tell she is going to be a far easier person to approach with concerns and for advice when I need it. She even said herself that supervision is more than a teacher-student relationship, and I can come to her with general stressors also like a counsellor. That is something I could not imagine doing with my other http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/04/supervision.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-4299931597694955123Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:16:00 +00002008-04-22T22:19:24.222+10:00boredomCan you believe that even though my workload has not decreased in the slightest and we are still short staffed, suddenly I am back to being too far ahead of my work and ending up with big gaps with nothing to do. It is crazy. Is there not a job to keep me busy for a full 7.5 hours a day every day. I finally thought I'd found the position to do just that but no, boredom has struck again. Not in http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/04/bored-bored-bored.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-5552360678065523297Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:14:00 +00002008-04-11T07:19:27.386+10:00assessmentvrsYesterday I got to complete my fourth VRS assessment. That is good because I am getting a lot of experience in it. The training is important as there are only 3 people in our centre who are able to conduct the assessment and one of those has to verify the work of myself and the other person able to conduct it.The assessment is recommended to any offender with a history of repeated violence and ithttp://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/04/violence-risk-scale-assessment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-1894706928033664253Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:24:00 +00002008-04-08T07:28:44.897+10:00supervisionWe now have a fully qualified psychologist to provide supervision on site at work. This is a first since I have worked there. While I could cancel my former supervision agreement entirely and save a lot of money, I am quite a few hours behind where I would like to be at this stage, so I have decided to take the supervisor at work on as an assistant supervisor.I will have my first session with herhttp://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/04/assistant-supervisor.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-3679965487243281692Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:53:00 +00002008-04-02T22:01:47.236+10:00murderoffenderprisonWhenever I tell someone I work in a prison, their reaction is usually either 'Whoa that is really cool' or 'How can you do that?'. Either way it is extreme but I think I have adjusted to the whole thing quite well. Yeah it is a great conversation starter, but I rarely just think OMG about much that I hear, and yes I do hear some extreme things.However, every so often something happens that does http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/04/omg-moment-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-2792393266717735656Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:14:00 +00002008-04-01T07:16:02.518+10:00jobI tried to make that phone call yesterday but it either rang out or was engaged and I was too busy to keep trying. I sent the person an email to say I tried. Another day without having to make a decision. Today will probably be the day now.http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/04/still-no-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-5149782957772343150Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:54:00 +00002008-03-30T10:59:03.347+10:00trainingnew jobOn Friday afternoon, the general manager of my work called me to discuss the training I applied for. He heard I was leaving and had no plan to give me training if I would not be sticking around. I told him I had not been given an offer and had decided I would rather stay at my current work anyway. He told me he would approve and cover costs of this training if I agreed to sign a contract stating http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/03/monday-decision-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-5238064036118278784Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:11:00 +00002008-03-27T07:16:34.395+10:00worktrainingI found a flyer at work on a training seminar for two days learning about managing and assessing at risk Indigenous people. As an Australian prison, we have about 20% Indigenous community and their risk is significantly higher than other offenders. Due to their spirituality, they are also often misdiagnosed with mental illness.The training sounds ideal for that part of my job and our Indigenous http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/03/training.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265177514169609317.post-1128835685846248343Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:13:00 +00002008-03-25T07:17:29.305+10:00workThere is nothing worse than returning to work after a long weekend. It just makes it that little bit harder than a typical return after the weekend. How I wish the Easter weekend was actually an Easter week!http://psychmumble.blogspot.com/2008/03/tuesdayitis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Harmony Sweetpea)2