05/02/2024
The Burden We Have Been Trained To Carry.
As a trained counseling psychologist, one of our professional competence is the ability to repress whatever that we are going through, and to attend to the need of our client(s), this is not what anybody can do, and that’s why we always say that counseling is beyond advice given, it’s emphatic in nature.
Last week Friday, I wanted to cancel my weekly show on Ibadan Radio, The Counsel with ‘Kayode Ajani, I had returned from Abeokuta on Thursday, I was tired and had a lot of things running through my head, still, I had to put the interest of my listeners first.
Most times, we forget that encourager also need encouragement, instead we see some people as if they don’t even have needs, most times, we see them as a complete or perfect human, and this has drive a lot of young people to early grave.
The last few weeks has been tough for me, just like every other Nigerians out there, trying to navigate through life, the only thing that has keep us going is HOPE, and we have become a preacher of HOPE while putting in the efforts.
In the past few days while in my down moment, I still put on a smiling face to the camera, just to make every moment count.
During the down moment, I received a couple of Guidance request, and this is where the saying that Counseling is not what anybody can do.
You know when you have to listen to people’s story, and provide therapy or alternative where necessary, and you yourself might be passing through similar phase, and after the session, you remember yours, pick up tissue paper, wipe your tears and say to yourself that this phase will definitely pass.
Similarly, someone booked a session with me some days ago, well, I still provide most of my Counseling session for free for now. He even wanted to hijack me, because I was the one that called to check on him, (that’s one of the capacity that we must build) even in my down moments, I still call people to check on them. I called and he was like, he has wanted to call me too, and have a discussion on certain things, immediately, I told him to let’s connect back on so so so date, the date came, and I wasn’t feeling like connecting the call again, immediately, I say to myself, this is the burden we have been trained to carry. So, I placed a call through to him and the session happened.
Most times, people just need who they can confined in, vulnerable with, and discuss whatever that’s doing them, after which they have a free mind and become healthy, still it’s not what anybody can do.
Lastly, one of my lecturers in OAU called me on Saturday, the call was timely and therapeutic, he said he just watched one of my videos on Facebook, that I should keep it up, and we also had some other discussion.
This lecturer has been consistent with checking up on some of us, and as I told him, it’s the joy of a teacher to see his student(s) excel and put into use what he taught them.
This week, I want to encourage someone out there, don’t be discouraged with your current situation, keep showing up, keep doing that thing you love doing even if it’s not paying as it should, believe in the process, and at the end, you will win.
Kayode Ajani is a Writer, Public Educator/Political Analyst, Community Developer, Counselling Psychologist & Media & Communication specialist.
[email protected]
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