Interview ?s Flashcards
Why do you want to do your 2nd year placement with GMHC?
Population
Therapy/modalities
Supervision- importance of good supervision
Opportunity to learn
What scares you about social work?
What has scared me about social work are what’s at stake for clients, that people are in some ways trusting us with their lives and their truths - and what we bring into those dialogues, how we respond can have a lasting impact on a person. Being a social worker means being very aware of ourselves and how we interact and what’s going on for us in any client-worker relationship. As I’ve grown and learned more about myself as a social worker I’ve become less afraid of myself because I’ve learned my own biases.
You have a suicidal client, what would you do?
Thank the client for having the strength to talk to me about something vulnerable
Suicidal risk assessment- plan, means, timeline, as well as past suicidal behavior and frequency of ideations
Discuss with supervisor, share my judgment, and determine if emergency services are necessary
I also would want to know what issues are contributing to their suicidality and make sure to address these issues with the client going forward
Also interested in learning more about the CASE Approach (Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events) - listened to an episode about it on the Social Work Podcast with Shawn Christopher Shea, M.D.
What is one of your biases?
Justice- have to be careful not to project it onto others
What interests you about working with PLWAH (People living with AIDS and HIV) and LGBTQ people?
HIV/AIDS - clients at Bailey House
Own queer identity
Unique issues and needs - specialized knowledge, important that queer and trans people have access to providers with that knowledge
Intersections of marginalization that makes quality care even more necessary - oppression has a deleterious impact on MH
Tell me about yourself?
I’m a queer femme who cares deeply about social justice and trauma focused work with marginalized individuals. I have approximately 6 years of experience in crisis intervention and short-term counseling and am working on a year of case management experience. My goal is to have a career doing primarily agency based therapeutic work with adolescents and adults, eventually opening a holistic therapeutic center for LGBTQ individuals.
Tell me about your experiences at Bailey House
Learning a lot about myself through process recordings, learning about time management and balance with a caseload of 14 high need clients
Biopsychosocials, care plans, goal setting, case conferences with providers and agencies, referrals, collaborative problem solving
GMHC History?
Important history and impact on the field on social services
In 1981, six gay men (and their friends) gathered in writer Larry Kramer’s living room to address the “gay cancer” and raise money for research. This informal meeting provided the foundation for what would soon become Gay Men’s Health Crisis. In 1982, an answering machine in the home of volunteer Rodger McFarlane acted as the first AIDS hotline — receiving over 100 calls the first night. Today, GMHC continues to pioneer HIV prevention, care and advocacy.
What has been a challenging moment in your social work career?
Having to report a child abuse case for a user on TrevorSpace who had mentioned not wanting to have their situation reported. The Trevor Project’s policy at the time was to not disclose to youth if their situation was being reported to a child welfare agency, and when I had been at the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network the policy had been the opposite as it was designed to be an anonymous hotline. So I had been accustomed to a policy of informed consent - every time someone revealed personally identifying information, we let them know that if they were to tell us this and this, we might have to make a report. And believing strongly in self-determination, particularly for youth (since it is often not given to youth), this was definitely a challenge for me. But I understood the responsibility to make sure youth are safe as well.
Questions for GMHC
- Can you tell me more about what supervision will be like here? Individual, Group, How long/often?
- In terms of techniques and modalities I might incorporate into therapy sessions is there specific training from GMHC, or will we be bringing in most of what we’re learning in classes and self-directed learning?
- What are the top expectations for a clinical intern? I.e. what characteristics/outcomes would a successful intern demonstrate?
- Work days and hours
- Onboarding process
About GMHC
GMHC is the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy. Building on decades of dedication and expertise, we understand the reality of HIV/AIDS and empower a healthy life for all.
Our Mission: GMHC fights to end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected.
What We Believe
- With the right information, care and support, it is possible to live a healthy, fulfilling life.
- When people feel a sense of community, are empowered with pride and armed with information, they’re able to model healthy behaviors, build relationships and experience hope.
- To end the AIDS epidemic, we need comprehensive solutions that promote education, increase awareness, improve care, reduce stigma, elevate policy and build strong, supportive communities.
How We Make a Difference
- Answers that give hope: Whether it’s getting tested, living with HIV/AIDS, succeeding at home and work or elevating our voice for policy change, we provide answers that give hope.
- Care that promotes health: We understand the root causes of the disease and take a holistic approach to care — from medical treatment and counseling to legal services and job placement — that promotes total well-being for your whole life.
- We help you develop meaningful relationships within the GMHC community, receive support and give back to others along the way, so you feel a sense of confidence and pride that empowers your life on your terms.
Therapeutic Services
Mental Health Services
Individual and group mental health services, art therapy
Substance use counseling and housing assistance
Eligibility: HIV positive clients (and their families), men and women
Complementary Therapies and Recreational Activities
Array of massage and physical therapies including, reiki, yoga, rolfing, and feldenkrais. Art classes, acting classes, & writing workshops.
Eligibility: HIV positive clients - men and women
Individual Psychotherapy– where you meet with a psychotherapist one-on-one to discuss your issues and develop a treatment plan to meet your personal goals.
Family/Couples Psychotherapy– offered to families and couples, whether biological or by choice, to address a wide range of issues including disclosure, loss, effective communication, trust, behavior change, and HIV status in the context of relationships.
Group Psychotherapy– focuses on issues such as adjusting to an HIV diagnosis, living long term with HIV, depression, anxiety, and managing behaviors that are of concern to you including those related to sex, anger, or substance use. For afull listing of groups, download theMental Health Services brochure(PDF).
Psychopharmacotherapy– offered by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner to people who are receiving psychotherapy in the clinic and also require medication to best treat their mental health condition.
For 35 years, GMHC has utilized trained mental health professionals to provide you with holistic services. Through our new licensed clinic we now provide comprehensive services to help improve your mental health and quality of life.
GMHC accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurances, and will continue to utilize Ryan White funding for eligible clients as a payer of last resort to provide mental health, harm reduction, and substance use treatment to individuals.
Services for Transgender and Gender Non-conforming Persons
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, members of the transgender and gender non-conforming communities in the U.S. are among the highest groups at risk for HIV/AIDS. Transgender is an umbrella term used to refer to people whose gender identity, gender expression, or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. This includes people who self-identify as transgender women, transgender men, genderqueer, transmasculine, transfeminine, transsexuals, and other gender variant people.
Despite being one of the fastest growing populations of HIV positive people in the U.S., transgender and gender non-conforming individuals often encounter barriers to healthcare. Discrimination, harassment, transphobia, lack of culturally-competent providers, stigma, and insurance/costs of care are a few of the obstacles.
GMHC is working hard to support and create an affirming and safe space where transgender and gender non-conforming individuals can access comprehensive quality care. From help with government benefits, legal issues, nutrition counseling to job readiness training, mental health counseling, and free hot lunches (Mondays to Thursdays) and dinner (Fridays), GMHC wants to ensure that it is an effective resource that is sensitive and affirming to every person’s needs.

