Synthesis Sunday - Getting New Perspectives
Professional interaction is something that is tricky for many people. There is a fine line between being a considerate and conscientious dissenter and a bully. However, it is extremely important that opinions of all members of the profession be heard and considered in every conversation. Here is what I've learned over this past week.
There is a small, yet very vocal community of people who feel that the way we currently do our internships is illegal. AMTA and the Association Internship Approval Committee disagree. Our internship design, as well as the internships of many of our fellow allied health professionals, is legal and covered under the guidelines developed by the US Department of Labor. There are probably folks out there who do not know anything about Fact Sheet #71 and the expectations stated within that cover for-profit agencies and facilities, but it is not for lack of trying. AMTA sends out email blasts several times per year updating internship personnel about what is going on with these issues.
NOTE: If you or someone you know was part of a National Roster internship that violates Fact Sheet #71, please contact the AIAC with a noncompliance report. You can find the procedure as well as the contact information for how to do this report in Section F of the AMTA National Roster Internship Guidelines. AMTA and the AIAC cannot do anything unless they are contacted directly. Interns do have ways to protect themselves and need to be courageous when it comes to reporting professional practices that are unethical or illegal.
One of the complaints offered was that there aren't many interns offering their perspectives on what the internship process is like. I wonder if the persons offering their perspective have been able to engage in Passages, in submitting concurrent session proposals, or in talking to the people that can actually do something about internship programs.
I know that there is a power differential between interns and internship directors. There will always be a power differential between a teacher and a student. That is inherent in the relationship. The AIAC recognized this about 10 years ago and started an opportunity for interns to offer information about their internships in a six-month post-internship site evaluation. Interns have the opportunity to fill this out and send it to the AIAC. Interns can also choose how the information is shared and with whom. Once that information is shared, though, interns will not be privy to what happens to the internship program unless that intern completes a non-compliance report through the AIAC.
Back to the original idea...
Any time a person posts something on social media, they are opening themselves up to discussion, debate, ridicule, and censure by the other readers. Once that post is up on social media, responders have two options - respond or ignore. Once you decide to respond, you have a couple of choices on how you will interact with the original poster. Once your response is public, you now have a reputation established with all of the other readers.
I enjoy a good debate. I like it when people offer different ideas and opinions to the concepts that I've developed over the years. I need to hear the points of view of other people in order to continue to grow as a therapist. It is true that my experience of being an intern was many years ago, but as a person who interacts with interns on a consistent basis, I think I'm pretty well immersed in the issues that current interns have in this century. They are the same issues that I had in my internship and will be the same issues that most interns will have until we figure out how to change the system.
We are trying to change the system.
How do we do this? We ask for the opinions of others about how to shape and change our internships. We listen to the perspectives offered and then start to figure out what to do. During the discussion process, all AMTA members will be asked to contribute and all submissions will be considered. The discussion will probably be fierce, varied, and passionate. We music therapists are often that way, especially when we are looking at changes to our education and clinical training - just look at the Masters Level Entry debate going on right now - and the ultimate decision will be made by a large group of music therapists who will consider all views, the legal necessities, and the end results.
There will be many people who will be unhappy. That is the outcome of any large paradigm shift. There will be people who will be happy, and there will just as many (if not more) who will not be happy.
While the perspectives of interns and new professionals are important to know and consider, those new professionals and interns need to remember that there are many other elements, organizations, and situations that affect education and clinical training. Educational organizations have specific requirements that must be met. AMTA has some of the same requirements. Every single internship program has requirements as well. An internship program has to satisfy all of those organization requirements. This means that there will be folks who are not satisfied by any decision that is made.
It is important, though, to make sure that your perspective is heard. Contribute to the conversation in a way that shows that you are professional. Speak to others in a respectful manner. Most of all, participate! Tell people what you think, but remember to be professional in your interactions.
One more note - If you do not speak to the people who are directly involved, your perspective will never be considered.
There is a small, yet very vocal community of people who feel that the way we currently do our internships is illegal. AMTA and the Association Internship Approval Committee disagree. Our internship design, as well as the internships of many of our fellow allied health professionals, is legal and covered under the guidelines developed by the US Department of Labor. There are probably folks out there who do not know anything about Fact Sheet #71 and the expectations stated within that cover for-profit agencies and facilities, but it is not for lack of trying. AMTA sends out email blasts several times per year updating internship personnel about what is going on with these issues.
NOTE: If you or someone you know was part of a National Roster internship that violates Fact Sheet #71, please contact the AIAC with a noncompliance report. You can find the procedure as well as the contact information for how to do this report in Section F of the AMTA National Roster Internship Guidelines. AMTA and the AIAC cannot do anything unless they are contacted directly. Interns do have ways to protect themselves and need to be courageous when it comes to reporting professional practices that are unethical or illegal.
One of the complaints offered was that there aren't many interns offering their perspectives on what the internship process is like. I wonder if the persons offering their perspective have been able to engage in Passages, in submitting concurrent session proposals, or in talking to the people that can actually do something about internship programs.
I know that there is a power differential between interns and internship directors. There will always be a power differential between a teacher and a student. That is inherent in the relationship. The AIAC recognized this about 10 years ago and started an opportunity for interns to offer information about their internships in a six-month post-internship site evaluation. Interns have the opportunity to fill this out and send it to the AIAC. Interns can also choose how the information is shared and with whom. Once that information is shared, though, interns will not be privy to what happens to the internship program unless that intern completes a non-compliance report through the AIAC.
Back to the original idea...
Any time a person posts something on social media, they are opening themselves up to discussion, debate, ridicule, and censure by the other readers. Once that post is up on social media, responders have two options - respond or ignore. Once you decide to respond, you have a couple of choices on how you will interact with the original poster. Once your response is public, you now have a reputation established with all of the other readers.
I enjoy a good debate. I like it when people offer different ideas and opinions to the concepts that I've developed over the years. I need to hear the points of view of other people in order to continue to grow as a therapist. It is true that my experience of being an intern was many years ago, but as a person who interacts with interns on a consistent basis, I think I'm pretty well immersed in the issues that current interns have in this century. They are the same issues that I had in my internship and will be the same issues that most interns will have until we figure out how to change the system.
We are trying to change the system.
How do we do this? We ask for the opinions of others about how to shape and change our internships. We listen to the perspectives offered and then start to figure out what to do. During the discussion process, all AMTA members will be asked to contribute and all submissions will be considered. The discussion will probably be fierce, varied, and passionate. We music therapists are often that way, especially when we are looking at changes to our education and clinical training - just look at the Masters Level Entry debate going on right now - and the ultimate decision will be made by a large group of music therapists who will consider all views, the legal necessities, and the end results.
There will be many people who will be unhappy. That is the outcome of any large paradigm shift. There will be people who will be happy, and there will just as many (if not more) who will not be happy.
While the perspectives of interns and new professionals are important to know and consider, those new professionals and interns need to remember that there are many other elements, organizations, and situations that affect education and clinical training. Educational organizations have specific requirements that must be met. AMTA has some of the same requirements. Every single internship program has requirements as well. An internship program has to satisfy all of those organization requirements. This means that there will be folks who are not satisfied by any decision that is made.
It is important, though, to make sure that your perspective is heard. Contribute to the conversation in a way that shows that you are professional. Speak to others in a respectful manner. Most of all, participate! Tell people what you think, but remember to be professional in your interactions.
One more note - If you do not speak to the people who are directly involved, your perspective will never be considered.
I happen to know that one if the persons involved in the discussion in question is publicly misrepresenting himself and his training. I also know that lawyers complete unpaid internships. Finally, I appreciate you posting in time for me to enjoy your blog during my coffee time.
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