(Posted 2022 November)
Meet Erin Farmer, Counseling Intern
How long have you been volunteering? How long have you held this role in Fairfax County?
I have been volunteering here since May 16, 2022, so about 3-and-a-half months!
Why volunteer? Why volunteer for this specific program?
I am volunteering here as part of my internship requirement for my clinical mental health counseling master’s program at Marymount University. I chose this site for my internship because I have always felt drawn to working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. When I was interviewing for placements, I was really drawn to DSVS due to the opportunities it provided as far as a very diverse client pool, the community service aspect, the freedom to practice different theoretical orientations, and the opportunity to do almost exclusively trauma work. I am also getting a second masters in forensic and legal psychology, and I feel like DSVS is the perfect environment to enhance my skills in both disciplines.
Talk about how you overcome the most challenging parts of volunteering.
Working with domestic and sexual violence all day every day can definitely take its toll after a while. I think it is easy to get bogged down in all the pain and injustice in the world, and it is important to practice self-care. I have started seeing my own therapist and am trying to maintain strict boundaries between my internship and my personal life. That is harder to do when working exclusively from home! However, my supervisor and the entire DSVS team have been very supportive and helpful, and I feel that has played a huge part in my ability to navigate the challenges of this work.
What’s the best part of volunteering? Share your most memorable experience.
The best part of my work is always the relationships I form with my clients. It is so rewarding to be able to see my clients making progress and achieving their therapy goals and to know I have played some part in someone’s healing journey. A memorable experience for me was when a member of a group I run, who I also see individually, shared with the group something I had said to her in session, and said it "changed her entire perspective on everything." I thought to myself that I could quit therapy right now and I would be satisfied!
What has been your favorite training? What did you like about it? What did you learn?
I had the opportunity to attend the National Sexual Assault Conference in mid-August, and it was an amazing experience. There were presenters from all over the country, and I was exposed to many different perspectives. There were so many great sessions, mainly about the intersection of sexual assault work with race, gender, sexual orientation, and other marginalized identities. I especially loved a session on dismantling fatphobia and size discrimination when serving sexual violence clients.
What advice do you have for people who may be thinking about becoming a DSVS volunteer?
I would definitely encourage any of my fellow counseling students to intern with DSVS because I have not heard of any other site that offers the chance to work with so many different types of clients and to gain knowledge and experience in so many different areas. The team is also very supportive and experienced, and they also have a wealth of lived experience to share. I think volunteering for DSVS in any capacity is a great way to have a positive impact on this community as a whole and on its individual members.
What do you wish you could do more of as a volunteer?
I really feel I am doing a lot already! I am definitely not hurting for opportunities to grow. If anything, I wish I had more time with some of my clients, especially the ones I feel I have built a strong, positive rapport with. However, there are definitely benefits to practicing short-term therapy. I get so many opportunities to practice my termination skills, and I will have the chance to see many more clients than my peers might get!
This article posting is part of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services' Volunteer Voices monthly newsletter for current and potential volunteers. If you're not already a volunteer, learn how to get involved. Find out about upcoming trainings, volunteer trainings, happenings around the DSVS office and information about articles, books, media recommendations and more.
Learn more about the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS).