Jadyn Denlow – Reflections on Clinical Internship

I joined the Family Service of Glencoe team as an intern this past October, and it is hard to believe that my time here is concluding. The time has flown, and the relationships I have built, knowledge I have absorbed, and the experiences I have been lucky enough to be a part of will stick with me in my future career.

Some days I walked into the office with confidence and other days I felt stumped. Walking into a genuinely warm and caring space allowed me to understand that there are bumps in the road, and being an intern is about learning, trying new things, sometimes failing, and then trying again. Being the curious person I am, I asked countless questions, using this space to not only strive to support the community but also allow the community to educate and enlighten me as an aspiring clinician.

I participated in a variety of projects during my time at FSG. I helped lead two sessions of Reach Out and Reach at West School, establishing connections with the senior volunteers, West School staff, and children. This was my first time immersing myself in intergenerational work, and witnessing the collaboration and community-building across generations was truly remarkable. I had the opportunity to shadow clinical sessions and learn documentation techniques. I worked with FSG’s senior housing clients, completing check-ins and assisting in application renewal procedures. Streamlining data regarding clients’ mental health progress was a compelling experience as well. In addition, I co-facilitated the Vibrant Living Discussion Group and the Caregiver Support Group. These experiences have taught me how group discussion can be eye-opening and bring about diverse perspectives that have the potential to alter one’s world for the better. Due to my love for the group supportive setting, I have decided to work as an adolescent group therapist at Compass Health Center for my second-year internship.

Prior to my time at Family Service of Glencoe, I was certain I wanted to work solely with children and adolescents. My time at FSG opened my eyes to a whole new population of interest: older adults. If it weren’t for Emily Mysel, LCSW, my lovely internship supervisor, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to explore this new experience and develop a deep love for working with older adults this soon into my career. The wisdom, gratitude, and life stories, in addition to the complex challenges these individuals experience, are incredibly intriguing and inspiring to me. I hope to work with older adults in addition to children and families in my career, and I am grateful that my experience at FSG has broadened my vision of my future clinical work.

My driving force in pursuing a career in social work is to help others navigate challenges and hardship they face in their life and establish meaningful connections, ensuring they feel heard and important. I have always been eager to explore family systems as a whole and how they impact individuals’ well-being. Spending the past 8 months immersed in the Family Service of Glencoe family and wider Glencoe community has only strengthened my desire to continue making positive change in my community. I am eternally grateful for my time at FSG, and I look forward to taking these lessons, skills, and experiences with me in the future.