Running head: FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 1

Helping Skills Integrated Transcript & Analysis

Lauren Kelly
Bridgewater State University
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Introduction:
This is a one-on-one meeting with a student I have worked closely with in

an advising capacity all year. Her name and identifying information have been

changed to ensure her privacy. She is a twenty-one year old junior psychology

major at Bridgewater State University. Her social class, sexual orientation, and

religious status are unknown based off current knowledge. She is currently

serving as the president of a student organization but will be transitioning out of

this role by the end of the semester—a major theme throughout our conversation.

She also spoke of other roles such as being an RA; her plans to focus more on

personal goals for next year; and her relationship with her boyfriend, older sister,

and friends, and fellow executive board members. She and I meet weekly, often

with the co-advisor to the organization. In addition to working closely with this

student in an advising and helping capacity this year, I also thought she would be

a good helpee for this assignment as I knew she would offer good feedback from

the helpee’s perspective once we finished.

Active Listening Interview

Interviewer
Hi [insert student’s
name]
How are you doing
today?
Great. So I just wanted
to check-in and see if
there was anything you
wanted to talk about.
Interviewee Interview commentary
[(a) Skill Used and Periodic
Commentary on (b) Interviewer
Choices and/or (c) the client him
or herself (issues, situation, your
hunches, etc.)]
Hi Nonverbal encouragers: smiling,
facing student, making consistent
eye contact from the beginning and
demonstrated throughout
I’m doing awesome, how
are you?
Yeah, as you know, the Open-ended question/statement
year is wrapping up and
I’m currently president Nonverbal encourager: Head
of [insert organization nodding, tilted at times especially
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name] and not going to when a challenge was presented

be next year. So it’s about the incoming president.
been interesting, like, Also expressed concerned in my
having things wrap-up face
and I feel like
umm…so…incoming Minimal encourager—expressed
president, [insert student “yeah,” “sure,” “ok” as she was
name], I’m really excited talking to ensure I was listening
for him to come in and and understanding what she was
take over but I feel like saying
we’ve been kind of
rubbing heads a little bit, I was surprised that she jumped
I don’t know if that’s the into the conversation and started
right phrase. Like just for sharing examples without
example, yesterday, I had prompting—this suggested to me
planned an activity for that it was clearly something on
the general meeting and I her mind that she needed or
was pretty excited about wanted to talk about
it and went into the
[insert organization
name] office and I was
just preparing for it and
everyone was like “what
are you doing” and I was
like “I’m preparing this
activity” and he was like
“oh, we’re doing an
activity?” and I was like
that’s a weird response
and he was like “what
are we doing?” and I
was like “oh, it’s going
to be a reflection
activity” and he looked
at me with such discuss
and I was like “what’s
wrong with that?” and
he was like, “oh I don’t
like those types of
activities” and I was like
“hmmm”. And it wasn’t
like a big deal but I was
like I had planned that
activity for him in mind
because all of the
information that would
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be provided was for him

and his presidency and
so, yeah, we went up to
the meeting and I was a
little peeved and he could
tell because the way I
reacted and I was like ok,
this for you and he kept
trying to buddy-buddy
about it. Then he just
kept making comments
about it like “oh this
activity is really fun,”
kind of in a sarcastic way
and I was like hmmm but
yeah, I don’t know. I feel
kind of petty for being
upset about it but those
things kind of keep
happening. Like another
example was at an e-
board meeting and I
made a comment about
the megaphone situation
and I said something like
“[insert student name]
can’t touch it because
she was the one who lost
it” and I was just kidding
and he was like “you
can’t say that because
you’re going alum and
you’re basically not
president anymore” and
I was like what is
happening? And it’s just
been weird and I don’t
know…what your
thoughts are about it?
Yeah, so that’s Yeah, so I haven’t said I noticed she threw it to me in her
interesting. So it seems anything and yesterday I last sentence saying—what are
like this whole transition responded in a way that your thoughts about it? This is a
process has brought up was like that behavior is common occurrence when we
some interesting not cool and I think he meet—on the one hand I can see
dynamics with you and definitely got that vibe her looking for input, advice, or
[insert student name]. I from me. But I don’t feedback but on the other, I
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know the two of you have
worked together this
year and are friends
outside of your work
together but it seems like
there’s a bit of a conflict
between your role as
outgoing president and
his role as incoming
president. I can tell just
by the way you’ve
described some of this
that it feels really
frustrating and
invalidating to have your
ideas shut down or it
seems like maybe he’s
been kind of dismissive
to you at times. I’m
wondering if this is
something you’ve felt
comfortable sharing with
him or if it is something
the two of you have
addressed at all?
5
know if it is worth sometimes wonder if she is trying
bringing up because to steer the conversation away from
there is only like three what she is thinking and feeling by
weeks left of the asking others to speak about it
semester. I don’t know if from their perspective/experience
it was the type of instead. I tried to respond by
situation I just needed to summarizing what she had shared
vent and let go of to reflect that I understood what
because I was writing his she said and shared my thoughts
transition letter today through my observations and
and there are no hard questions rather than telling her
feeling there, I think it’s “what I think”
more just, I don’t know.
I remember when I was Tried to match affect—there were
transitioning into times she was laughing and other
becoming president last times she was being more serious
year and it is a very
weird time because
you’re like I know I’m Reflection of feeling—frustrated,
going to be in charge of invalidated, shut down, dismissed
the organization next
year but I’m not right
now and how do I toe the Open question but don’t know if it
line between that and it’s was confusion since I included two
also a lot of, too, like you questions in one
want to prove yourself
that you’re ready for this
so I think a lot of the time
when you’re going to
make choices and do
things you want to show
confidence but I think
sometimes if you don’t
know how to necessarily
navigate that I know I
felt like oh crap, was I
just being disrespectful,
was I not listening as
much as I should be. But
I think if anything
happens again then I
can, like I may say
something like “hey
what’s going on? What’s
your thought process
here?” But I don’t know,
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I don’t know if it is a big
enough issue to be
addressed immediately.
Something I heard you That’s a good question, I
say before, I know you hadn’t really thought
said you tried to reduce about that. I think it’s
your feelings about the because I want, more
situation by saying “I than anything, him to
don’t know if I was being have a smooth transition
petty worrying about it.” and be excited about the
I’m wondering where role and I don’t want me
that’s coming from and saying something to
why you felt you had to make him feel like oh,
reduce your own feeling I’m not ready for this
of upset or frustration or…I mean it was just an
and thinking it was petty activity and I don’t really
instead of a legitimate care that much but I
feeling. don’t know. I want him
to know that when you’re
president or any board,
you’re trying to do
something to better the
organization and
someone you care about
is like that’s a dumb
idea, it hurts your
feelings. But it wasn’t…I
think it is just coming
from him being nervous
and confused about the
role. I think me being
petty is like I understand
all that rationally so I
don’t want to make a
mountain out of a
molehill and I know it’s
not that big of a deal. I’d
rather just vent about it
and get over it and if it
happens again, address
it but not necessarily
move forward with it
right now.
It seems like you have a Yeah, it definitely has
good idea as to dealing been a juggling act. I
with this current think it’s hard because I
6
Paraphrasing & Challenging:
“worried about being petty”—I
wanted to revisit that statement
because it seemed she was
reducing her own feelings in the
experience by calling it petty and
wanted to challenge/unpack her
throughout process that being
upset about something
automatically makes her petty
rather than respecting her own
feelings as she does with other
people’s feelings
Open question: except then I used
“why” which I have never done
before – I was so worried the
second it came out of my mouth
and feared that she may become
defensive or shutdown because I
asked why. I could have re-
phrased the question by just
leaving it at “I’m wondering
where that is coming from” or
said “It seems you are reducing
your own feelings …, I wondering
where that comes for” or “could
you tell me more about that?”
It seemed like she still felt she
was being petty in the situation by
what she shared and based off my
observation
I wished I had stuck to her final
point more about addressing it if it
came up again—something I
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situation, or situation
from yesterday, and also
a plan for moving
forward. I think
something I’m noticing
that you’re bringing to
this situation is your
ability to empathize with
[insert student name],
having been in his
position last year and
recognizing the
transition experience
from the perspective of
the incoming person and
knowing what happened
last year with you and
last year’s president and
what it’s like. It seems
like you’re trying to be
really intentional of and
mindful of what he is
experiencing and going
through at this time and
being conscious of that,
while also being very
attune with what you’re
feeling through this
process. It seems like
you’re trying to play a
bit of juggle act—like
trying to meet your needs
in this transition process,
while also trying to meet
his needs.
want to share all the
experiences I’ve had this
year with him and help
him with his transition
but I also don’t want to
step the line and feel like
I’m telling him what to
do….because I do really
care about the
organization and I want
him to know everything
to the best of his abilities
so he can take it and run
as far as he can. But
sometimes I feel like
when I say things that
I’m not being listened to
because it’s more, again,
like that trying to prove
yourself thing. I’ll give
an idea and it’s like no,
we’re not doing that, not
because it wasn’t a good
idea but more so because
you’re not president
anymore and I am. I
don’t know it’s been a
weird balance.
7
thought about after, and actually
incorporated into a future meeting
was to 1) explore what she would
say to the incoming president and
how she would approach it, and 2)
discuss what the potential
outcomes might be b addressing it
by asking “If you were to address
it what might that look like?” and
“
However, it seemed she did make
it a goal for herself to address it
next time in order for it to not
fester
Reflection of value—wanting to
be understanding of the other
student’s experience
Pointing out discrepancies: I
noticed she wanted to support him
as he transitioned into his new
role while also wanting to take
care of herself in her own
transition process—illustrated it
as a juggling act with meeting
both of their needs—was glad it
was affirmed by her
I worried she thought I was
questioning her commitment to
the organization or her role by
pointing out some of the
challenges with the incoming
president---which is why I
expressed a louder “yeah” when
she said she cared about the
organization. I didn’t know if she
thought she needed to defend her
commitment in anyway which is
why I wanted to make sure I
reflected her feelings for and
value to the organization in my
response
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Yeah, that’s definitely
something I can
understand that
challenge…I feel like
most people whenever
they are stepping out of a
role, whether it’s
leadership role or a job-
that can be really
difficult because it is
something you care
about, like you said. And
I know, just from
working with and
evening watching you
talk about your role with
[insert organization
name], I know it is
something you care
really deeply about and
something you really
value and see the
importance in and give
150% of your role. So
it’s really hard when
you’re stepping away
from something…it’s
your baby it feels like in
some ways…and to make
that split and being able
to walk away, even if it is
other great people’s
who’s hands it will be in
next year, it is still hard
to walk away from
something you love.
I think in looking at an
issue that has presented
this year that you have
been a part of, exploring
some of the challenges
It is definitely. But I do
feel like it is going to be
in really good hands next
year. I trust you and
[insert advisor name]
and [insert student
name] and everyone
who’s going to be on the
team next year to do
really well. I’m excited
about it. I think one of
the other struggles this
year has been with
marketing. I don’t know,
I think I’ve been really
frustrated with people
having these
responsibilities and not
being able to accomplish
their jobs. I struggle
with the balance of when
you notice something
isn’t getting done, do you
do it because it is not
getting done or do you
try and help the people
who aren’t getting it
done. But then when it
becomes a pattern,
where does the work
fall? And it’s hard when
it reflects on the
organization poorly—
like these are things that
should be happening and
I don’t want that pattern
to continue next year and
I don’t know what
changes we should
institute in order to fix
that issue.
Yeah, I think it has to do
with just an added layer
of accountability and
talking about that. It is
hard to share words of
8
Self-disclosure: I tried to insert a
minimal, but relevant self-
disclosure here, since I know that
is something hard for me to do by
relating to the difficulty of letting
go of a role or commitment and
wanting to leave things in a good
place for the next people—
however I made my disclosure
more general by saying “I can
understand the challenge…I feel
most people…” That comment
came from a place of being able to
relate and I wanted to use that as a
tool to validate her experience
Encouraging and validating:
incorporating my observation and
knowledge of what she has shared
with me about her commitment to
the organization and how she
wants to leave it in a good place
for the next people
I didn’t realize the challenge with
the marketing team was going to
come up here since I hadn’t
prompted it, but I can also see the
connection as to why she brought
it up. I did worry at this time if the
conversation was getting to be all
over the place and trying to be
mindful of incorporating the five
steps
Goal/action planning: Saw this
strategy building as a step towards
goal setting—what she could do
to address some transition
challenges while also expressing
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with the marketing team. wisdom with that any concerns/input/feedback

Are there ways in which because they are before she steps out of her role
you can communicate completely restructuring
those concerns you’ve how marketing is done An observation here was that it
had this year to next for next semester. So, I seemed like she often directed the
year’s leadership? In think that’s a good thing conversation to focus on others
drawing that separation having marketing go on rather than looking at the impact
between this year and the backs of a lot of on her or what she had in her
next year by making different people than just control (almost similar to the
them aware of the one small concentrated session with John that we’ve
challenges you’ve team and I think that will reflected on). I kept trying to
encountered and make it more doable for redirect about what she can do,
conversations you have everybody but yeah, I how she is feeling, etc.
had navigating these think something that I
challenges but giving struggled with this year Her response about accountability
[insert student name] was I am very close with seemed like that was something
and the new leadership our marketing person, really important to her and
team the power and and so when things something she both expects and
agency to take it on as would fall through I was gives in her work—definitely
their issue and being not always 100% made a mental note here and
able to remove yourself comfortable saying “hey ended up revisiting it when it
from the situation. you need to get in shape, came up a couple more times.
we need to get this stuff
done.” So I think that is
a conversation I can
have with [students]
from new leadership, and
talk about it. You know,
it’s easy to say in an
interview or on a resume
or whatever that when
there’s conflict with my
friends, I have no
problems dealing with it
but when it actually
happens it can be much
more difficult so just
being able to brainstorm
strategies of like ok, if
this situation were to
happen, what resources
do I have, how can I
address this in a
conversation one-on-one,
and continue to grow the
organization while
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maintaining our
friendship.
Yeah, so [insert student’s Yeah absolutely, I mean I Point out discrepancy: pointing
name], I think you’re think that comes up for a out that she may feel like she is
bringing up a really lot of situations in my life comfortable with conflict or
good point of people in and I’ve definitely gotten addressing conflict but it is harder
leadership roles, in better at it as I’ve gone to actually address it, especially
professional worlds, and through college. I when the other person is both a
in classes, experience remember one situation, friend too
when working with a I used to very, like, you
friend and how you could walk all over Paraphrasing: reflecting back her
navigate that situation. me…very much a people point about it being challenging
You said on the one pleaser, and I still am, managing conflict, especially with
hand, you think you feel but I would completely a friend, and feeling like you can
comfortable with conflict forget about myself and handle it but it being more
and will be able to do anything for anybody difficulty it reality
handle a situation with a else. One of my best
friend who you are also friend’s now, her name is It seemed like this may be at the
working in a certain Mary, and we were on root of some of the challenges she
capacity with but then the RA staff together my was bringing up that her issues
when you actually sophomore year and she were not only with peers she was
encounter that situation was being so mean to me working with as student leaders,
it can be much more and I could not figure out but who were also her friends
difficult. So maybe why. One day, and there
things are more easier had been multiple snide
said than done—it comments, and I finally
seemed like you were called her out and was
getting at that point and like “what’s going on?
I’m wondering if you Why are you being so
could talk a bit more mean to me?” and she
about that—I think it’s was like “you haven’t
an important point you told me to stop yet” and I
brought up. was like, huh, very
interesting way to teach
me a lesson and she
recognized and
apologized for being
mean but she was like,
“you never once stood
up or said anything, I
would just make
comments and I didn’t
know they bothered you”
and I was like “well
yeah, they do…you’re
hurting my feelings, like,
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knock it off”. Ever since

that, like, that really hit
something in me like
wow, if people don’t
know that they’re
walking all over me then
they’re going to keep
doing it because they
don’t know it’s
happening. Sometimes I
still find myself in that
situation but I think I am
getting better at if
something is happening
then I can be assertive
and have conversations
about it and do it in a
respectful way, but yeah,
I still kind of struggle
with it. Like I want
people to know I care
about them but I also
want to hold them
accountable, but yeah it
is a hard balance.
So I know you’ve said So strategies to find Paraphrase: reflected back what
that is something that balance in conflict she had learned from past
you’ve worked on and situations? experience and pointed out the
you’ve seen growth resiliency and growth that came
within yourself from that from that situation
experience to where you
are right now with some Open question: Tried to ask about
of your working strategies as a way to move past
relationships. I’m the conflict/challenges with peers
wondering what those and explore ways to address it in
strategies look like in order to move towards
order to find that goals/action planning
balance?
Yeah, conflict with I think reminding myself Minimal encouragers: as she
people who you have that it comes from a considered and explored strategies
personal relationships place of caring, when I through my responses as she was
with or positive am holding someone talking by head nodding, smiling,
relationships with but accountable, and that it’s saying “yeah,” etc.
conflict arises. not that I’m mad at them
or hate them wishing Noted that accountability came up
them not well, but that again
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when you hold someone

accountable it’s because I had a reaction when she drew
you care about them and the distinction between her work
you’re standards and and personal relationships—she
values should align, so had not shared much about her
that’s one of them. I personal life in any of our
think coming at it from a interactions over the past year
non-defensive place and (except for showing lots of cute
being open to having pictures of her nephew!) and I
honest conversation with saw this as a sign that she felt
another and knowing my comfortable sharing with me her
side is not the only side relationship with mom (and later
to the story, so not going on about her sister and boyfriend)
into it like “this is
everything you did wrong
and I want you to
apologize” but rather
“this is how I’m feeling,
how are you feeling
about the conversation,
how can we talk this out
to make it better”. My
mom and I actually have
those conversations,
which is good, when we
get into snarky little
arguments we sit down
and we’re like “ok, what
can we do differently
next time”. I feel like I
am much better in my
personal life with dealing
with conflict but it’s
when comes to, when I
am speaking on behalf of
an organization or I’m
an employee of ResLife
or other things, it like I
can’t talk as candidly as
I necessarily would if it
was just coming from me
and there’s a lot of
different things to think
about. And that’s when I
connect with my advisors
and other people on my
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I think you draw a good
distinction of what things
might look like in your
personal life versus in
some other realms of
your life and it seems
like you really value
your work, both your
professional work and
employment but also
your work as a leader
and someone involved in
things on campus, and
you want to be respectful
of the groups, or offices,
or entities that you are
representing and you’re
not just making decisions
on your own but
consulting with others.
So it seems like you’re
really trying to positively
reflect those different
groups, or entities, or
institutions that you’re
connected to and it
seems like it comes from
a place that you really
value them.
board to be like “how do
you think I should
approach this
situation…does it make
sense to come from me or
is it best to come from
someone else” and that
kind of stuff.
Yeah, it’s going to be
interesting next year,
because I’m not going to
be as involved with
things because I’m going
to focused on an
internship and I’m going
to writing an honors
thesis as well and its
going to be interesting
and a huge shift because
I like lived in OSIL for
three years and I’m
going to be doing more
individual work which is
funny because I’ve never
been…it’s going to be
weird, so that’s another
big transition that I’m
working with. I’ve been
talking a lot with my
friends, and I’ve always
been parts of teams and
groups and clubs and
always been very group-
focused and the missions
of those organizations
have become my own
mission. Now next year
it’s like, wow, I have this
individual mission of
what I want to
accomplish in life and
I’m doing things on my
own to work towards that
individual mission but
it’s like a paradigm shift,
I’m looking at the world
13
Reflection of meaning: value
commitment to work and
obligations, wanting to
representing others positively—
encouraged and validated her
experience and value of this in
my response
Her response was another
surprising, unaffiliated shift in the
conversation—but again
connected to the theme of
transition—when she responded
by talking about her involvement
and commitments looking
different next year. I saw this as
an opportunity to start to focusing
the conversation on goals,
resiliency, and action as she
looked ahead to new opportunities
on the horizon versus worrying
about letting go/preparing others
for past responsibilities
Thought her self-reflection on
shifting from a group mentality to
individual was really interested
and allowed more insight into
additional conflict that she was
facing (the personal transition of
shifting her approach to doing
things, how we found motivation
and accountability, and her goals
through the larger transition of
changing positions/roles)—I
found her point of a paradigm
shift helped to illustrate the
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 14

differently going into magnitude of this change in her

next year and it’s weird. life

Absolutely, I can It is definitely really Reflection of feeling—it being

imagine someone in that scary. I’ve always used scary (which she affirmed) and
position having this my clubs and orgs as a recognizing the anxiety that may
really big contrast of way to keep me come with making this shift in
what your life has looked accountable because it’s focus and priorities
like in the past three not just me relying on
years, as you said, and me, its other people I also wanted to validate that
maybe even longer in relying on me and then I experience by elaborating so that I
other capacities and stick to my deadlines acknowledged some of the feeling
making this shift to be because other people are associated and didn’t just jump
really individually counting on me. I’ve into action planning
focused. I can imagine always been very
that can feel really scary extrinsically motivated. Found it interesting that she
to make that shift. But yeah, I’m excited and reiterated her value of
this semester has been accountability but this time about
really good, I’ve been herself-versus her peers
setting goals and sticking
to them, like ones for me, Was glad she shared some
like drinking more water personal goals and self-care
and sleeping more and practices as a reference point
taking care of myself and when considering a growth
when I started those mindset and resiliency
goals I was nervous I
wasn’t going to be able
to accomplish them
because it was
never…like if I wanted to
exercise, I joined a team,
like all of my goals
involved other people.
Starting to work on
myself has been an
interesting journey but it
has been weird but fun.
Something you’ve said Yeah, so I’ve been Focusing and summarizing:
that has stood out to me growing a lot closer with wanted to integrate what she had
was the word my sister recently and my shared and use that as a way to
accountability and it boyfriend, who it’s funny, steer the conversation and look
seems that has been a the guy that I’m dating, forward
good motivator for you his name is Brett and he Open question and action
in following through with is like the most planning: Since it seems like
things because you had individually focused accountability is an important
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 15

teams or groups or staffs person I’ve ever met so component in all the work she
of people who were we’re like polar does – with others and by
relying on you and you opposites but it’s nice herself—I wanted to ask about
maybe didn’t want to because we both kind of how to incorporate it in her
disappoint them and it bring each other into the personal goal setting and action
seems like you’ve middle. So he recognizes planning
already come up with that in some areas of his
some great strategies life he needs to be more It was exciting to see her talk
this semester setting team-focused and I about her sister and boyfriend—it
personal goals. In recognize that in some seemed these relationships were
thinking about this big areas of my life I need to really important to her and great
shift from this year to focus on myself more so I support systems. She also lit up
next year, where you are can help more people. So while talking about them and her
going to be doing more just being with him and affect remained much more
work that’s focused on sharing my goals with positive and hopeful then when
yourself, your him has been awesome we started – I wanted to join with
development, your because we kind of bring her in that enthusiasm my smiling
experiences, how do you a different lens into and saying “yeah!,” “awesome,”
think you can things so he’s been etc.
incorporate awesome level of
accountability in these accountability. And my She pointed out being
individualistic pursuits sister and I have this extrinsically motivated, which
and goals? dream to create this was very apparent in this
community wellness conversation, and how the podcast
center together. It’s gave her some tools/strategies for
funny because I used to maintain motivation by looking at
say it was not outlandish, current and future self
but a dream far in the
future, but the more we
talk about it, I’m like we
can actually do this so
like when I heard about
this internship that I was
telling you about, they
were the first two people
I called to tell about and
they were so excited with
me. So just keeping them
close to my hear and
sharing with them what’s
going on, I get proud and
excited about things
going on but I also feel
comfortable sharing with
them challenges that
occur too, so knowing
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 16

who I have for resources

and journaling every
single day in this
wellness journal that I
have loved being able to
write down what’s going
on in my life and look
back it at and feel proud
and happy and sad and
all sorts of things about
things I’ve been doing.
And I was listening to
this podcast the other
day and it was talking
about if you find yourself
very externally
motivated, which I do a
lot of the times, it’s
thinking about yourself
in two different ways—
like your present self and
your future self and so
like how can I do what I
want to do right now to
benefit my future self and
how can I use my future
self to hold me
accountable because
sometimes I struggle with
just doing it for me right
now but if I think about
me in the future then I’m
like “ok, I’m doing this
for me down there”.
Those are my two
strategies right now.
Yeah, that’s awesome. Yeah, it’s definitely been Paraphrased and encouraged: with
That’s great, I love the good because I’m very my response by pointing out and
idea of looking at your involved in a lot of things validating resiliency factors of
present self and future here and he is not really relationships/support systems,
self as motivators in involved in anything so self-care tactics, and strategies for
different ways and it also it’s nice, he’s very open balance
seems like you have a to listen to me talk about
really great support things like [insert That last phrase about balance in
system with your organization name] but relationship—worried it was
boyfriend and your sister it’s nice that when we pushing too far (and obviously
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT
and it seems like they
also help give you some
of that balance that
you’re looking for and
maybe even vice versus
with your boyfriend
given that you both look
at things through a
different lens but your
able to offer that balance
to each and your
relationship maybe.
That’s great. So we’ve
talked about a lot of
things and I know we’re
getting close to time so I
think as we start to wrap
up I just wanted to check
in about some of the big
things that have come
up, I know you started
this conversation with
some concerns regarding
the transition process
and situations that have
come up with you and
[insert student name],
specifically, as outgoing
and incoming president
and navigating some of
those challenges with
each other with maybe
comments being made or
feeling very dismissed at
times and also being
mindful of some of the
challenges you’ve
encountered this year as
president, especially
looking at some of the
challenges with the
marketing team and
looking ahead to
problem solving for next
year and communicating
that to folks but then also
hang out we don’t just
talk about involvement
and we have that balance
in life so I feel very
lucky.
Um, no I feel pretty
good. I think it’s funny, I
didn’t really recognize
the common theme of
I’ve been thinking a lot
about transitions lately.
No I feel like I have some
good strategies for how I
can move forward with
all the sorts of
transitions, I feel good
about what’s happening
with [insert student
name] and feel like I
recognize if something
else were to happen, I
should deal with it…well
I guess I shouldn’t say
“should deal with it”
because I am dealing
with it by talking about
it….then I should say
something but for right
now I feel better that I
was able to talk to
someone about it and let
it go and not let it fester
on it and in terms of the
individual stuff, I’m just
excited….I feel more
excited than
overwhelmed but I’m
more excited.
17
didn’t want to pry but rather
reflect on the balance she and her
boyfriend brought to one another)
so concluded with “maybe” as an
attempted to let her tell me if I
was on point or not—which I
guess I was, based on her
response.
Restorying and action planning:
wanted to summarize everything
we talked about and tie in key
themes and outcomes of
conversation to see if I missed
anything or anything to build on.
However, feel I talked too much
and didn’t want to dominate the
conversation.
Maybe I could’ve said “We’ve
talked a lot about some of the
transitions you are experiencing
right now and both the challenges
and goals related to these
transitions. In thinking about
everything we’ve talked about,
what do you see as your next
steps, both in the [insert
organization name] transition
process and your own personal
transition process?” instead to
make it shorted and more focused
towards action planning
Her response reflected new
insight on the common theme of
transitions and connection to
goals and actions moving forward.
I was also glad she expressed
talking through it was helpful and
brought clarity or ease to her.
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 18

thinking about your Wanted to affirm her feelings of

personal transitions—so feeling better talking about it and
I feel like we talked her excitement about the future
about the [insert but worried if I used too many
organization name] encouragers – “yeah” “cool”
transition but we also “that’s awesome” but worried I
talked a lot about your may have interjected too much
own personal transition
and being very involved
with [insert organization
name] being a part of
your life to making a
shift to other things
being a big part of your
like—with your
relationships with your
boyfriend and sister,
with your pursuit of your
internship that you were
sharing with me
yesterday, your honors
thesis, and even some of
your professional goals
down the road with your
sister. In thinking about
everything we’ve talked
about, is there anything
that comes up for you
still? Any questions that
you feel unsettled with?
I’m glad to hear, and Absolutely. Reflected feelings: stressful of
even thinking just about the organization transitions but
the start of our hopeful with personal transitions
conversation, you are – wanted to validate all of her
always very enthusiastic feelings about the process and
and positive in most of about our conversation
our conversations, but in
talking about [insert
organization name]
transitions stuff it
seemed like that was
more stressful but then
as you shared your
individual transitions
you seem more excited
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 19

and hopeful, so that’s

really encouraging.
Well I wish you all the Anytime. Encouraged: in terms of exploring
best as you continue to her next steps, thanking her for
navigate some of these talking with me, and looking
transitions and want to ahead
thank you for taking the
time to talk with me
today
Great! I look forward to Me too, thanks so much.
our next conversation.

Conclusion:
I hit the five stages although it seemed more fluidly intertwined than strategically

sequenced. I think I created an empathic relationship through a lot of verbal and non-

verbal encouragers; demonstrating support and validation by affirming feelings, values,

and concerns; and maintaining eye contact and joining with her in body language and

affect. I illuminated her story and strengths in the conversation by pointing out key

themes, connecting different points or observations, summarizing key information, and

recognizing skills and strategies used with past and current challenges. Goals became a

big theme of the conversation, both in discussing her existing goals for next year as well

as setting some goals for addressing the challenges with the organization transitions. I

tried to restory throughout—integrating everything that was coming up in order to draw

connections, emphasize main points or information, and using it as a reference in the

action planning process. The action planning came about half or three quarters of the

way through, before all of the restorying. We discussed resiliency factors, strategies, and

actions for handling conflict related to the leadership transition and incorporating

accountability into her individual goals and pursuits next year. It was difficult because

she guided the conversation, which I was glad she felt she had that agency, but I felt more

awkward incorporating the five stages in a systematic way.

FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 20

I went into this session with some personal goals: to not use a question in all of

my responses, to challenge the student when it was helpful, reflect feelings and meanings,

and practice self-disclosure. These have all been areas I have found more challenging

this semester and feel I have made steady, although sometimes slow, progress. I was able

to accomplish each of these goals in this session, although there were still definite areas

of improvement. In considering my ten minute transcript, I used questions every time I

spoke, however this time I only used them with half of my utterances. While I did

challenge once and point out a discrepancy in my 10 minute, this time I was able to do it

a couple times while still supporting the student. I reflected feelings a couple times in my

other interview but this time reflected the student’s current and past feelings and

values/meanings throughout our conversation. I also self-disclosed in this one both in

relating to the student’s experience and point out observations from the session and our

ongoing work together. I don’t recall doing in the 10 minute transcript and have

struggled with throughout the semester as I am very hesitant to share of myself but saw

the opportunity for connection and understanding it facilitated.

Two concerns or areas of improvement that emerged were that I felt I talked too

much, especially towards the end and I also felt like the conversation seemed all over the

place at times yet seemed to synthesize by the end. These are things I want to be mindful

of moving forward. It was also great because I was able to get feedback from her and she

said she appreciated it being conversational and that she doesn’t like when adults are a

blank wall staring at her when she talks. She also expressed how helpful it was to

“unpack” a lot of things and use a helper as a sounding board. We have had a couple

advising meetings since this time and I feel this conversation helped to create a space for
FINAL INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPT 21

her to revisit some of these topics with myself and the co-advisor and has also allowed

me to be intentional with things I want to improve and do differently. In this project, my

advising work with students, and the class I have seen definite growth this semester.