Tanushya Sehra Unit 1 Blog

Today’s psychology class had a different kind of learning experience. Instead of roleplays, we watched a video that focused on something we don’t usually think much about, that is the ending of a counseling session. At first, it sounded simple. How complicated can an ending be, right? But the video quickly proved otherwise. The video showed how a counselor brings a session to a close. It wasn’t just about saying “okay, time’s up.” It involved summarizing what was discussed, acknowledging the client’s feelings, and gently preparing them to leave the session. Some parts of the video exaggerated mistakes like ending too abruptly or saying things that felt dismissive which made it funny but also very clear what not to do. The humor made the learning feel easier and more engaging. Instead of feeling like a strict lesson, it felt natural and memorable.

Today’s psychology class followed a familiar pattern, we continued with the same client-counselor roleplay activity in front of the whole class. The chits were back, names written and picked randomly, and once again, students were called to come forward and engage in a real, unscripted conversation. My name wasn’t there. At first, I won’t lie, it felt like relief. Watching others go up and speak about real problems in front of everyone takes courage, and a part of me was glad I didn’t have to face that pressure today. As each pair came forward, I started paying closer attention, not just to what they were saying, but how they were saying it. The pauses, the hesitation, the tone of voice, the way the counselor responded…everything mattered. There was this interesting mix of emotions throughout the class. Relief, yes but also curiosity and even a little self-reflection

Today’s psychology class took a more challenging turn. We had done roleplays before, but this time it was different. Instead of working in small groups, we were asked to perform in front of the entire class. Our names were written on chits, and one by one, they were picked randomly. Whoever got selected had to come forward and take on the role of either a client or a counselor, right there, in front of everyone. The moment the chits were introduced, the energy in the room shifted. There was nervous laughter, a bit of silence, and that shared feeling of “what if my name comes up?” I was feeling that too haha!! When students were called, they had to talk about a real problem, not something made up. That’s what made this exercise feel much more serious and personal than the previous roleplays. Watching it unfold was powerful. The “client” had to open up in front of the class, while the “counselor” had to respond thoughtfully, using the skills we’ve been learning, active listening, empathy...

Today’s psychology class felt more interactive than usual. Instead of just listening or taking notes, we stepped into a roleplay activity, this time in groups of three. Each of us took on a role: a client, a counselor, and an observer. At first, I wasn’t sure how it would go. Roleplays can feel a little awkward in the beginning. But once we got into it, things started to feel more real than expected. The idea was simple, that the “client” would share a problem, the “counselor” would respond using appropriate listening and communication skills, and the “observer” would watch everything carefully, body language, tone, responses and later give feedback. What surprised me was how quickly the situation started to feel genuine. Even though it was just a roleplay, the emotions and reactions didn’t feel fake. It made me realize how powerful communication can be when someone actually listens.

Our practical class was pretty much interesting. T he first step in our practical class was to do a roleplay which was about a counsellor and a counselee. Where one of us had to be a counsellor and the other as counselee and visa versa. Doing that was fun since I did thus kinda stuff for the first time.  It was exciting and fun activity to do. With this, I got to know where I stand, and how well I can do better or change myself. This activity actually felt that in real life this is how counsellors work.  So for this, this was for  about 15 minutes, this allowed us to check out techniques that I had known a little through movies and how well I could execute it.  I did this in first period on a monday morning. Even though this was done on friend, I had struggled. Difficulties in things like listening actively to your client, engaging in conversation and to be able to think of questions to ask. But this was really a good aspect of learning.