Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTION

Interview Reflection Paper Leonard T. Thomas II Georgia State University SW 3400: HBSE II

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Interview Reflection Paper Date of Interview: 4/11/14 Name of Interviewee: LaTasha Dixon Organization Affiliation: Atlanta Regional Commission, Care Transitions Coordinator Interviewer: Leonard Thomas (in collaboration with other team members) As a group we had the opportunity to interview LaTasha Dixon about her experiences working with older adults. Admittedly, at the beginning of this project we were hard pressed to find a willing candidate to speak with us about any traumatic experiences that may have happened earlier in life. Thankfully, April was able to secure Ms. Dixon and we were able to start the work for this assignment. In the course of the interview, Ms. Dixon provided a wealth of knowledge that essentially acted as a reinforcement to information already learned in the course of our HBSE class this semester. It was interesting to hear about direct practice and learn firsthand what it is to look for signs of sexual abuse on a person. Quite obviously, sexual trauma of any kind is life altering and she made us intimately aware of what her patients go through on a daily basis in order to mitigate the effects of the abuse. Overwhelmingly, the challenges faced by older adults in relation to sexual trauma overlap quite consistently when compared to young and middle adults. All victims regardless of their age feel immense distress because feelings of shame accompany psychological manifestations. I was however, surprised to find that victimized older adults suffer more from episodes of disassociation as opposed to young and middle adults, when it would seem the reverse. The interview resonated with me because while I dont have any friends in old age, I do have a friend who was sexually abused as a child. While her personality is vivacious, over time I can admit that she has begun to show signs of depression and withdrawal. While Ive attempted

INTERVIEW REFLECTION PAPER

to have her speak with someone, all Ive received in return for my efforts is denial and complacency with the circumstances. While shes a dear friend, I fear that her resolve will only thicken into her older years. The challenge is finding the trigger that will alert her to whats going on inside her emotionally. In terms of social work and what it looks like for the future, I know that this will not be my practice area simply because of the emotional toll. I am interested in the topic however because it does effect a very important person in my life. I would definitely like to see policy changes in the way of providing more federal and state assistance to victims of sexual abuse, and tougher laws for those that choose to abuse others. While my interest area is unrelated, I do feel that I will come into contact with victims because LGBT members do experience this unfortunate event in their lifetimes. I would like to have better tools for the future in working with those who have gone through this. I cant imagine that abuse will altogether any time soon, but am hopeful that the tide will change in the coming years. A four month course in human behavior nor a 30 minute interview will provide nor prepare me completely for whats ahead, but by the courses conclusion I would like to evolve not only in my lifes walk as a human being living among other human beings, but also as a social worker seeking to connect marginalized groups to an immense world that for so many is frustratingly difficult to explore and simultaneously too suffocatingly small to escape. By bridging the gap between clients and resources, I hope to accumulate an arsenal of tools that will aid in my ability to adapt to a variety of situations and make my chosen profession a pliable and fulfilling experience.