What is it like to work with people from different countries and cultures in our treatment center in Epen? Read here the experiences of our drama therapist on the national and international team: Roos Vallentin.
About me
Introducing
I am Roos Vallentin, 35 years old and living in Heerlen. I started my drama therapy career in New York where I worked with homeless people. After returning to the Netherlands I started working as a drama therapist in a forensic clinic. After 10 years I had had enough and I really wanted to work with a motivated target group. I decided not to work forensically anymore, but wanted to keep the challenges and versatility of the target group in my work. U-center was the perfect fit.
I now work on both International and Dutch teams. This is where my English language and knowledge of American culture comes in handy. The target group is complex and challenging, but the clients are also generally very motivated. That makes my work very enjoyable.
Quote
The client is looked at as a whole, and lots of disciplines shine their light on that.
Roos Vallentin - Drama Therapist
What does a workday at U-center look like?
My day begins at about 8:15 a.m. As I walk in, I can already hear the coffee machines in full swing. The first clients greet you, "Goodmorning, good morning," it sounds. With my coffee, I walk to the office where I first take a look at my schedule. Usually I have individual clients first followed by one or two groups. Then I walk to the drama therapy room and the sessions begin. During the break, I often take advantage of the buffet in the restaurant. I do have to keep an eye on the kilos, but fortunately many colleagues are up for a walk in the hill country after lunch. At 5:30 p.m. I finish the day and go home.
Opportunities and challenges
The cultural differences within the clinic make the work difficult at times, but also fun. In the office this can sometimes lead to hilarious misunderstandings, but in the groups I am on edge. You also encounter culture in many different ways there. For example, with a number of clients the role plays are also different and the way someone comes from also colors the role play.
Of course, every client is unique and everyone has a different background. However, working with people from different countries makes it even more complex. Even in groups you can sometimes encounter different norms and values. Although it is not so bad, it is still important to pay attention to that. This is sometimes difficult, but also very interesting and I try to delve into it. As a drama therapist, I enjoy working multidisciplinary and am a great believer in our holistic approach. The client is looked at as a whole and a lot of disciplines shine their light on that.
Working in our treatment center
You work with many different disciplines in inspired teams. Together you try to help people with complex problems, different backgrounds and cultures to get the best out of themselves. Because of the mix of individual sessions and group contacts, the work offers a lot of variety and you certainly won't get bored. If you are someone who likes to work with a versatile, challenging target group in a beautiful environment, then working at U-center is for you.