Alice had her Looking Glass, Lucy had her Wardrobe, Harry had Platform 9 ¾, and we Interns have . . .The Attic, that wonderfully snug and twisted way into the magical world of HGI.
Since our June first start date, we four Master's interns have been orienting to the peculiar, mysterious ways of our Institute-forms, administrative systems, egress and ingress, standards, case management, contracts- as well as to the more fascinating ways of our magician mentors. We have much to absorb!

But all work and no play makes interns a dull group, so we spent some time painting ceramics to learn about ourselves as learners and therapists. We visited the Contemporary Arts Museum exhibits on Boys Behaving Badly and New Film and Video, all finding something individually of interest (though perhaps we all were fascinated by the lights that flashed words that could only be seen by looking away perhaps there is a metaphor in there somewhere?). The photographs of Diane Arbus at the Museum of Fine Arts show individuals as well as the cultural influences exerted on them the common and the marginalized folk. How will we work with all these different types of people?

This summer we will continue our learning and training by having reflecting team clients (like a three hour practicum) and by sitting with HGI therapists and their clients. Gradually, as we learn our own magical ways, we will have opportunities for co-therapy with clients and then clients of our own. Magic wand, where are you?

The HGI Interns

Blessing for our Journey

O Spirit of the World
that is greater than us all;

May your wisdom guide our journey,
May your vision show the way,
May your hearing ope' our hearts,
May your feeling wake our senses,
May your talking ease our fears,
May your magic fill our souls.

May our journey toward our destiny
Be rapt within your blessings.

          Nancy Baxley

MEET THE LEARNERS

Adriana Elizabeth Gil-Wilkerson
I was born in Baytown, TX in August of 1978. I have grown up in and around the Greater Houston Area. I lived and attended school in Crosby, TX, a very small and rural town, but with the advantage of being a thirty minute drive to the city. I knew I wanted to become a therapist when I was twelve and we talked about our futures in a middle school class. I feel as though every day I am a small step closer to my goal. Now, that I have begun my internship at HGI, I definitely feel closer to the goal of obtaining an MFT license. I am very excited to be a part of such a wonderful group of dedicated therapists.

Nancy Baxley
Age before beauty I'm beginning to say! This is Nancy Baxley at the verge of a new career. My first career as an environmental legal researcher and legal administrator tapped into the organizational skills honed in completing a Master's in Library Science and the writing skills developed in classes related to a BA in Honors Studies. Yet all this time my principal career was maintaining loving relationships with my friend and spouse of 26 years and our four children. As our younger two children are approaching high school, I continue to have important responsibilities at home. HGI has been kind enough to work with me and tailor a two year, part time internship so that I will be working primarily during secondary school hours. At the Institute I look forward to immersion in a philosophy of life and way of being in conversation that will enhance my personal growth and thus my potential helpfulness to others.

Melanie Morrison
Melanie Morrison, originally from Dallas, emigrated south to Houston eleven years ago. With both of her kids in school, she began her undergraduate studies in psychology at the University of Houston, Central Campus. Melanie is currently completing an MS in Family Therapy at UH Clear Lake. In her first FT class, she fell in love with postmodern ideas and hitched her wagon to HGI. She came first to the Institute as a volunteer and participant in seminars. This summer, she joined as a full fledged member in conversation with her fellow Internship team.   Melanie lives 'around the corner' in Spring with her two teenagers and two dogs.

Shelly DeLuz
Born in Hawaii on May 3, 1978, to two very young parents, Shelly DeLuz started her life of exploration and growth. Through Military means, Shelly lived in Tennessee until she was four, and eventually settled in Houston with her mother, Ruby Gonzalez. While growing into a young adult, Shelly has acquired a fond love for traveling, cooking and trying new cuisines. Shelly is excited about her continuous growth as a therapist, a person, a learner, a partner, a parent, a collaborator, a creator and a lover of life. As a proud graduate of the University of Houston, and a current graduate student of Our Lady of the Lake University, Shelly looks forward to her new internship as part of the Houston Galveston Institute Collaborative Team.