I’m Reina Roznowski, a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student at Western Michigan University. I plan to obtain a license as a Licensed Professional Counselor, as well as be certified in Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Holistic Health Care in the state of Michigan. Counseling is a profession that emphasizes advocacy, empowerment, and wellness in order to aid clients with their problems. When I graduate, I hope to work in Michigan with adults struggling with substance abuse focusing on a holistic perspective to provide appropriate counseling services, diagnosis, and a wide range of assessments. Once I graduate from the Counseling Education Counseling Psychology Clinical Mental Health program at Western Michigan University, I will be able to become
Smyth, N. (1994). Addictions counseling: a practical guide to counseling people with chemical and other addictions/The addiction process: effective social work approaches/Clinical work with substance-abusing clients (book). Social Work, 39(5), 616.
I was born in a small town of -----------of underdeveloped country of Bangladesh. I grew up speaking Bengali, wore traditional clothes, created intricate henna designs on women’s hands, and performed classical Bengali music. Since childhood, thought other than becoming a doctor never registered in my mind. My high grades in high school helped me to obtain admission in one of the most desirable place to learn Medicine, Mayemen Medical College.
It is a privilege to interview veteran therapists who are exiting the counseling arena after a long career in the profession. I was honored to shadow Lea Keylon, a seasoned counselor, who on the eve of retirement set aside time for a student interview. The enlightening interview opened my understanding to the importance of proper diagnostic coding for insurance reimbursements, the financial struggles of private practice, and the poignant effect of forensic counseling on therapist (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Lea was eager to share her counseling accounts; however, the excitement of retirement planning could be seen in her demeanor. Private practice requires self-discipline, constant research for legislative changes, peer support and consultation, time management, tenacity, and patience. The encounter with Lea impressed the importance to surround myself with colleagues that are enthusiastic about learning and continuing education opportunities, to hire assistance for time-consuming administrative task, and adequately assess a proper caseload that will sustain my counseling practice and without avoid counselor burn out (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010).
This paper will answer the following questions: What are the key concepts of substance abuse counseling? What is the theory behind substance abuse counseling? What is the therapeutic process? What are the specific techniques and procedures used in substance abuse counseling? And what are the weaknesses and limitations of substance abuse counseling?
The professional mental health counselor I interviewed is my faculty advisor and her name is Dr. Konja Kleeper. She has many credentials and certifications and, as my faculty advisor, is aligned with my licensure and career goals. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She also informed me that any credentials beyond the LPCC and NCC are up to my own discretion.
My interest in pursuing a doctorate degree in counseling psychology has been influenced by a combination of life experiences and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Though the path which has led me to this destination is complex, the journey has provided me with the clarity and insight necessary to understand human behavior from a holistic perspective. As I approach the completion of my masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I am faced with the unsettling realization that I have more questions than I do answers. This has fueled my innate desire and motivation to continue challenging myself by attaining a doctorate degree from the University of North Texas.
Another experience that has shaped my decision to become a school counselor has been my continuing work with VCU’s Addiction and Women’s Health: Advancing Research and Evaluation (A.W.H.A.R.E.) Research Team under the direction of Dr. Dace Svikis. With the A.W.H.A.R.E. Research Team, I work with at-risk pregnant women. I have had the opportunity to inform women about our studies, conduct interviews, and enter data into the SPSS dataset. However, more importantly I have witnessed the struggles faced by people with limited resources. Through my experience, I know that my interest lies in directly influencing individuals to b...
When I first began hearing Mental Health, I thought it was a nice way of saying you’re dealing with crazy people (I know we are not supposed to say this). I have learned that Mental Health is an umbrella under which Mental Illness or Disorders are developed or discovered and treated. Everyone has Mental Health whether they have a problem or not is another question. I think every place of employment should be required to have classes on mental health and customer service no matter line of line it is. This would help solve some of the problems we have with work place violence and stress and some of the issues with the police. It would also help lead some people to getting the help they may need on their own
Saisan, Joanna, Melinda Smith, and Jeanne Segal. "Substance Abuse and Mental Health." Help Guide. N.p., Feb. 2014. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. .
A mental health counselor is about interacting with people who have various mental issues. A mental health counselor help patients work through their personal issues, and they provide psychotherapy, assessments, diagnosis, substance abuse treatment. Patients deal with a range of issues from anger to suicidal tendencies. The counselor purpose is to help the patients manage their stress and refocusing it towards achieving goals for themselves.
The mental health assessment is a crucial part in everyday nursing care as it evaluates an individual’s mental condition to assess for risk factors of mental illnesses and provide optimal care and treatment. Mental health is described as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” (CDC) If the patient not mentally healthy, they can develop mentally illnesses, which can affect treatment and the disease process of physical ailments because without mental health a person cannot be completely healthy. “Suicide Risk Assessment in High Risk Adolescents” is a nursing article that outlines suicide risk factors and prevention strategies for assist nurses in performing mental health assessments. Suicide, the act of
I am writing this letter because I am highly motivated to do the Health Psychology master’s program and I want to be considered as a candidate. I have a Bachelor’s Degree of Psychology from Budapest, Hungary with the highest grade 5. My qualification has already been sent to UK NARIC and the Statement of Compability will arrive to you shortly at the beginning of September. I am applying for this course because I have always wanted to be a psychologist and the Cardiff Metropolitan University can provide my next step to do so.
Mental health is a progressive problem across our nation. The prevalence of behavioral and mental disorders makes their appearance nearly inevitable in all fields of medicine. Consequently, attentiveness to such disorders is essential for providing holistic and effective care. Given my background in neurology and psychology, I am confident that I have great potential to contribute to the OHSU PA Program’s goal to, “Foster the integration of the biological, psychological, and social concepts of health promotion and disease prevention into the clinical practice of graduates.” I intend on achieving this goal by educating patients on their psychological well-being and helping to improve the quality of care provided by my health care team.
I belong to a middle-class family from a small town, named Rishikesh in Northern India. The quality of public primary health care services was severely deficient in those times. My elder brother is born with a birth defect ‘Club-foot’. My parents used to travel more than 150 miles every three weeks for his treatment. He went through multiple surgeries and heavy medications which made him weak internally. A weak immune system as a child meant that he was sick often and it hampered his education and career progress. We went through hardships fighting with it throughout our growing years. I was drawn to the medical field because of my early exposure to health implications faced by family members.
Smith, R.L. & Stevens, P. (2009). Substance abuse and counseling. Theory and Practice. (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.