The reading “What is a Licensed Mental Health or Professional Counselor” provides a series of roles and organizations that the beginning counselor can utilize in order to sustain a career in this field. In some ways, the confusion of the mental health profession is based on the wide variety of career paths a counselor can take, especially when engaging in such an ambiguous and subjective role when engaging clients and other professionals from differing disciplines: “To counsel commonly refers to activities such as deliberating, consulting, guiding, or advising” (5). These factors not only open a broad range of career opportunities, it is difficult for the counselor to find a stable sense of self in this environment. More so, the role of …show more content…
She discussed the laws that are in place that have helped pave the way for families with children who have disabilities. It was interesting to hear about the program and all of the advocacy work that they are involved in because she also implied counselors provides the framework in which families can work with individual clients to achieve greater communication and advocacy within the family unit. Therefore, the counselor is not a “guide” or a “teacher”, but a trained individual that can help families to help their children to gain autonomy in the community. In this manner, the counselor is proving mental health resources and counseling tools to help the family without imposing an authoritarian oversight of the mental health process. Goldman’s speech on the dynamics of family participation in the counseling process defined the important aspects of counselor identity, which I will need to know as mental health professional. Certainly, the process of finding my own identity will only be helpful if I can allow the client and other social frameworks to provide autonomy and assist in the process of mental health improvement. Goldman’s insightful view of the metal health profession has provided me with more tools to find the right balance of assertiveness and cooperation between my role as a counselor and the clients’ social and emotional within the
My professional identity is fundamentally grounded on my commitment to social welfare through which I achieve my sense of purpose. Furthermore, I support the humanistic values that uphold the core philosophy of the counseling profession and uniquely distinguish counseling from other helping professions. Specifically, I endorse the wellness model wherein optimal health is achieved via holistic integration of mind, body and spirit (CITATION). Likewise, I believe that successful integration begins and ends with the counselor-client relationship; a secure, genuine and empathic relationship is at the heart of well-being and personal growth. Finally, my academic studies as well as the experiential learning process thus far have imparted a sincere sense of pride in the field of counseling; I value the dedication that is required to become a counselor and I am confident in our abilities and our mission as a profession. For that reason, I strive to exemplify those values which promote professional competence and enhance the collective identity of the counseling profession.
A common struggle for counselors can sometimes be to find the right balance between “the demands or managed mental health requirements and obligations to clients” (Braun & Cox, 2005, p.426). Often times counselors may be t...
The creation of the profession of the mental health counseling was first founded in the 1900’s. However, the first mental health counse...
Professional identity is the result of a developmental process that facilitates individuals to reach an understanding of their profession in conjunction with their own self-concept, enabling them to articulate their role, philosophy, and approach to others within and outside of their chosen. As counselors engage in this individually unique growth process, it is hoped that the counseling profession as a whole will be strengthened as its practitioners and educators reach a heightened sense of purpose and a synergistic collective identity, an identity which is still developing within the profession. The term collective identity refers to having shared goals, resources, and aspirations for the profession. In order for individuals to build a personal relationship with their chosen occupation, it is important for a clear foundation to be established. To build this foundation, a professional philosophy must be constructed which clarifies and distinguishes one’s profession from other similar vocations; in this instance, other mental health fields. In counseling, this foundation is thought to be created by establishing clear professional expectations through licensure, streamlined educational programming, professional organizations, and ethical standards that build on an underlying professional philosophy. This article will review current literature and research on professional identity in the counseling field. This review will then be presented in relation to the external evaluation of success within counseling and counselor education and how this evaluation is influenced and internally understood through one’s gender role beliefs and associated societal expectations.
The field of clinical mental health is one of great reward, but also one of grave responsibility. It is the duty of the counselor to provide the client with a safe environment and an open mind, in order to foster a healthy therapeutic relationship. The majority of mental health counselors would never intentionally harm their clients; however; good intentions are not enough to ensure that wrong will not occur. The ethical expectations and boundaries are regulated by both laws and professional codes. When discussing ethics, one must realize there are two categories, mandatory and aspirational. (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2007)
Counselors who counsel children and adolescent under the age of 18 or adults who do not have the legal capacity to care for themselves will more than likely experience conflict between what they consider to be their ethical or more obligations and what they consider to be their ethical or moral obligations and what the law dictates that they must do (Salo, 2015). Counselors provide services to minors, who lack legal competency, are obligated to pay attention to the legal rights of parents and guardians. They protect them from harm and take the steps to prevent abuse or neglect of these clients. According to the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, any minor under the age of 18 years old, have the right to consent to counseling without consent of the parent or guardian. Balancing the legal rights of parents or guardian and the
“Nugent and Jones (2009) defined professional identity as how training and personal characteristics are applied in the professional setting. It was theorized that there was a need for development of a strong professional identity among counselor trainees, because professional identity confusion resulted in several negative consequences when these counselors entered the community workforce (Pistole & Roberts, 2002)”. Counselors play an important role in today’s society. Counseling has evolved through the years into the specialized workforce it is today.
I have wanted to be a counselor since my freshmen year of high school and in the counseling field there are many specialties that I can focus on. I am fairly certain that I want to specialize in helping people with substance abuse and their families. I have always focused my studies, interests, and work on things that will help me in this field and I have a lot of qualities that help to enhance me in my eventual career. There are difficulties when I get to practice also like what people perceive as correct counseling style, challenges with my gender and race, and finally creating my own counseling style and plans.
Since 1976, The American Mental Health Counselors Association has been committed to establishing and promoting vigorous standards for education and training, professional practice, and professional ethics for Clinical Mental Health Counselors. So far, this association have 7,000 clinical mental health counselors but its organization is continuously growing (AMHCA).” “The American Mental Health Counselors Association have licensures laws in all 50 states, and the association seeks to enhance the practice of clinical mental health counseling and to promote standards for clinical education and clinical practice that anticipate the future roles of Clinical Mental Health Counselors within the broader health care system. This association was ultimately put together to define and promote professional identity of mental health counselors (AMHCA).”
Crisis Intervention Counselor Career Description: As a crisis intervention counselor, your main responsibility is to identify and help to diminish eliminate a severely unpleasant behavior and/or feelings clients may be experiencing after undergoing a current or recent traumatic event. The main responsibility is to teach a client ways in which they can manage current emotions, allowing them to exit the crisis state of mind. A crisis intervention counselor can use many types of assessments to identify the crisis being experience at the moment and help the client by developing effective counseling for the client, a successful therapy leads to alleviating the mental shock they may be experiencing. Course with Relevant Knowledge PSYC 3347 –
Health and Human Service Professionals can work in a variety of work settings. They can work with children, adults, elderly, or work with people who have substance abuse issues. I recently discovered that Human services fall under two different careers. Human service professionals can focus on either career they prefer. Social Services is one; this career focuses on improving the quality of life for clients. This is a career that emphases on helping others. The second focus is a Mental Health Specialist focus. Mental Health Specialist work directly with people who are trying to change their behavior or achieve a better mental health outlook. Those who are interested in working as a mental health counselor must obtain
A professional school counselor is skilled and trained to use his/her best judgment when it comes to students’ rights and confidentiality. One should behave as a professional at all times and be mindful of their behavior. One not only have to be aware of professional values they should also be knowledgeable of applying these standards as they apply to the role of the school counselor. The professional school counselor is responsible for removing barriers to learning and to advocate for change for all students. In the case study assigned for review, I will examine ethical violation as it contains to student rights, confidentiality and professionalism relationships. The school counselor lives and works in a community where one socializes
According to author Kendra Cherry, “professional counseling is an application of mental health, psychological or development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic intervention strategies, that address wellness, personal growth, or career development” (Cherry - Paraphrase). Many counselors specialize in specific forms of therapy. Generally, counselors who focus on specific types of counseling methods usually require advanced knowledge in the specific field. Counseling can be described as guidance of an individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history information, using various techniques of the personal interview and testing interests as well as aptitudes. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most commonly used methods for psychotherapeutic treatment.
A mental health counselor develops a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health and career goals. Helping others to accomplish their goals and listening to various stories of hardship have always played a part in my life. Stories of others have helped me get through rough times, and so did my own personal stories do the same for others. My story may help save a life tomorrow. It is a rewarding career path that one may enjoy which requires excellent communication skills and a commit between each other.
A counselor is defined as a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems. Professional counselors help to identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional or social interruptions. Counseling also improves communication, strengthens self-esteem, and promotes behavior change in relations to mental health. Counseling enables us to appreciate how we are in healthy relationships and safe environments due to some of the bad things others experience. Counseling helps clients understand and clarify their views on life and learn to reach their goals through making wise choices. In most counseling situations, the client is experiencing personal issues such as low self-esteem,