This paper will provide a brief historical view of the counseling profession. In addition, it will focus on the importance of the philosophies of wellness, resilience, and prevention. Furthermore, it will identify the preferred counseling specialization and give a concise detail of how the profession was formed. Moreover, it will also discuss another counseling specialization that will go hand in hand with the preferred counseling specialization analyzing the case of a 12 year old female name Ashley. Hence, a brief discussion of the roles and functions of each professional will be given in details on how it would benefit Ashley and her family. Lastly, I will provide a brief example of how we would work as a team so that the end result will benefit each member of the family. A brief historical view of the counseling profession with a concentration of the philosophies on the wellness model will be discussed. Myers & Sweeney (2008) states, the wheel of wellness is a model that is gear towards the individual’s well-being in which body, mind, and spirit are linked as one so that the client and professional can live life to the fullest within social and natural norms. In addition, resilience for professionals is to know how to cope and come out of a stressful situation without any kind of remorse. Furthermore, prevention is to prevent disastrous of one’s life. For example, an individual needs to re-evaluate his or her life on a daily basis. According to Venart & Pitcher 2007 [Myers & Sweeney (2005] states, Wellness is an aftermath and a system, a primary aspiration for existing, and a way of life. The creation of the profession of the mental health counseling was first founded in the 1900’s. However, the first mental health counse... ... middle of paper ... ...ian Approach to Family Counseling. Journal Of Individual Psychology, 67(3), 232-244. Hanna, F. J., & Bemak, F. (1997). The quest for identity in the counseling profession. Counselor Education and Supervision, 36(3), 194. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/201301734?accountid=27965 Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (2008). Wellness counseling: The evidence base for practice. Journal of Counseling and Development : JCD, 86(4), 482-493. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/219029297?accountid=27965 Smith, H. B., & Robinson, G. P. (1995). Mental Health Counseling: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of Counseling & Development, 74(2), 158-162 Wehrman, J. D., & Field, J. E. (2013). Play-Based Activities in Family Counseling. American Journal of Family Therapy, 41(4), 341-352. doi:10.1080/01926187.2012.704838
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.
Norcross, J. C. (2000). Clinical versus counseling psychology: What’s the diff. Eye on Psi Chi, 5(1), 20-22.
Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychology. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cenage Learning
The paper will summarize the roles and responsibilities of a behavioral health counselor and provide current models of wellness and resiliency. Behavioral health counselors must be able to function in a face-paced primary care environment.
Hutchinson, David. (2012). The essential counselor: Process, skills, and techniques (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications, Inc.
It is known that Therapeutic counseling is an important tool for the treatment, prevention and promotion of mental health. The psychotherapeutic method contains variables that influence the progress of the emotional state of an individual. Although the techniques and methods are components of the treatment, yet there still not a robot or machine to execute the interventions, as is found on the medical field, for example. Instead, the treatment is performed by counselors, who are mental health professionals. They are trained to establish a working relationship with the individual in need of help. Even though, they need to be well equipped, they are still human. Subsequently, is visible that in counseling therapy, a human helps another human, and therefore, a mental health helps another mental health. Does it mean that one have to be stable to help the non-stable? Does it mean that one have to be mentally healthy to help the mentally ill? For that reason, is important to understand what composes a suitable profile of a counselor. This article aim to study based on research literature, some information by researchers regarding the effective profile of a counselor.
As a practicing Mental Health Counselor, it will be incumbent that I plan, schedule, and attend a variety of conferences, trainings, and seminars. While planning these events, I will pay particular attention to my weaknesses in the topics of “Knowledge and Application of Evidence-Based Practice, Knowledge of Measurement and Psychometrics,” and “Diagnosis” as significant weaknesses (Western Oregon University, 2017). Further, if there are workshops available to increase my knowledge of the Behavioral approaches to counseling, I will be cognizant of my aversion towards these approaches and make sure I attend them.
Fain, N. C. & Lewis. N. M. (2002). Wellness: The Holistic Approach to Health. Journal of
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).”
Sommers-Flanagan, J.& Sommers- Flanagan, R.(2004).Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context and Practice: Skills, Strategies, and Techniques. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (9th Edition). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.
There are a wide range of many different employment and further development routes that could be pursued as a psychology graduate. Through exploring various options, both chartered and non-chartered areas in Psychology and Applied Psychology, I came to the conclusion that my area of interest lies in the career path of Counselling Psychology. I believe that pursuing my study through the route of Counselling Psychology would not only enable me to gain deeper understanding on mental health issues, but also the knowledge development in the integration of psychological theory and therapeutic practice.
If one wants to live an enjoyable, fulfilling life they must know what it truly means to be well. Living a wellness lifestyle means incorporating all aspects of what it takes to flourish as a human being. It goes beyond the health of the physical body and incorporates the important social, emotional, and spiritual factors that play a part in every person’s life in one way or another. Knowing how to act correctly, control our feelings, channel our frustrations, and improve in each dimension of wellness will lead to a satisfactory life. Spiritual, physical, emotional, nutritional, and social wellness define the biggest components of life and thriving in them is vital.
Corey, G. (2011). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. (ninth ed., pp. 291-301). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
According to the text, wellness is defined as an "integrated and dynamic level of functioning oriented toward maximizing potential, dependent on self-responsibility. " It involves both preventive health behaviors and a shift in thinking and attitude. Wellness is a lifelong promise to oneself of growth and achievement in each of the seven dimensions: emotional, spiritual, physical, occupational, intellectual, environmental, and social. It means a lifetime of ongoing change and always striving toward higher levels of healthy and successful living. This means, ultimately, that one must live a life that caters to each of those dimensions, both individually and collectively.