Mental Health Counseling Maturity and Counseling Adolescences Palmo's article attempted to explain the status of the mental health counseling profession in 1999. The profession was relatively new, at 20 years in the making. Efforts were still being made to increase public awareness and parity for pay amongst all mental health professions. Mental health counseling was again being placed on a backburner to professions such as social work, psychology, and psychiatry. Insurance companies were using mental health counseling as a scapegoat reference to decrease pay. The concerns and well-being of the clients were not being considered or cared about in great lengths. Clients were being forced to be viewed as patients, thus requiring a diagnosis for …show more content…
Insurance companies are more willing to pay for mental health services. "There now exists a wide variety of MCOs and direct payers our clients can choose from" (Palmo, 1999, p. 3). We are now more of a collaborative effort instead of being competitive with social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists (Palmo, 1999). However, the counseling profession is more widely accepted as a unique stand-alone profession also, because people see a need for what we do. Our core conditions and embracing of the counseling process makes us exceptional to the well-being of the betterment of our society, in my …show more content…
In the words of Gladding and Newsome (2018), "Adolescence is the period when young people transition from childhood to adulthood" (p. 266). This stage of development can be particularly stressful for young people. Outside influence from peers become a factor, as well as physical changes taking place within the body, otherwise known as puberty. Adolescents face a phase where they have a belief of being invulnerable. I would like to be an instrumental force as a counselor, listening and guiding my youth clients in finding out who she/he is as a person. Identity development is significant, and I would like to be an influential force in the up and coming youth. Our youth should know that friendships are important and can be negative, as well as positive. I will help my clients identify the negative and positive influences in their lives. Adolescents should know that family is equally, if not more, important than friendships they may develop. I can help my youth clients identify and learn to cope with normative and nonnormative life events that may modify their path of development (Gladding & Newsome, 2018, p. 272). From my time as a substitute teacher to middle schoolers, I know rapport building is vital in the counseling profession with this age group as well. I will strive to develop a relationship with the children I counsel based on trust, understanding, and confidentiality. I will be an active
Each year, 52 million Americans have some form of mental health problem and out of those patients 60% are members of a managed care group. (Madonna, 2000, ¶ 8) Managed mental health care’s successes and failures now bear directly on the mental wellbeing of 32 million particularly vulnerable Americans. Initially managed care was intended to be a “comprehensive approach to healthcare that included balancing cost, quality, utilization, and access.” (Madonna, 2000, ¶ 23) In theory, this is an optimal approach to the delivery of health care and it has proven somewhat successful in the area of physical health, but it has not provided the same success in the area of mental health. Mental health is still being treated as a separate and less important aspect of health care despite the fact that some mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, have shown higher success rates than those of common medical procedure, such as angioplasty. (Etheredge, 2002, ¶ 6)
Practitioners are likely to concentrate on the mental health issues rather than the overall issues that prevent the well-being of an individual. For instance, an individual could have other medical issues that need attention but the need could be ignored because a psychiatrist specialises in mental health needs. The previous negative experience of a service user and lack of insight could result in the service user not requesting the support they
The creation of the profession of the mental health counseling was first founded in the 1900’s. However, the first mental health counse...
Braun, S. A., & Cox, J. A. (2005). Managed mental health care: Intentional misdiagnosis of
Veroff,J.,Douvan,E.,& Kulka,R.A.(1981). Mental Health in America: Patterns of help-seeking from 1957-1976. New York: Basic Books.
Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find", is an example of Southern Gothic literature. This style according to dictionary.com is defined as, "a literary genre depicting life in the southern U.S. and featuring grotesque themes and imagery", or according to Professor Lupold Moody of the University of Montana, "In order to be Southern Gothic, the story must be set in the American South and have gothic characteristics (supernatural, ironic, or unusual events often guide the plot) that usually attempt to explore the social and cultural character of the South". In this story what begins as an account of a family planning a trip to Florida and the description of this journey once they leave their Georgia home, ends in the appalling death of this entire family. The qualities inherent in Southern Gothic literature are fulfilled in this work. Rather than a short story written simply as a quick read with a shock at the end, on deeper analysis this story points out flaws in the human race and peoples' capacity for change. Foreshadowing and characterization are two literary devices used effectively by O'Conner in her short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find", not only to build suspense, but to reveal weaknesses of the human race while still giving a small sliver of hope that people are able to change.
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).
In the case of changing the mental health policy in North Carolina, the impetus for the change seems to be adopted by the State Auditor’s report beside other reports of many entities confirming the deviation of mental health service away from its original goal. According to these reports, mental health services are still delivered via traditional health delivery models rather than coordinated well-managed ones. Interestingly, these reports analyze the spectrum of mental health services nationwide with the exception of the State Auditor’s 2000 report Study of the Psychiatric Hospitals and the Area Mental Health Programs which was specifically designed for the North Carolina.
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).”
Counseling Psychology is a specialty within the professional psychology that maintains a focus on facilitating personal and interpersonal function across the life span. Those who are Counseling Psychology focuses on the clients emotional, social vocational, education health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns.
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.
Chapters two, five and six focused mainly on the helping relationship and the core values, empathy, and probing and summarizing as helpful skills. These three chapters seemed to flow into each other nicely.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), it defines mental illness as Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. (What Is Mental Illness? (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness). Mental Disorders are a wide range of mental conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. There are a lot of different psychological disorders here is a list of the major psychological disorders and their definitions:
Professional ethical conduct is essential to the success of any client, whether it is in individual counseling or in a group setting. Professional psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers or others in the field of human service or help have the duly responsibility to continuously become aware of their professional responsibilities, and manage their practice based on areas of ability. This paper will research ethics within groups and individual counseling, and compare their similarities and their differences.
One aspect I found striking was the role of advice giving in counseling. Prior to this class, I knew that counselors did not typically give opinions or advice to lead a client in a certain direction. What I did not know was the entire reasoning behind this. A counselor might avoid giving advice so that a client learns to make his/her own decisions, does not become dependent on the counselor, and to ensure that a client will not later blame the counselor if the counselor’s advice did not turn out well. In this context, I have a better appreciation and understanding of why therapists refrain from telling the client what to do.