Professional Development Plan

Program of Study (POS) and Professional Development (PD) Plan

Lindsey Litzinger
Walden University
Program of Study (POS) and Professional Development (PD) Plan

Mental Health Counseling Development, Training, and Licensure Plan

Degree: _Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling___________________________________________

Expected Graduation Date: __May 2017__________________________

Professional Development:

Why Mental Health Counseling & What Motivates Me to achieve my goal:
Our society is in need of more individuals who wish to make a difference in their communities. Therefore, the obtaining of my degree in Mental Health Counseling, is my first step on my path of being able to give back to my community.

I want to utilize this degree , where I become a resource and tool for my community members who our in need of mental health services.
My family has been my backbone and strength , and they motivate me everyday to finish my degree.

Their faith in me allows me to push forward, and drive me to stay on track , so I can reach my goals. In addition, without my passion to want to help others none of my goals I want to achieve would be possible.
Growth within the Counseling Profession:
I will continue to grow in the counseling field by attending workshops and convention's to learn about new techniques and training on different speaclities in the counseling profession. I will also seek guidance from my supervisors, and learn from there years of experienced.
Professional Converence I would like to

Attend:
A professional conference I would like to Attend is the Montreal, Canada ACA of 2016 Conference and Expo. The conference is March 30th-April 3rd. This conference will give me the opportunity to hear keynote speaker's on different areas in the counseling field. It will also be a great way to network.
Professional Topic to Present:
If I could present at a conference , I would speak about Domestic Violence and the Cycle of Abuse. This topic is very important to be discussed because 1 and 4 women will become a victim of this violence. (NCADV, 2007) We can only change our society by addressing the problems and taking action to prevent them.
Scholarly Writing:
I still have a long way to go before , I will be able to participate in scholarly writing on any level. However, I do wish to start a local website, in my community addressing different mental illness and education on other disorders. I plan to enhance the site by using scholarly writing, to provide research based evidence on the topics to be discussed. Therefore, I believe this goal will happen after about 5-10 years of hands on counseling experience.
Leadership Opportunities:
Leaders are not born they are made and I plan on becoming a leader in my community by developing programs for success for men and women. I want to develop empowerment classes and how to manage stress workshops so people can have the resources they need to live better livies. In addition, I plan on volunteering my time to local youth groups in my community, who may be in need of counselling services.
ACA Code of Ethics:
The ACA Code of Ethics is vital to counselors who need guideness while making hard ethical decisions. These codes will be imprinted in me by applying them while I am counseling and writing research papers. I will use them as my reference for my entire career, because there will always be a situation when they will be needed, and the codes of Ethics will be revised overtime because of society changing every year.
Associations I want to Join:
As a future Mental Health Counselor, I plan on becoming a member of the ACA and the New York Mental Health Counselor Association. I plan on being in the NYMHCA, Buffalo & Niagra Chapter. I plan to join the ACA and NYMHCA in the next`s couple of months as a graduate student.
Education Oppertunities after Graduation:
My education will not stop after I graduate, I plan to attend counseling retreats, and workshops to brush up on the basics and learn new counseling techniques. I plan to read other colleagues research papers, to stay up to date on the new fields of study or any break throughs in the counseling profession.
Challenges I may Experience:
Challenges I may come across on my way to academic success is budgeting my time between my studies,family, and friends. This will be hard for me to due at first,but is essitional for the success in this program. If I cannot manage my time properly things will turn to chaos , and I will be unsuccessful in reaching my goals.
Self-care & Stressors:
Self-care is vital if I am to succeed in becoming a Counselor, because I cannot help anyone if I can't help myself. Therefore, knowing my stressors and how to manage them will be key in my success for the future. I have to make sure I have "me" time were I do not take work home with me, so when I get home I can focus on my family and any fun hobby I haven't had a chance to do. I will also start exercising more to de-stress from the day, and to stay active. Doing these things will make me a better counselor and a more well rounded person.

Clinical and Curricular Training:

Expected date (term and year) to attend Residency I: _Term 4, 2015 _______________________

Expected date (term and year) to attend Residency II: _________Term, 8 th ,2016_______________

Expected date (term and year) to begin Practicum: _________Term 9, 2017_______________

Expected date (term and year) to begin Internship: __________Term 10, 2017______________

Internship requirements expected to be completed by: ____________May , 2017_________

(Walden University)

Plan for Licensure and Certification:

Contact information for the state board:
New York State Board for Mental Health Practitioners
89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234
Tel: [phone], ext. 450, Fax: [phone]
Website:www.op.nysed.gov/prof/mph/
(AMHCA,2012)
Education requirements:
For NY state the master in counseling must be CACREP Accredited and the graduate student must also complete course work or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse. Also the graduate student must complete course work in the following classes, where you can see them on the chart below.
(NYSED,2014)
Supervision requirements:

Before supervision requirements can be met I will have to complete a practicum and a minimum of one year supervised internship clocking at least 600 hours before graduation. In addition, I need to have at least 3,000 clocked hours of supervised experience providing mental health counseling. These hours can only be obtained after I graduate from my masters degree. I also have to apply for a limited permit before I can start my supervised experience, the fee is $70 for this. My supervisor must be a LMHC and registered. They also must provide 1-2 hours a week of in person individual or group counseling. I must have at least 1,500 clocked hours dealing directly with client's. No supervisor can supervise more than five limited permit holders at a time.
( NYSED, 2014)
Exam requirements:

In order for me to receive my license I must pass the NCMHCE, which is administered by the NBCC. (NYSED,2014) The NCE from NBCC is not acceptable for licensure.I first have to submit a application for licensure to the NYS Education Department, the fee is $371. I then need to have Walden verify my education directly to NYS Education Department on the Certification of Professional Education form. After these things are submitted NYS Education Department will notify me of my approval of education and all application materials.Once I have been notified of my approval I will register directly with the examination administrator to take the exam after being notified of my eligibility.
(NYSED,2014)
Identify at least 3 possible facilities in which to complete your Practicum and Internship:
I can complete my practicum and internship at Horizon Health Services, located in Buffalo ,NY, Crisis Services of Western NY, or Turning Point Counseling Services , located in Buffalo, NY.

Course Chart To Identify Required Courses For NY State License:

Courses required by your StateCourses required in your MHC programHuman growth & developmentFoundation for Graduate Study in Counselingsocial & cultural foundation of counseling Intro. To Mental Health Counselingcounseling theory & practiceethics & legal issues in counselingpsychopathologycounseling and psychotherapy theoriesgroup dynamicstechniques of counselinglifestyle and career developmentmulticultural counselingassessment & appraisal of individual, couples, families and groupsassessment in counseling. & educationresearch and program evaluationlifespan developmentprofessional orientation & ethicsdiagnosis & assessmentfoundations of Mental Health Counseling & consultationcareer counselingclinical instructionresearch and program evaluationinternship or practicum in Mental Health Counseling, 600 clock hourscouples and family counselinggroup process and dynamicsprevention, intervention, & consultationssubstance abuse counselingpsychopharmacologycrisis, trauma, & disaster response
Counseling Practicum
Counseling Internship 1 & 2
(Walden University) & ( NYSED,2014)

Licensure: Goal date to complete the National Counselor Exam/State Licensure Exam/National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Exam : ___________October ,2018__________.

Certification: Goal date to complete the National Counselor Certification/National School Counselor
Certification/National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Certification (choose one): ___goal date for NCMHCC is January ,2019__________________.

Expected date to complete all licensure requirements: _______May ,2019________.

Proposed Plan of Study

YEAR 1Fall QtrWinter QtrSpring QtrSummer QTRCoursesCOUN 6101: Foundation for Graduate Study in Counseling (1)

COUN 6100:
Intro. To Mental Health Counseling (5)COUN 6306:
Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling (5)

COUN 6316: Techniques of Counseling (5)COUN 6722:
Counseling and Psychotherapy theories (5)

COUN 6360: Assessment in Counseling & education (5)6-Day Residency required prerequisite for COUN 6723

COUN:6723
Multiculturalism Counseling(5)YEAR 2CoursesCOUN 6336:
Crisis & Trauma Response (5)

COUN 6215:
Lifespan Development (5)COUN 6720:
Diagnosis and assessment (5)

COUN 6753:
Career Counseling (5)COUN 6726:Couples and Family Therapy (5)

COUN 6250:
Group Process & dynamics (5)COUN 6785:
Prevention, intervention,& consultation (5)

COUN 6728:
Substance Abuse Counseling (5)

6-Day Residency prerequisite for COUN 6671YEAR 3CoursesCOUN 6326:
Reseach & program evaluation (5)

COUN 6671:
Counseling Practicum (3)COUN 6743:
Psycho-pharmacology (5)

COUN 6682A
Counseling Internship(3)COUN 6682B:
Counseling Internship (3)(DOC,MHC)
Statement of Counseling Identity
" I am driven to succeed to become a tool, to any member in my community who needs assistance, and one day impact the world.

I see every individual as a book that I have yet to open, and discovery there stories and goals in life. I believe in justice and above all that without trust no foundation in any relationship is worth having. Our society changes day by day because of educated people standing up and speaking out. I am a person of ethics, ambition , and compassion. My life's mission is to help others so they can complete there dreams in life."
References
American Mental Health Counselor Association,2012
http://www.amhca.org/about/related.aspx

Document: Professional Development Plan and Program of Study Template

Document: Program of Study: MS in Mental Health Counseling (MHC)

National Coaltion Against Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence & GOV/AIDS ,2007
http://www.ncadv.org/learn/DV%20and%20HIV%20AIDS.php

NYSED,2014(Office of the

Profession)
http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/mhp/mhp-education-faq.htm

Walden University. (n.d.). MS in mental health counseling: Completion requirements.
Retrieved-from:http://www.waldenuedu/masters/ms-in-clinical-mental-health-counseling?tab=curriculum&subtab=general-program#tabs

Walden University. (n.d.). Residencies home page. Retrieved from http://residencies.waldenu.edu