Assessment Of Mental Health Counseling

To ensure that all possible clients of all walks of life are successfully benefiting from the counseling profession, advancement in the assessment field should be of a primary concern for present and future counselors. It is understood and respected that a multitude of counselors vary in the foundations of their theoretical framework and collectively not all counselors participate in assessment with their clients, but as the counseling profession continues to grow the demand of expansion is critical.

There are various assessment tools obtainable for assessing the needs for patients or clients. The addiction professional uses assessment instruments as one component of the counseling/treatment process taking into account the client’s personal and cultural background. The assessment process promotes the well-being of individual clients or groups (NAADAC, 2015). This process helps determine how much and what kind of treatment your client needs. It is important to be aware of different types of assessments as well as being familiar with how they work in each situation. As we assess George we will use two different assessment tools to give as an example of how to assesss the needs of this client.

This How a client perceives a counselor is very important in how they effective they feel they

A mental health counselor is a counseling professional, whose duties involves helping individuals cope with difficult life events, managing mental illnesses, and referring patients to additional resources that can help them. Before they can start counseling, they need to follow their states specific requires. For instance, in Louisiana, one has to obtain a master’s degree from an accredited program, have the required hours of supervised practice and coursework, and pass the National Counselor Examination to be licensed and certified. In addition to receiving a license in this field, an individual has to complete an addition 40 hours of continuing education every year to renew their license. The Mental Health Counseling program, offered at Capella, would satisfy most, if not all, of the licensure requirements in Louisiana.

I believe counseling is a collaborative partnership between client and counselor. Furthermore, this collaborative partnership is built from trust and acceptance of both client and counselor. I hope in conjunction with clients to understand the issues and concerns so to help them tap into their wisdom, creativity, and strengths to meet their current challenges. I believe in a comprehensive perspective through which clients can better comprehend themselves in the framework that our thinking about events can lead to emotional and behavioral upset. Moreover, counselors are to provide a safe environment for clients to explore their challenges and identify ways to move differently in overcoming these challenges.

Mental health counselors are still facing barriers in employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Although in December 2010, the VA released the qualification of standards in hiring LPMHs, there is still a shortage of LPMHs (NBCC, ). Today there are about 0.001% or licensed professional counselor working at the VA compared to 25% of all U.S. mental health professional (AAMF, n.d.). In 2015, the Department of Veterans concluded that license mental health counselor would be included in their hiring of 1,900 mental health staff positions (AAMF, n.d.). How can that be so when there is no series code for mental health counselors within the OPM. This is a limitation for mental health counselors when searching for a job within the Department

Mental health counselors have many things to consider when working with clients. Providing services to clients comes with several expectations. Some of the factors which counselors must be aware of include: cultural differences, environmental influences, client expectations, and stages of development which can all play a part in the needs of that particular client. Also included in this group of factors that must be considered are the ethical and legal responsibilities which play a vital role in the

In most cases, the counselor will best serve their client by taking on a “not-knowing” role in the relationship, allowing the client to become the expert in their own lives (Corey, 2013).

Mental health counseling as distinct helping profession is relatively new when compared to other mental health disciplines Carmichael and Erford, (2014). In addition, the general public as well as professional counselors is often perplexed by and has difficulty ascertaining the true meaning, purpose and intentions of what counseling is, what it is not and how it differs from other closely related helping professions. I had the opportunity to interview a clinical mental health counselor who based on his experience, and what I’ve learned throughout my course this semester will help me to gain a better understanding of what this profession actually stands for. Throughout this paper I will reflect on the legal; and ethical issues professional counselors

A counsellor can only help a client go as far as they have been themselves; they have to be willing to change and grow and often this involves feeling and experiencing

Burnout in the field of Mental Health Counseling is a serious concern for everyone involved, whether the person is just beginning their journey, or if they are a seasoned veteran with years of experience. Unless, the person has a prevention plan in place and adds it into their busy schedule and does not stray from their commitment of their self-care program. It is easy when we get busy to skip a day here and there and the next thing you know we have not taken care of ourselves for a month or longer. Once we permit ourselves to neglect our self-care program the symptoms of burnout and begin to develop very quickly. Personally, I believe with a good self-care program, it is easier to circumvent burnout, then it is to overcome it once you are in its grips. Here are some of the things I implement into my schedule to help myself from becoming burnt out.

Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals (Carmichael and Erford, 2014).I had to learn what it meant to be a counselor in order to decide if it was a path that I was willing to go down. I have learned a lot over the last 10 weeks from wellness strategies, writing clear and concisely and making ethical decisions. I also learned how essential is was to participate in supervision, seek a consult and make sure that my treatment is evidenced based as well effective for the client. I also conducted an interview with a mental health counselor. This paper will take you through

They must provide a non-judgmental environment so that the client feel respected, and of value to openly discuss life events, behaviors, feeling, and thoughts. The Professional Counselor’s role is to create this climate for the clients to examine their emotions to arrive at solutions that is best for the clients. The professional’s assignment is to assist the individuals in finding solutions that are most corresponding with their own values, not to persuade the clients by imposing their values on the client.

Mental health counselors take other professional’s feelings and needs into consideration. Counselors respect the obligations of other organizations and institutions. They treat other professionals with the same respect as they do with clients. Counselors work with others whenever necessary in cooperation to benefit the welfare of clients. When counselors are not competent in an area, they refer clients to a professional who has the competency to serve. When counselors have knowledge of incompetency of another professional they are obligated to inform the state licensing board or ethics committee (American Mental Health Counselors Association, 2010).

Mental health counselors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote mental health. They are trained to address a wide range of issues, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress management, problems with self-esteem, issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, and marital or other relationship problems. Mental health counselors often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors. (US Department of Labor)