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The Roles and Functions of a Clinical Mental Health Counselor
M. Smith
The Roles and Functions of a CMHC
COUN 5004: COUN5223 - Introduction to Mental Health Counseling
Dr.
April 29, 2012
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Mental health counseling programs have been designed to prepare individuals to help patients with personal problems, conflicts, or emotional crises. These individuals/students learn to guide patients to improved mental health. They also learn
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Color schemes, furniture, room accessories, lighting, room temperature, confidentiality are all key factor to remember when decorating office. A counselor should take Smith 4 on the responsibility to make the room feel comfortable, “home-like”, and relaxing as possible and they might seek consultation to do so. Among their other responsibilities, counselors must maintain well-kept records of the counseling activities and client’s progress. This is a key component of working effectively with clients. Accurate documentation is benefits both the counselor and their client. Keeping accurate professional records facilitates the provision of quality services to clients and provides self protection for the counselor and ensures that state and federal guidelines are being followed. According to Gladding and Newsome, some of the other roles of counselors are: outpatient counseling services, day programs, emergency services/crisis intervention, substance abuse services, case management and outreach, education and consultation, residential programs, and inpatient services. Their responsibilities, demands, and functions may then include: client assessment and diagnosis, crisis intervention and prevention, treatment design and implementation. This will also give more experience in seeing that the counselor will be working with
The philosophy that underlies the counseling profession is unique among mental health professionals. According to Remley & Herlihy (2014), the philosophy is made up of four components. First, counselor 's view mental health challenges through a positive, wellness-oriented lens. The primary goal of the wellness model is for the client to achieve the highest degree of mental health possible. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers follow the medical model of mental health. The goal of these clinicians is to cure the client’s illness, which differs drastically from counselor’s view of clients.
This How a client perceives a counselor is very important in how they effective they feel they
However, it is not always that simple and there may be some instances when it is not possible to maintain total confidentiality and the counsellor my have to pass on certain information that was revealed. For example, if a crime has been committed or if there is a risk of harm to another person. In this case the counsellor must be clear with the client what information they may have to pass on and to whom.
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.
The nature of therapist-client relationship and understanding the therapist’s role is vital in making sure that the client’s rights are not jeopardized. The client must be willing to trust the therapist. The therapist can earn the trust of the client will confidentiality guidelines that are established by requiring informed consent. The therapist-client relationship is based on counseling approach as well as relationship with the client. The therapist’s role is to understand the client’s needs, help them get their needs met mentally, and to develop the proper plan that fits the client’s needs. The therapist must fully
A mental health counselor often helps their clients make positive choices and changes due to the decisions and insights they help facilitate. Many counselors work in hospitals with psychiatric patients or with mentally ill adults in continued day treatment programs. Some choose private practice or practice in counseling centers, government agencies, and corporations and youth homes. They usually work in pleasant and comfortable surroundings, working a standard workweek. Some counselors are available weekends or evenings for the convenience and needs of their clients. Mental health counselors are an extremely valuable part of the healthcare system.
Each person is unique with different gifts, abilities, and struggles. Counselors are committed to walk with individuals on their journeys to growth and healing without judgement.
They find problems in their client and find a way to solve it, also called diagnosing clients (BigFuture.org). This is the most important thing that a mental health counselor does. They help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorder and problems with family and relationships (BLS.gov). They listen to people and their problems and help them understand their problems and help them develop strategies to make their life better. Counsel people that are having hard times due to family, jobs, or social issues (Careerinpychology.org). Mental health counselors find out what the reason is for why people are having their problems. Mental health counselors have to do a lot in this
The profession of counseling has a rich and bold history, evolving through the years from varied disciplines and birthing diverse specialties and branches along the way. Often referred to as the youngest of the counseling specialties is clinical mental health counseling. Despite physical health’s grasp on the nation, mental health has been a major focus at various times throughout history and continues to become an ever growing concern for people in general. As people come to better understand mental health issues and the demand for services grows, it is important to look at how clinical mental health counseling, and the counseling profession in general, has developed over time and how it has advanced to meet the needs of those seeking services.
School counselors are focused on enhancing education and academic achievement. The school does not provide treatment for depression or bipolar disorder. Additionally, individual and group counseling is only one function of the school counselor role. School counselors are leaders in the school, teach guidance lessons, assist with post-secondary transition plans, advocate for students, and collaborating with teachers and administration to meet student needs (Erford, Lee, & Rock, 2015). Mental health counselors greatest role is counseling. Thus, they can devote more time to counseling alone. Mental health counselors can work in various settings, but their goal is to promote positive mental health and treat psychological disorders. They help with everyday issues and treatment of serious
Do I have a Duty to do something? In counseling, I believe we all have a Duty, but, sometimes, depending on the issue, the question becomes who do I have a Duty to ? myself, my God, or the client? This ?D? and the other ?D?s will be discussed forthcoming in the issue I have chosen to discuss.
A counselor should be very observant and able to interpret non-verbal communication for example if the patient looks angry, and then find out the cause of his/her anger first. An effective counselor should provide non-possessive warmth in a counseling environment. Smile and show concern and acceptance by showing comfort, empathy, and understanding to the patient.
This paper will discuss the following 4 Core Functions of a Counselor: Case Management, Client Education, Crisis Intervention, Referral and their primary purposes.
Example is the counsellor job is to start to talk with the client to help the client feel safe and positive about the session. Also providing the clients with the basis communication skills, that shows that they are able to have these skills and are helping them get a job with their new skill.
As a potential counselor, there are different reasons why I choose this journey to be a helper, servant and a leader. Not only was my early experiences in life a stepping stone towards this path, but my faith in God and the realities of life led me as well. Even though I am still creating my future towards this goal, there is no doubt that I am called to be in servitude to others. In this journey, I am appreciating the learning fundamentals I have gained from the academic coursework, professionals/teachers and experience that I have encountered to be molded into a multicultural competent counselor. By taking advantage of this opportunity of learning, I have chosen a theoretical orientation that best suits me as a potential clinician according to my beliefs, values and logical thinking. It is also noteworthy to indicate that the self-awareness of my beliefs, values, interests and thought process has been further explored due to the assessments and activities of the Life Story Board, Meyer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Strong Interest Inventory (SII), My Career Story, and Career Genogram, including a reflection of my spiritual walk with Christ.