Prep for Mental Health Professions FINAL

All the material after the midterm

What is career counseling?

• goal directed, action oriented

• exploration of the person

What are challenges of career counseling? (2)

scope & existing client assumption

According to the lecture, why should someone go to career counseling?

1. Work satisfaction is strongly tied to well-being and flourishing

2. Career issues are present in any counseling setting

3. The workforce is continually changing

4. Need to “retool” and adapt one’s vocational goals

What are EAPs?

Employee assistance programs

• in-house or externally contracted

• Addiction, interpersonal, mental health, legal, wellness

What are some settings of career counselors?

• school counselors

• Colleges and universities

• Private practice

What are some activities of career counseling?

1. Career exploration: assessment

2. Career preparation: networking, resume writing, salary negotiating

What theories are associated with career counseling?

• trait factor

• social learning

Trait factor theory

this theory believes that the person and job should “match”

• more limited understanding: has a one-size-fits-all mentality

Social learning theory

self efficacy drive career choices

What is genetic counseling?

education on genetic testing to alleviate patient anxiety

• short-term

• targeted

What services do genetic counselors provide? (4)

• provide info about genetics, inheritance, and specific genetic conditions

• Discuss the benefits, risks, and limitations of genetic testing

• Interpret test results and help patients make decisions

• Provide support to patients, families, and other health care providers

What are some descriptors of genetic counselors?

scientist

detective

teacher

translator

advocate

Where do genetic counselors work?

labs, universities, hospitals, and nonprofits

What are some components of genetic counseling?

• contracting

• info gathering

• risk assessment

• education about the genetic condition

• ascertaining psychosocial issues

• discussion of genetic tests to consider

What are the core focuses of clinical rehab counseling?

• safety and stabilization

• External risk factors

• Strengths focused (agency)

• Advocacy

Of persons with disabilities ____% were born with one, ___% acquired one

17, 83

Medical model of disabilities

• disability is abnormal and should be cured/eliminated

• disability lies within the individual

Social model of disabilities

disability isn’t the problem, an inhospitable environment is the problem

Definition of clinical rehab counseling

counseling persons with disabilities often in rehab settings

supporting persons with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities

Distinctions of school counseling

• career and academic counseling

• 250:1

• systemic counseling

Distinctions of school psychology

• diagnostic assessment of learning disabilities and mental health conditions

• 500:1

Distinctions of social work

• conduit of family and school

• abuse and neglect

• mental health counseling

• 250:1

Commonalities between school counseling, psychology, and social work

• setting

• wellbeing

• whole school is client

• children

• all mandated reported

What are the tenants of school counseling? (6)

1. Focus is enabling academic success

2. Bound by school policies & procedures

3. Focus is the whole student body

4. Masters is often from a school of education

5. Assists with career counseling

6. Certified by the state department of education

ASCA

American school counselor association

• 250:1 ratio recommended

• Direct student services

• Individual student planning

• IEPs

• Indirect

• Community resources

What are the tenants of school social workers? (7)

1. focus on at-risk students

2. direct and indirect student services

3. individual and group counseling

4. Attend IEP’s

5. Mental health crises

6. Work directly with families

7. 250:1 ratio recommended

What are the tenants of school psychology? (7)

1. Most individualized services

2. Conduct psychological evaluations and diagnose disabilities

3. Create IEPs

4. Educate staff on mental health

5. Crisis response

6. 500:1 recommendation

7. specialist level most common

Definition of play therapy

the systematic use of a therapeutic model in which trained professionals use the therapeutic power of play to help children prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth

Natural outcomes of play

• play diminishes anxiety, fear, and frustration

• the ability of the child to imagine during play is consistent with the development of their cognitive functions

Indications for play therapy

• preschool and school aged children (3-12) with:

  • a developmental disability

  • autism

  • poor emotional regulation

  • severe trauma

  • chronic medical conditions

  • speech delays

  • poor social skills

Child-centered approach to play therapy

rapport and nondirective stance from the therapist; child must have autonomy; tends to be long-term

Psychodynamic approach to play therapy

more directive; used with highly traumatized children; therapist helps the child to reconstruct the trauma to gain mastery

Cognitive behavioral approach to play therapy

focuses on changing children’s distorted cognitions

What is the biggest challenge of play therapy?

• how do I know I am playing therapeutically with a child

Core tenents of couples counseling

• Good marriages are based on friendships

• Work on strengthening friendship

• Happily married couples do not have less conflict; they are better able to repair it

• Must learn to accept differences…trying to change another person is futile

Cyclical Marital Dynamics

1. current conflict theme

2. History with the conflict theme

   1. reacting to conflict out of historical circumstances

   2. high level emotion connected to a low level event

3. Traditions from family of origin

   1. Cue cards from past

   2. One’s toolbox for dealing with distress

Distinctives of couples counseling

1. less detailed assessment

2. Typically shorter term than individual

3. change oriented interventions almost immediately

4. eclectic with techniques

5. Therapist-client relationship less pivotal

Principles of family work

• must understand every part of family life in terms of the family as a whole

• family has a boundary and objects within it

• emphasis on progress

10 Therapeutic factors in groups

1. installation of hope

2. universality

3. imparting information

4. altruism

5. corrective recapitulation of the family group

6. development of socialization techniques

7. imitative behavior

8. interpersonal learning

9. group cohesiveness

10. catharsis

What therapeutic factor in group therapy is the strongest predictor of a successful outcome?

group cohesiveness

The main challenge of group therapy is the create a sense of _________.

safety

The leader in a group must model…

• attentiveness to nonverbal and verbal communication

• a determination to clarify meaning

• giving the group ownership

• finding commonalities and making linking statements

• an ability to maintain focus

Self-care

taking an active role in your own well-being instead of relying on others to provide care

Signs of poor self care

• poor boundaries

• exhaustion

• calling in sick

• loss of hope

• depression

• negativity towards clients

Burnout

• an outcome of chronic stress

• the gradual extinguishing of energy

• often related to the compulsion to prove oneself by working harder, neglecting one’s own needs, and withdrawing from social life

Causes of burnout

lack of fit between a person and their job

• workload

• control

• level of reward

• fairness

• values