As part of the process of establishing what areas of counselling I would like to work in on completion of my undergraduate degree, I researched various organizations, including schools, family counseling organizations and other mental health agencies. I have been drawn to counseling for some time as I enjoy helping and listening to others. I like the idea of working with families, children or women in a counseling capacity.
Upon investigation, I discovered two agencies that I consider to best fit my needs and desires as a future counselor. I was attracted by the first agency, the Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh first and foremost due to their holistic approach to healing and therapy, which includes counseling, meditation and reiki therapy. Their more rounded approach to mental health considers emotional health to have a deep impact on the overall wellbeing of an individual, where they, “strive to provide comprehensive services for the mind, body, and relationships.” (http://www.counselingwellnesspgh.com/)
Services at Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh include; marriage
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The counselors at, The Center for Relational Change, work with families, couples and individuals. They regard therapeutic growth and the choices we make in life to involve the mind, body and spirit.
The therapists include a diverse range of race and gender. I found this appealing as the diversity speaks to tolerance and their view of holistic healing and therapies. Services include a range of therapies targeted at family issues, grief and loss, racial and ethnic strife and pre-marital counseling among others. The agency holds that a, “deep and abiding respect for the client’s uniqueness, coupled with profound emotional and psychological presence, and the mastery of a wide range of therapeutic skills,” to be a part of their purpose.
Smith, H. B., & Robinson, G. P. (1995). Mental Health Counseling: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of Counseling & Development, 74(2), 158-162
One theme of the book that stands out is the counselor as a person and a professional. It is impossible to completely separate one’s personal and professional lives. Each person brings to the table certain characteristics of themselves and this could include such things as values, personality traits and experiences. A great point that Corey, Corey, and Callahan (2010) make is to seek personal therapy. Talking with colleagues or a therapist will keep counselors on their toes and allow them to work out any issues that may arise. This could also prevent counselors from getting into a bad situation. Another good point made in this book was counter transference. Therapists are going to have an opinion and some reactions are going to show through. It is not easy to hide one’s emotions, but a good therapist will keep the objective in sight and keep moving forward. After all, the help counselors are providing is for the client.
As this book points out, and what I found interesting, the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client, can be even more important than how the therapy sessions are conducted. A therapists needs to be congruent. This is important because a client needs a sense of stability. To know what is expected from him or her while being in this transitional period of change. In some cases this congruency may be the only stability in his life, and without it, there is no way of him trusting in his t...
The paper will summarize the roles and responsibilities of a behavioral health counselor and provide current models of wellness and resiliency. Behavioral health counselors must be able to function in a face-paced primary care environment.
Hutchinson, David. (2012). The essential counselor: Process, skills, and techniques (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications, Inc.
Clients learning to contend with domestic violence, chemical dependency, and anger management are just as vulnerable as clients combating depression, grief and loss, and extreme anxiety. All clients are vulnerable regardless of the circumstances that prod them to seek counseling services. For some clients, the very act of seeking counseling is a very exposing and powerless experience. Some clients may become defensive while others may become withdrawn; yet, both are attempts to cover and protect in an unsure situation. Having a working knowledge and understanding of this concept, I will use fidelity in the administration of my interactions with my clients (ACA, 2010). I will cautiously examine all commitments prior to coming into a therapeutic agreement with my clients (ACA, 2010). An example of this would be to thoroughly review, to the client's level of understanding, payment and fee schedules as well as counseling goals and treatment objective...
Dr. Kleeper’s description of her counseling style and the relationship that a counselor is able to develop with clients has really assisted me with solidifying my intention of becoming a mental health counselor. Learning about humanistic counseling and transpersonal therapy was really interesting. Although I believe I am willing and open to work with clients from various backgrounds, it is of great interest to further understand how I can bring a client’s spiritual belief into the intervention
As the field of counseling continues to progress numerous theoretical orientations have been developed. One theoretical approach to counseling has been coined as person centered counseling or client centered therapy. This type of approach is commonly referred to as Rogerian psychotherapy. Rogerian therapy focuses on the empowerment of individuals with the inner self. These constructs are vital to ensuring and promoting a transparent and honest atmosphere which subsequently results in effective counseling. The behaviors that are found in client centered counseling are valuable as they motivate the client to explore their "hidden feelings" and become aware of where their feelings derive from. Being afforded the rare opportunity to see Rogers
The end of my first graduate school semester leaves me with a bittersweet feeling. Although I'm glad that the stress and pressure of continuously feeling unprepared to take on graduate school is now over, the feeling that I can successfully accomplish my goal and become a School Counselor seems more attainable. Working towards something I feel passionate about, and coming to the end of the beginning of a long journey has never felt so satisfying. What feels even better is all of the knowledge that I have acquired about the profession which society needs in order to function in times of despair. During our very first class we were asked about, “Our life’s motto?” From this day onward and after listening to the different perspectives, backgrounds,
Sometimes individuals consider becoming counselors after overcoming some major life challenge such as addiction or a history of bad relationships. Perhaps an individual has encountered a particularly effective counselor or therapist and has a desire to follow in those footsteps. Others may have had a bad experience with counseling and concluded that it can be done better. People do not think of this work so much as a job, or even as a career. More typically, a constellation of life experiences that demand explanation and a sense that others seek one out for assistance and emotional sustenance become driving forces leading one toward the counseling profession” (An invitation to). .
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.
The counselor accomplishes the above by expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, going along with resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Moreover, the counselor guides the client toward a solution that will lead to permanent posi...
Corey, C. (1991). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (4th ed.). Pacific Grove, California, USA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. (Original work published 1977)
broad range of clients. Awareness and respect for diversity and multicultural values facilitates good communication and therapeutic relationship.
Counseling Theories August 3, 1995 Running head: Coun. v. Psychotherapy Counseling v. psychotherapy is there a difference between the two? This paper will attempt to prove that there are several differences between counseling and psychotherapy. While counseling and psychotherapy have several different elements in each, the following information will also attempt to show the reader that there are some areas where the two overlap. At times this was a confusing topic to research. A fine line distinguishes the two topics and one must look hard to see this line. Definition of Counseling One survey taken by Gustad suggests a definition of counseling where he included three key elements. Counseling is a learning-oriented process, carried on in a simple, one to one social environment, in which a counselor, professionally competent in relevant psychological skills and knowledge, seeks to assist the client by methods appropriate to the latter's needs and within the context of the total personnel program, to learn more about himself, to learn how to put such understanding into effect in relation to more clearly perceived, realistically defined goals to the ` end that the client may become a happier and more productive member of his society (1957, p. 36). In lay terms counseling can be described as a face to face relationship, having goals to help a client to learn or acquire new skills which will enable them to cope and adjust to life situations. The focus is to help a person reach maximum fulfillment or potential, and to become fully functioning as a person. Definition of Psychotherapy Psychotherapy is the process inwhich a therapists assists the client in re-organizing his or her personality. The therapist also helps the client integrate insights into everyday behavior. Psychotherapy can be defined as "more inclusive re-education of the individual" (Brammer& Shostrom,1977). Objectives of counseling The objectives of counseling according to the Committee on Definition, Division of Counseling Psychology, American Psychological Association are to "help individuals toward overcoming obstacles to their personal growth, wherever these may be encountered, and toward achieving optimum development of their personal resources" (Arbuckle, 1967). In a paper written by Dr. T. Millard, it is stated that "Counseling provides clarity and a positive and constructive venue for the individual to sensibly examine the instinctive-emotional and rational (or irrational) motives which determine the drive, content, and even the form of human conduct." This shows the part which counseling plays in a clients treatment.