Education for Community Mental Health Counselors

COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS

Our communities have people (across the socioeconomic spectrum) that need counseling services. Many of them have one form, or another, of mental health issues. Mental illness exists in various sensitive populations such as the homeless.

Often, the mental illness can exacerbate inherent situations of struggle and limited resources among these populations. Some of these populations of people are actually dealing with a combination of physical challenges with mental conditions, adding to the magnitude of their situation. These clients often rely on clinics that are understanding and can work with them, given their uniquely sensitive life struggles/demands and financial situations.

COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS KNOW THEIR ENVIRONMENTS WELL

Community mental health counselors are practiced at working with diverse populations in clinics and other community agencies. These counselors perform many of the duties that mental health counselors perform in private practice. Community mental health counselors go beyond the scope of a usual mental health counseling practice and get into other areas, such as: assisting clients with scheduling appointments and teaching them how to use public transit, libraries, and other community services. With these valued counselors having a keen understanding of the nuances of the populations they serve, these counselors thus serve an invaluable role in our society.

EDUCATION FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS

Community mental health counselors are usually very well educated. The level of education will vary depending on state law, as well as on the actual job responsibilities. There are community service organizations that will employ people at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, depending on the nature of the work and responsibility. Look into the job opportunities in your area to decide the right degree for you. Until recently, the CACREP agency (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accredited mental health and community counseling programs separately. Due to recent changes, the two have been merged. The length of mental health counseling programs has increased to 60 semester hours.

LICENSING and CERTIFICATION

Some states allow counselors to work under supervision in an agency or community setting without a license. Other states require licenses for all counselors who work in mental health. It will always benefit you to hold an appropriate license, whether or not it is required. Mental health counselors who have completed Master’s degrees must work under supervision for two or three years before they attain the highest level of licensing. Often this means taking a position with a community organization or agency. Bachelor’s level counselors are often certified to work in a particular capacity; in some areas, they can be certified as Qualified Mental Health Providers and in others, they may be substance abuse counselors.

Salary and Career Expectations

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mental Health Counselors can expect to achieve a salary of between 41,000 and 43,000 per year.


Source: http://counselor-education.com/community-mental-health-counselors/

Child Counseling, How to Become a Child Counselor

Child Counselor Certification and Education

Education for Child Counselors is crucial to being able to perform the best job you can as a Child Counselor. Child counselors become adept at making assessments of children’s individual needs and setting appropriate treatment goals.

Children experience their own range of psychological challenges through the years. While adults might be proactive about going to a counselor for help with their challenges, children may need a guiding hand, and adult supervision, in seeking treatment for any of the following: anxiety, depression, PTSD, or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Child (Pediatric) counselors work with children who have experienced a wide range of issues. Examples of situations or issues may include trauma as a victim of abuse or witnessing domestic violence in the home. Some children are going through the struggles of their parents’ separation or divorce. Some are dealing with identity issues and might be subject to bullying at school. Child counselors are there to help with all of these issues and more.

While working as a child counselor, you might find yourself working with clients representing many psychological issues, or you might specialize on one or two areas and make that the focus of your practice.

Frequently, child counselors will employ innovative therapies or other modalities such as play therapy. The counselor may also be a contributing member of a team that includes other mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and specially trained nurses; the foremost goal is to always get the child the most appropriate treatment possible.

Certification and Licensing for Child Counselors

In order to be a professional child counselor, you will need to complete a Master’s degree and become state licensed. Typically,  your Master’s degree will be in mental health counseling or in a related field such as counseling psychology. Look for the few counseling psychology programs in the United States that have a focus on child and adolescent counseling. Know going into the process that counseling psychology programs remain highly competitive. This is not to dissuade you from applying; it is only to give you the facts so that you are prepared! Always make sure that the program you are looking at meets the licensing requirements in your state.

Furthermore, other avenues to continue your goal (of working professionally with children) include pursuing special training in play therapy. Many reputable universities (online or in a classroom) offer graduate certificates in play therapy. Some schools will allow you to pursue play therapy as a focus in your Master’s program. Play therapy has proven very popular in the counseling milieu.

Additionally, some students will choose the option of dual licensing as professional counselors and school counselors. One benefit of this approach is the flexibility of working with children in either clinical or school settings. Often, that variety and flexibility can enhance your career. So if your passion is to work with children, you don’t have to wait until graduate school to start the education process.

It is wise to choose an undergraduate major in a field such as child development. You can also gain valuable volunteer experience at a place such as a child crisis center. Any environment that gives you the chance to work directly with children’s issues will benefit you greatly for this worthwhile career you are choosing. This invaluable experience you gain will provide you a much better chance of getting admitted to the program of your choice. Having the right experience and academic background will help you achieve success as a professional child counselor.

Licensing for Child Counselors

A child counselor must have a state license in professional counseling or a related field. You may also have attained additional certifications through another organization.

In the U.S., the Association for Play Therapy certifies Master’s level mental health professionals in play therapy. You are required to be state licensed in a mental health field in order to pursue the credential. In order to get the extra credential, you must also have 150 hours of instruction in play therapy. One must also have invested 500 hours of supervised play therapy work experience. Prerequisites will also include coursework in areas such as child and adult psychotherapy and personality therapy.

Salary and Job Outlook

There is a growing need for child counselors, with the job outlook for child counselors looking very good. Elementary and school counselors can make as high as $63,000 according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: http://counselor-education.com/child-counselors/

Child Abuse Counselor, How to Become a Child Abuse Counselor

Child Abuse Counselor Certification and Education

Education for Child Abuse Counselors will provide you the necessary requirements to be able to work effectively and safely as a professional counselor. Working with children in the role of child abuse counselor is one of the most sensitive and important careers possible.

Child abuse counselors must be licensed mental health providers with professional experience working with patients who have sustained physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse. These specially trained counselors may work with traumatized children or adult survivors of childhood abuse. Some mental health counselors will focus on counseling abusers. The methods the counselor will use depend on the clients seeking therapy.

Young children often respond well to play therapy. Parents have grown accustomed to asking for play therapy when that option is available and the counselor is agreeable. Multiple therapy modalities can be implemented, ranging from less structured play therapy to more structured interventions. Cognitive therapy may also be employed – this is, among other things, a way of helping children understand that they didn’t deserve the abuse. Children may need not only permission to discuss the abuse but the vocabulary to do so.

A counselor who works with children may use assessments like the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children or Children’s Impact of Traumatic Events Scale. The counselor will set therapy goals that are appropriate to the child’s age or development level.

Counselors may be part of a unified team that includes key social workers, nurses, and doctors. Often, the family of the client is supportive and wants to be involved in the therapy process. In cases like this, therapy will be conducted while involving the family members and children.

Children who have been traumatized often will experience anxiety or separation disorders; some have post-traumatic stress, or somatization disorders (This disorder can sometimes occur, and manifest, when a person feels extreme anxiety about physical symptoms such as pain or fatigue. The person may experience intense thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the symptoms that interfere dramatically with their daily life).

Counselors can help children through teaching them methods of stress reduction and relaxation. Counselors who know that they want to specialize in abuse counseling may seek employment at clinics or centers that specialize in this area.

The Need for Counseling All Survivors of Abuse

Many survivors of abuse are now adults; this represents another major segment of the population that needs treatment. Traditionally, sexual abuse was underreported; unfortunately, the perceived stigma of reporting kept many people from doing so. Therefore, many victims have not received the treatment they need.

Very often, adult survivors may have developed a variety of mental health issues as a result of the past abuse. Often, there is the manifestation of anxiety and other neuroses. Some people are overprotective of their own children while others are detached; they may be unsure of what constitutes appropriate affection or they may simply find affection triggering. Counselors are needed to help patients discover connections, or correlations, between their current issues and abuse sustained in the past.

The Education for a Child Abuse Counselor

In order to be licensed as a child abuse counselor, it is required that an individual obtain at least a Master’s degree. Some pursue a doctoral degree to further their education and attain the highest professional clout they can.

Many candidates pursue Master’s degrees in counseling or related fields such as social work, marriage and family therapy, or counseling psychology,  where the median salary in 2015 was between $41,880 and $45,900 according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It takes quite a bit of education to become a licensed counselor, but a person can begin exploring the field by volunteering at a crisis shelter.

Licensing and Certification

States usually require that child abuse counselors and other mental health providers be licensed according to the standards of that state. All states usually require an examination and a period of supervised practice before the candidate ascends to the highest level of licensing. A criminal background check is usually required. Some states will allow for licensing counselors at a lower level while they are completing their supervision hours. Child abuse counselors are able to proactively pursue other voluntary certifications in areas such as play therapy.

Source: http://counselor-education.com/child-abuse-counselor/

Behavior Analyst

Behavior Analyst Certification and Education

Working as a Behavior Analyst can be truly satisfying. Many students have found great satisfaction in getting the education they need to work as a Board-certified Behavior Analyst. Applied behavioral analysis (or ABA) is becoming quite a prestigious profession. The practice of behavior analysis is the professional implementation of interventions to consumers that are guided by the principles of behaviorism and the research of both the experimental analysis of behavior and applied behavior analysis. ABA has become popular for many reasons; namely, one reason for the popularization of ABA is the well-documented successes in helping children with autism, and other disorders, learn skills that are more adaptive to their environment. Though ABA is often utilized in cases of early intervention for young clients, it can be effectively implemented throughout the lifespan and for varied populations. Applied behavior analysts have been known to work with such diverse populations as autism, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and the elderly population.

Credentialed behavior analysts serve a very important role in the following tasks: working as case managers; designing and modifying treatment plans; analyzing behaviors and environmental influences; and ensuring that professional interventions for clients are performed in a consistently ethical manner.

In this ever growing field, the possibilities for employment are being created at a rapid pace, so that today’s Behavior Analysts may be employed by traditional institutions or be self-employed with a salary range between $39,000 and $77,000, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

More and more states are licensing the profession. Behavior analysts have the option of pursuing Board-certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. A Board-Certified professional will also complete a supervised practicum requirement and pass an examination. It remains important for behavior analysts to consistently adhere to the BACB code of ethics.

Educational

A Master’s level education is crucial for a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Prospective behavior analysts may complete degrees specifically in behavioral analysis; or they may qualify with degrees in education, or psychology, provided that they also have the required coursework. Many schools offer the Approved Course Sequence (ACS).  A candidate who wants non-ACS coursework to be considered must submit an application for coursework evaluation.

This promising career of behavior analysis is presently being offered by several schools that offer Master’s degrees specifically in applied behavior analysis.

Check out this link.

There are numerous educational opportunities that can lead to a fulfilling career as a Behavioral Analysis with most universities offering both a Master’s and Graduate Certificate programs that are approved by the BACB and assist with the BCBA examination.

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst will have, at the minimum, 270 hours of instruction in Board-mandated areas, so make sure that you pay attention to the following requirements:

• 45 hours of Principles of behavior analysis
• 45 hours of Ethical and professional conduct
• 45 hours of Elements and procedures of behavior change
• 30 hours of Problem identification and assessment

Included on the following list are many of the techniques being taught that have proven important to the profession:

• Modeling and imitation training
• Shaping and chaining
• Prompts and fading
• Positive and negative reinforcement
• Self-management strategies
• Augmentative communication
• Incidental teaching
• Token economies

Requirements

The Behavior Analysis Certification Board can accept 1,000 hours of practicum or 750 hours of intensive practicum. Approval by the BACB is required for acceptance of practicum experience. Prospective students who do not complete practicum experiences through their schools can qualify on the basis of supervised work experience (will need to be a full 1,500 hours). The BACB maintains a registry to help candidates find the right professionals to supervise their practice.

Additional Resources

The Association of Professional Behavior Analysts offers a link to state licensing boards and professional organizations. Many states have their own APBA chapters. This is an excellent resource.

Source: http://counselor-education.com/behavior-analyst/

Addiction Counselor Certification

Education for Addiction Counselors is crucial to being able to help your patients to the best of your ability. There are many complicated reasons why a person might abuse alcohol or drugs, and some of these reasons may be extremely powerful. No matter why people experiment with drugs or alcohol, there is a chance that they will become dependent upon them. Addiction counselors are mental health professionals tasked with helping those who suffer from addiction to alcohol or drugs. Many therapists have been through the throes of addiction themselves, and feel inspired to help others going through the same experience. Working as an addiction counselor can prove very rewarding.

Substance abuse, or addiction, counseling is a type of counseling that can be used to help people overcome and conquer dependencies on substances such as alcohol and drugs.

Many people feel that they are being held hostage by their addictions. They turn to Addiction Counselors to help them loosen the reins over their lives and free themselves from the negative effects of chronic addiction.

In our courts, people are being sentenced to treatment in lieu of, or in addition to, jail time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites court-ordered treatment as one of the main reasons that the demand for substance abuse and addiction counselors has steadily increased. It is also becoming more common for people to proactively seek treatment to help them overcome the nefarious effects of addiction. The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 27% growth of the profession of addiction counseling between the years 2010 and 2020.

In addition, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors was $39,980 in May 2015. Typically, the bottom 10 percent earning less than $25,980, and the top 10 percent earning more than $63,030.

Those who are interested in working as an addiction counselor are becoming aware that there are several options for entering the field. The positions range from those that require less than an Associate’s degree to ones that require a Master’s degree. A Master’s degree will provide another viable option that proves appealing to many: the option of private practice. In private practice, you are able to work with many clients who have chosen to be there.

Addiction Counselor Educational Requirements

Researching your own state’s legal requirements is always a great first step. Some states have an addiction treatment board that is separate from counseling. Candidates may be licensed at several levels. Master’s level counselors are usually licensed by the board of professional counseling. The details will vary from state to state.

Find educational programs that are in line with your interests. If you don’t have a degree yet, consider attaining a degree in addiction studies.

If you do have a degree, consider improving your candidacy for a Master’s level program in addictions counseling. You can accomplish this by gaining experience in the field. Find agencies and groups in your community that need some help!

You also will benefit by discovering what level of licensing/ certification various programs will equip you for at the best levels. Another viable option is to enroll in a general professional counseling program that provides you the chance to specialize in addictions counseling. Ask pointed questions from admissions departments to ensure that you are properly following your passion for the right career path.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 27% growth in job opportunities for addiction counselors from 2010 through 2020.

When seeking full licensure, you should prepare to work under supervision for a period of at least two years after you attain your degree.

Addiction Counselor Credentials

Many states require that all of their professional counselors in various disciplines take the National Counselor Examination, administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Another exam that might be required is the Examination for Master Addiction Counselor, also offered by the NBCC. You will need to have certification as a professional counselor through the NBCC. Additionally, you will need to demonstrate that you have had at least twelve graduate semester hours in addictions (500 CEs hours can be substituted). In order to take the exam, you will also need to have the experience of having worked under supervision at least 20 hours a week for a total of three years, two of them at the post-Master’s level.

Passing the exam will provide you the prestigious title of Master Addiction Counselor (MAC). If you have this credential, you can seek Substance Abuse Professional status with the federal government, effectively opening up even more opportunities to advance your career. The MAC is a voluntary national certification intended for professionals working within substance use disorder/addiction-related disciplines wishing to demonstrate their skills gained through supervised work experience and specific graduate course work.

Source: http://counselor-education.com/addiction-counselor/