Clinical mental health counseling is a healthcare profession addressing issues such as substance abuse, addiction, relational problems, stress management, as well as more serious conditions such as suicidal ideation and acute behavioral disorders.
[2] World War II brought to the forefront the importance of testing and placement as there was a strong need for the selection and training of specialists for the military.
[2] In the 1950s, flaws in the existing mental health system were being exposed and clinically effective pharmacological treatments were also being developed that could be provided in outpatient settings.
By the 1980s, mental health counseling had clearly established itself as a profession with a distinct set of regulations and methods for providing services.
[7] Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, with 56 chartered branches in the United States, Europe, and Latin America, it was founded in 1952 and is noted to be the world's largest association that exclusively represents professional counselors in a variety of practice settings.
Its mission is "to enhance the profession of clinical mental health counseling through licensing, advocacy, education, and professional development".
The mission of AMHCA is to advance the profession of clinical mental health counseling by setting the standard for collaboration, advocacy, research, ethical practice, and education/training/professional development.
Clinical mental health counselors at all stages of their professional journey, including students, are eligible to join AMHCA.
Member benefits also include professional liability insurance plan discounts, continuing education opportunities, networking via AMHCA's annual conference, and a quarterly journal with the latest clinical mental health counseling research.
Additionally, NCCs receive a number of other benefits including access to low-cost liability insurance, the ability to market oneself using the certification, a free six-month listing in the Therapy Directory, and continuing education credit, among others.
Services may include, but are not limited to: individual, family, and group of outpatient talk therapy; twenty-four-hour crisis intervention, or mobile crisis management; rape, sexual abuse, and domestic violence services; testing and assessment for career interests, and broader mental health issues; community psycho-education and outreach; day treatment (for mentally ill and/or developmentally disabled); intensive in-home treatment; jail diversion programs; and case management.
When it comes to serving Medicare-covered clients, counselors in the U.S. are still exempt from the list of acceptable providers, thus it is a current issue of great concern in our community.
Although private practices are common in the American mental health counseling community, a licensed counselor often enters this kind of setting after several professional years have passed and following the completion of a master's degree program.
In deciding to hang a shingle, one must be prepared to establish and maintain a respectable presence in his or her community, oftentimes promoting awareness (and thus one's business) on one's own time.
[2]: 177–178 As described in the previous section of Community Mental Health Agencies, the same standards of insurance coverage, as well as sliding scale payment, apply to private practice settings.
Both environments encompass similar services, such as individual, family, and group outpatient counseling; twenty-four-hour crisis intervention; day treatment for mentally ill and/or developmentally disabled clients; and case management.
[2]: 178–179 Although alcohol/substance abuse programs have an obvious focus on recovery and rehabilitation, counseling services also apply to assisting in comorbidity, or dual diagnoses (e.g., bipolar disorder and alcohol dependence).
The majority of clients are ordered to participate in a recovery program by a judge in Drug Court, on account of criminal charges pertaining to drunk driving, possession of illegal substances, etc.
Due to this brief span of time for treatment, counselors strongly encourage their clients struggling with addiction(s) to become regular attendees of local AA and/or NA meetings, and to obtain a sponsor as soon as possible.
[2]: 54 The use of theory provides a tool for counselors to use in order to identify important aspects of and clearly organize a client's story or narrative.
[2] It has been concluded that ethics encompasses five different features: possessing adequate knowledge, skills, and judgment to produce effective interventions; respecting the dignity, freedom, and rights of the client; using power inherent in the counselor's role judiciously and responsibly; conducting oneself in such a way that promotes the public's confidence in the profession; maintaining the client's welfare as the highest priority of the mental health professional.
A professional disclosure statement is typically provided to the client, which should include but is not limited to counselor credentials, issues of confidentiality, the use of tests and inventories, diagnosis, reports, billing, and therapeutic process.
Dual relationships, where a counselor holds two or more different roles within a client's life at the same time, are also typically avoided, as well as the acceptance of gifts of significant monetary value.
The principal philosophy is no longer removing the disordered person from a normal family, social and community settings into a sheltered institutionalized environment but rather to a community-based treatment center for support and rehabilitation.
[2]: 260 In the ACT approach, a team of professional counselors, social workers, nurses, rehabilitators and psychiatrists provide comprehensive, community-based treatment and support to clients.
Services may include medication delivery, rehabilitation, and behavioral training in basic adaptive living skills, problems of nonattendance and transportation needs.
Results of this movement include consumer-developed systems of care, self-help groups, consumer advocacy organizations and the recovery perspective.
"[17] The ten fundamental components of recover philosophy are: 1) Self-Direction, 2) Person-Centered, 3) Empowerment, 4) Holistic, 5) Non-linear, 6) Strength-based, 7) Peer Support, 8) Respect, 9) Responsibility, and 10) Hope.
[18] Under the recovery consumers of mental health care are viewed as capable and responsible persons who can take charge and manage his or her condition.
Wellness strategies are implemented in recovery work such as journaling, visiting friends, exercising, nutritious eating, praying, meditation, doing acts of kindness, and practicing gratitude.