Counseling and Mental Health Services

The field of mental health is diverse. There are a variety of options available to those who are interested in the field of mental health and counseling. This course exposes and introduces students to certain issues, topics and populations related to the field of mental health and counseling. Students will first receive information concerning the history of the mental health system in the US and about certain common mental illnesses.

They will thereafter explore various mental health and counseling topics, populations, the mental health needs of these populations, and work place settings. Some of the populations and topics discussed include addiction, vulnerable children, various vulnerable populations, dual diagnosis disorders, and mental health issues within the criminal justice system, school systems, child protective services, acute psychiatric care settings and community mental health centers. In addition, this course will introduce students to a variety of careers in the field of mental health.

Some of the reviewed professions include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, school counselors, recovery coaches, forensic psychologists, recreational therapists, correctional counselors, geriatric psychiatrists, crime victim advocates, social and human service assistants, and dual diagnosis disorder counselors. The roles, duties and responsibilities of these workers along with the educational, certification/licensure, salaries and job outlook of these professions will be discussed. Finally, the competencies and ethics critical to these professions will be presented. Students are provided with resources to enable them to carry out online research of schools and credential requirements of their individual states. The course equips students with the opportunity of applying some of this knowledge in practical scenarios.

OBJECTIVES

• Compare and describe careers in mental health and counseling in terms of academic preparation, skill sets, employment potential, licensing and continuing education.
• Describe the professional skills and behaviors required for human service occupations.
• Analyze the mental health workers role in ensuring ethical and fair treatment of human service customers.
• Evaluate consequences of unethical behavior for both human service clients and workers.
• Identify personal qualities necessary for success in the field of mental health and counseling.
• Show basic skills in oral communications required to interview and work with clients in a human services setting.
• Demonstrate an ability to present various audiences and groups with information using the right technology.
• Generate written documents of professional quality that are appropriate to the communication purpose and intended receiver.
• Recognize the importance of communication and inter-professional teamwork in the arena of human service.
• Recognize how social problems impact the development of various behaviors or mental disorders.
• Identify mental health models that are used by mental health workers to help understand client issues.
• Describe select interventions that mental health professionals use.
• Recognize varying work environments of mental health workers.

STUDENTS MUST UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING COUNSELING FIELD CONCEPTS:

• mental health system existing in the United States.
• Basic understanding of the United States educational system.
• Understand that the aim of mental health careers is to assist others.
• School counselors, social workers, psychiatrists and therapists are some of the professionals working in the field of mental health.