Becoming a Mental Health Counselor : A Guide to Career Development and Professional Identity

"Becoming a Mental Health Counselor is a guide for students on the path to becoming licensed mental health therapists, as well as those just starting their careers. Filled with practical advice and tips, this book guides the reader through early career milestones of psychotherapists, including professional identity development, applying for jobs, and obtaining licensure. Volungis also discusses the reality of the profession, emphasizing the importance of self-care, ethics, personal identity, and managing expectations. The book concludes with an exploration of private practice and the next steps in the career ladder. Ideally suited for professional development courses, this volume helps students prepare for life outside of school. It shows them how to transform the knowledge they've gained into a successful career." -- Provided by publisher Front Cover Title Copyright Page Contents Detailed Contents Acknowledgments 1 Is Being a Mental Health Counselor the Right Career Choice for You? Why Do You Want to Be a Mental Health Counselor? Reflection Questions 1.1: Your Motivation to Be a Mental Health Counselor Reflection Questions 1.2: Balancing Your Personal Needs with Client Well-being Activity 1.1: Personal Qualities of Good Friends and Family Vs. Mental Health Counselor What Are the Personal Qualities of a Mental Health Counselor? Empathic with Compassion and Acceptance Genuine and Authentic Dignity and Respect Instill Hope Open and Tolerant Advocate and Empower Adaptive, Creative, and Flexible Acknowledge Weaknesses and Willing to Change Humor Maintain Healthy Boundaries Present and Mindfully Oriented Confident, Patient, and Grounded Passionate and Enthusiastic Observe and Derive Satisfaction from the “smaller Things” Interpersonally Adept and Able to Connect Activity 1.2: Your Mental Health Counselor Personal Qualities Self-awareness of and Coping with Personal Issues Reflection Questions 1.3: Self-awareness and Insight of Personal Mental Health Multicultural Awareness and Sensitivity Activity 1.3: Self-awareness and Insight of Personal Cultural Privileges and Entitlements Appreciate the Importance of Science: Evidence-based Practice Reflection Questions 1.4: Self-awareness and Insight of Evidence-based Practices Put the Ego Aside: Learn as Much as You Can 2 Professional Identity Development and Ethics Professional Identity Development Education and Accreditation Scope and Approach to Practice Specialization, Population Served, and Setting Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Dimensions Activity 2.1: Personal Professional Identity Professional Ethics Defining: Values, Morals, Ethics, and Laws The Necessity for Having an Established Code of Ethics Reflection Questions 2.1: Getting to Know Your Code of Ethics Ethical Decision-making Reflection Questions 2.2: Reflecting on Making Ethical Decisions Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling Assuring Ethical Practice for Mental Health Counselors Reflection Questions 2.3: Reviewing Ethics Codes of Interest to Mental Health Counselors Activity 2.2: Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions Reflection Questions 2.4: Reviewing Best Ethical Practices for Mental Health Counselors 3 Education and Licensure Requirements Graduate Degree in Counseling General Graduate Program Qualities for Consideration Program Curriculum: Credit Hours and Course Content Program Accreditation Program Practicum and Internship Training Opportunities Program Capstone Experience Reflection Questions 3.1: Graduate Program Experience Activity 3.1: Research State Licensure Requirements Postgraduate Experience Reflection Questions 3.2: Postgraduate Experience Certification Licensure Exams National Counselor Examination National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Other Exams Jurisprudence Exam Other Exam Formats Counselor Exam Preparation and Practice Opportunities Reflection Questions 3.3: Licensure Exams Activity 3.2: Search for Study Materials and Study Strategies Application for Licensure Common Licensure Application Components Common Licensure Application Mistakes Reflection Questions 3.4: Application for Licensure Activity 3.3: Preparing Licensure Application Materials License Portability 4 Expectations Beyond Counseling Paperwork Intake Assessment Case Formulation and Treatment Plan Progress Note Discharge Plan and Summary Reflection Questions 4.1: Paperwork Challenges Case Management Reflection Questions 4.2: Case Management Expectations Working with Colleagues Reflection Questions 4.3: Working with Colleagues Challenges Supervision Reflection Questions 4.4: Supervision Thoughts Managed Care Organizations Reflection Questions 4.5: Managed Care Organizations Concerns Mental Health Community Outreach Activity 4.1: Mental Health Outreach in Your Community Professional Advocacy Reflection Questions 4.6: Social Advocacy Involvement 5 Obtaining the Right Job Introduction Searching for Desirable Jobs Population and Agency Setting: Start Early with a Wide Net Activity 5.1: Population Characteristics and Agency Setting Reflection Questions 5.1: Population Characteristics and Agency Setting Review The Finer Details of Benefits: Salary Is Important, but It Is Not Everything Reflection Questions 5.2: Considering the Benefits of Benefits The Job Search Things You Should Know About the Job Position Reflection Questions 5.3: Job Search Preparation Thoughts Activity 5.2: Job Search: Making a List and Checking It Twice (and Many More Times) Reflection Questions 5.4: Job Search Review Résumé and Cover Letter Résumé Cover Letter Activity 5.3: Résumé and Cover Letter Draft Reflection Questions 5.5: Résumé and Cover Letter Draft Review Managing Your Online Reputation Your Online Interview Reflection Questions 5.6: Your Online Interview Thoughts Manage Your Online Reputation Like a Car Wash: Clean, Protect, and Polish Activity 5.4: Managing Your Online Reputation: Give It a Car Wash Reflection Questions 5.7: Managing Your Online Reputation Review Interviewing Before Your Interview: Research and Practice Activity 5.5: Interview Research Reflection Questions 5.8: Interview Research Review During Your Interview: What You Say and Do (and Not Say and Do) Reflection Questions 5.9: How You Present Yourself Review Reflection Questions 5.10: How You Communicate Review Reflection Questions 5.11: Questions Answered, Questions Asked Activity 5.6: Practicing for Your Interview After Your Interview: Processing, Thanking, Following Up, Offers, and Rejections Reflection Questions 5.12: Was the Interview a Good “date”? Reflection Questions 5.13: Processing Your Post-interview Options 6 Self-care: Preventing Burnout and Enjoying Life Burnout: What It Looks Like in Mental Health Counselors Burnout in the Mental Health Field: Its Effects on Mental Health Counselors and Clients You, the Mental Health Counselor Activity 6.1: Mental Health Counselors and Burnout Your Agency and Clients Reflection Questions 6.1: Agency-clients and Burnout Contributing Factors to Burnout in Mental Health Counselors Stuff Mental Health Counselors Do to Themselves (counselor-induced) Activity 6.2: Counselor-induced Burnout Stuff Agencies Do to Counselors (agency-induced) Reflection Questions 6.2: Agency-induced Burnout Mental Health Counselor Self-awareness and Self-monitoring Activity 6.3: Self-awareness and Self-monitoring Mental Health Counselor Proactive Self-care Strategies Active and Healthy Body Active and Healthy Mind Active and Healthy Social Life Rested and Relaxed Body and Mind Spirituality Professional Boundaries: Balancing Your Professional and Personal Life Mentor for You Counselor for You Putting It All Together: Your Own Personalized Self-care Plan Reflection Questions 6.3: Identifying Self-care Strategies Activity 6.4: Self-care Strategies Identification and Planning Reflection Questions 6.4: Self-care Strategies Identification and Planning Review Activity 6.5: Self-care Plan Weekly Monitoring Reflection Questions 6.5: Self-care Plan Weekly Monitoring Review Brief Final Thoughts 7 Developing and Expanding Your Counseling Skills Practice What You Preach Reflection Questions 7.1: Practicing Client Techniques on Yourself Consider Counseling for Yourself Reflection Questions 7.2: Sitting in the Other Chair Preach What You (claim To) Practice Reflection Questions 7.3: Doing What You Were Trained to Do Receive High-quality Supervision Reflection Questions 7.4: Supervisor Qualities Observe Other Counselors Conduct Sessions Reflection Questions 7.5: Observing Others in Practice Continue Building Conceptualization Skills Reflection Questions 7.6: Conceptualizing Clients’ Presenting Problems Continue Formal Training After Graduation Reflection Questions 7.7: Continuous Training Understand the Integration of Technology and Counseling Reflection Questions 7.8: Counseling with Technology Embrace and Accept Your Anxieties and Insecurities Activity 7.1: Anxiety and Growth 8 Private Practice Is Private Practice Right for You? The Advantages and Disadvantages of Private Practice Do You Have the Personal Qualities to Be Successful at Private Practice? What You Should Know Before Starting a Private Practice Activity 8.1: Processing Your Thoughts About Private Practice Getting Started: Counseling Private Practice Is a Business (and That Is Okay) Financing Selecting a Business Entity Business Name and License Malpractice and Business Insurance Reflection Questions 8.1: Your Private Practice Is a Business Your Office Paperwork and Forms The Business of a Private Practice Learn How to Manage Finances Develop a Business Plan Budgeting and Financial Planning Setting and Disclosing Fees Managed Care Organizations Reflection Questions 8.2: the Business Side of Running a Business Marketing Develop a Marketing Plan Develop a Niche for Your Practice “Direct Forms” of Advertising Activity 8.2: Reviewing Private Practice Websites “indirect Forms” of Advertising Networking Community Work Reflection Questions 8.3: Selling Yourself (your Business) Concluding Comments Appendix Index About the Author