Tag: Family Therapy Counseling

Mental Health Counselor

Why We Love Mental Health Counselor – And You Should, Too!

Mental Health Counselor

Mental health issues tend to be multi-faceted. In light of this, mental health counselors are trained to treat their clients in a holistic manner, working in tandem with professionals in education, medicine, and related fields to get to the complex roots of each individual client’s unique struggles.

Their methods of assisting clients are diverse, as are the locations in which mental health counselors work. They might treat substance abuse at a rehabilitation center or provide in-home family counseling, for example.

Important Facts About This Occupation

Median Salary $40,850 per year
Similar Occupations Social worker; physician; psychologist
Job Outlook (2012-2022) 29% growth
Key Skills Interpersonal skills; Compassion; Listening skills; Organizational skills; Speaking skills

Duties and Responsibilities

Mental health counselors help patients work through personal issues like anger management, depression, suicidal thoughts, aging, parenting, self-image, relational problems, stress, or addiction. They provide psychotherapy, assessment, diagnosis, substance abuse treatment, and crisis management. Field Specialties Mental health counselors handle records and documentation of their cases and use these to collaborate with other professionals.

Common specialties are substance abuse counseling, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, career counseling, marriage counseling, and family counseling. Mental health counselors may choose to specialize in a particular patient group, such as children, adolescents, adults, the elderly, couples, or families.

Most mental health counselors in the U.S. work in outpatient and residential care centers, individual and family services, and local governments. They are trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address issues, including depression, anxiety, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress, problems with self-esteem, and grief. They also help with job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, marital, or other relationship problems.

Mental Health Counselors also continue to play a growing role in the military mental health crisis, helping military personnel and their families deal with issues such as PTSD. Mental Health Counselors often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors. In the U.S. states, Mental Health Counselors diagnose as well as treat mental illness, though the scope of practice for mental health practitioners varies from state to state.

A typical day for a counselor begins by reviewing upcoming scheduled patients and meeting with those patients. After each patient meeting, a recorded assessment of progress is noted in their patient file. Follow-up calls with other professionals to discuss patient care and treatment may be necessary. Meeting with hospitalized, institutionalized, or home-bound patients may also take place during the work day. Patient paperwork and notations to fellow professionals often require additional time in the office or at home.

A licensed mental health counselor spends many years training for this position. After successful completion of a master’s degree in mental health, a prospective counselor then performs two years of supervised clinical experience. Then, the candidate takes a licensing exam to receive the title of licensed mental health counselor.

Education

After earning a bachelor’s degree, a mental health counselor completes a master’s degree in counseling. In a typical program, students take courses in psychotherapy, diagnosis, psychological assessment and testing, psychopathology, group counseling, and research. They also study counseling theory, human development, career development, lifestyles, and social contexts.

Training and Certification After completing a master’s degree in counseling, candidates gain at least two years of clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed mental health counselor, according to the American Mental Health Counselor’s Association. Upon successful completion of a certification test, the candidate is licensed as a mental health counselor.

Work Environment

Mental health counselors work with community agencies, substance abuse centers, hospitals, employee assistance programs, health care organizations, corporations, youth homes, and independent practices. They work with other professionals, including social workers, psychiatrists, and school counselors.

Licensed Mental Health Counselors

Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) are highly qualified, Master’s level, 3rd party reimbursable, cost-effective, public service oriented mental health practitioners. LMHCs work in private practice settings, and agencies, clinics, schools, and hospitals, providing quality mental health services for consumers. Licensed Mental Health Counselors are prepared to assist clients who are coping with a wide variety of problems and concerns.

Licensed Mental Health Counselors specialize in many areas such as the emotional problems of anxiety and phobias, depression, child and spouse abuse, family conflict, eating disorders, sexual dysfunctions, drug and alcohol abuse, crisis intervention, job and career issues, personal growth, bereavement, and crime victimization.
LMHCs have rigorous clinical training which includes clearly specified, comprehensive, educational and field training requirements:

• A Masters degree in counseling or a related field
• 60 credit hours in total
• 700 hours of pre-masters supervised clinical practicum and internship training
• 3360 hours of post-masters, supervised, clinical work experience prior to licensure
• A passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Examination (NCMHCE)
• Training supervisors of LMHCs must have five years post-masters clinical experience

Importantly, LMHCs must continue their education and training to renew their license. They must obtain 30 hours of continuing education credits every two years. Additionally, to ensure the highest quality of care and protection for mental health services consumers, there are National Standards of Professional Practice and Ethical Standards to which LMHCs must conform.

Licensing requirements vary from state to state. In all states, mental health counseling licensure is required to independently practice, but can be practiced without a license if under the close supervision of a licensed practitioner. Licensing titles for mental health counselors vary from state to state: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and various forms of these titles may list differently per state statutes. The titled “Mental Health Counselor” (or variation thereof) is a protected title and a violation of state laws for persons to hold themselves as such without the proper credential.

“About LMHCs | MAMHCA” . n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 30 Jan. 2016.
“Licensed Mental Health Counselor Salary”. n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 30 Jan. 2016.
“Mental health counselor ” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 30 Jan. 2016.
“What Does a Mental Health Counselor Do?”. n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 30 Jan. 2016.

sex-therapy

Sex Therapist Secrets Every Person Should Know

Dr Marty Klien explains what Sex Therapy is

 

Is Sex Therapy The Most Trending Thing Now?

Ever wondered what sex therapists do (or don’t do), what issues they can help solve, and what happens in their offices?
We weren’t shy about asking the experts for the inside scoop on sex therapy. Here’s what we found out.

 

1. It Can Give You More Confidence in (and out of) the Bedroom

“What people don’t expect from sex therapy is how strong, confident and assertive they become in every area of their lives,” says Marne Wine, a licensed professional counselor, and AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) certified sex therapist in Westminster, Colorado. “Sex therapy is just life playing itself out in the bedroom. Are you willing to be OK with yourself because you don’t know everything or have all the answers? Are you willing to put yourself out there and risk ridicule and failure? Once you learn to do that in the bedroom—naked—you can do it anywhere.”

2. You Won’t Be Asked to Take Your Clothes Off

Wine says most people tense up when they think of sex therapy, mostly because they worry that the therapy might involve intimate situations. Fear not—standard sex therapy with a qualified sex therapist doesn’t involve nudity. “Although there are different types of people who work in the field of sex therapy, generally it simply talks therapy,” she says.

3. You Don’t Have to Worry About Saying Anything Taboo

Whether it’s a repressed memory, a sexual hangup or an issue of abuse that frightens you to talk about, there is no subject too taboo for a sex therapist. In fact, laying it all on the table is the first step to overcoming a sexual problem. And don’t worry about what the therapist will think. “Sex therapists have heard it all,” says Wine.

4. Finding the Right Therapist Can Make (or Break) Your Experience

Whether you’re considering seeing a sex therapist alone or with your husband, be picky, says Wine. “Check out his or her background. Is the therapist licensed in some professional counseling field—licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker? You want that fundamental, graduate-level counseling education as a basis for him or her doing sex therapy.

The sex therapy certification should be in addition to the graduate-level education.” And if, after the first appointment, you don’t feel comfortable with the therapist, find another one—or ask for a referral. “A good therapist will keep your best interests at heart—not her ego. I always tell my new clients if they aren’t comfortable with me, I will help them find another therapist. This work is too important not to have the right fit.”

5. It Can Help People Who Already Have Great Sex Lives

You and your husband have a great sex life—so what could sex therapy do for you? A lot, says Isadora Alman, a marriage and family therapist, and a board-certified sexologist in San Francisco. “Most people believe that something has to be broken, or that they do, to seek sex therapy. What I do is more about sexual and emotional enhancement, making things better. The most frequent therapeutic outcome of any sex therapy is the relief that comes with being able to talk about sexual feelings, thoughts, and fantasies, just putting them out there to be examined.”

6. It Might Save Your Marriage

Sexual issues take a major toll on a relationship, says Sybil Keane, a psychologist and mental health expert for JustAnswer.com. “When a couple is having troubles with their sex life, a regular marriage counselor might say, ‘Well, make time for you two to connect’ when it’s way more than just connecting for sex. It won’t help if the desire isn’t there or it just feels like a fake attempt to revive the same old, same old.” Want different advice? “Ask a sex therapist,” she says. “They can talk way beyond what a regular marriage counselor can. I believe that most people think that a sex therapist is a last-ditch solution to a sexual, marital problem. If more people went to sex therapy before a problem arose, they might not have to seek divorce advice down the road. Although we all like to believe that sex is something that comes naturally, it isn’t.”

7. It Can Help Solve a Range of Sexual Problems

What types of issues can sex therapy help with? According to Lynne Kolton Schneider, MA, Ph.D., a board-certified sex counselor in private practice, it can help with everything under the sun. “I see people who have difficulties with libido associated with cancer treatments; people who have sexual difficulties and dysfunctions related to surgical procedures; people who have difficulties with sexual positioning due to physical disabilities; and people who have problems being intimate because they have been sexually abused or raped.” And the list goes on: “I work with couples who haven’t had sex in months, or years, virgins who want their first experiences to be positive and women who have never had an orgasm.”

8. It Can Help You Be a Better Communicator

If your daily exchanges with your husband include “Take out the trash” and “It’s your turn to change the diaper,” a sex therapist could help you communicate in a more loving way. “Sex therapy is not always about sexual functioning,” says Dr. Schneider. “It’s probably equally as often about poor communication skills. Much of what I spend my time on concerns teaching patients how to communicate with each other—including how to fight fairly and when to choose to lose a ‘battle’ to win a ‘war.'”

Bibliography
“Sex Therapy Facts at WomansDay.com ” Sexual Health. n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 31 Jan. 2016.

Senior Home Healthcare

Family Therapy Counseling

Top Reasons For Family Therapy Counseling.

 

 

 In case you have been wondering what family therapy counseling is, then you do not need to worry any more. I will take you through what it is all about and the reasons why you may seek a session or two.

 

 

What is Family Therapy counseling?

 

Family Therapy Counseling- It is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change development. It is also referred to as couple and family therapy, marriage and family therapy counseling. It involves working with the members of a family to solve a group or individual problem. It helps family members improve communication and resolve conflicts by improving the way family members interact with each other.

 

 

How does Family Counseling work?

 

Working with a therapist to solve problems can take place on an individual basis or in a group setting, which involves all members of the family seeing a therapist.

 

It is most often used to help treat an individual’s problem that is affecting the family. This is possible because it’s based on the belief that the family is a unique social system with its own structure and patterns of communication.

 

These patterns are determined by many things including parents’ beliefs and values, the personalities of all family members and the influence of the extended family. As a result of these variables, each family develops its own unique personality, which is powerful and affects all of its members.

 

Also family therapy counseling is based on the concept that illness in one family member may be a symptom of a larger family problem. Therefore to treat only the member who is identified as ill is like treating the symptom of a disease but not the disease itself In addition family therapy counseling is based on the concept that a change in one member of the family affects both the family structure and each member individually.

 

 

When can it be used?

 

So, when is it necessary for a family to seek therapy counseling? Family therapy has been used successfully to treat many different types of families in different situations. Here are the top reasons why families go to counseling:

 

 

  1. The black sheep

Counselors use the term “identified patient” to describe the family member that is being blamed for the family problems as a whole. It can be used to explain a rebellious teenager, the alcoholic dad or the ADHD younger sister. Their activities are disrupting the family balance, hence many families will go for counseling because the black sheep of the family has been such a negative influence on the well being of the entire family.

 

 

  1. Loss of a loved one

A family that is mourning will often need counseling maximally. They need to cope with the stages of grief by seeking counseling and guidance in coping with the loss. Grief that is not handled appropriately can turn into depression and will cause more problems in the future.

 

 

  1. To solve conflicts 

Many families struggle to keep appropriate boundaries within their relationships with one another and outside the family. However conflicts are inevitable in any social setting and therefore a family can still emerge stronger by walking together through a dispute. Family counseling teaches the family members to interact better and communicate better thus improving their relationships.

 

 

  1. Long- term illness

When a family member has long- term (chronic) mental illness or substance abuse problem such as severe depression or an alcohol problem it is often necessary for the other family members to seek counseling in order to cope with the lifestyle changes.

 

 

  1. To prevent a crisis

It is said that prevention is better than cure; a family may therefore also find family therapy useful before problems begin. A good example is a man and woman who both have children from previous marriages, they may go to family counseling when they marry to help all family members learn how they live and interact with each other amicably.

 

 After all is said and done, family therapy counseling is not a bad idea. It will help tremendously in identifying conflicts and anxieties and help a family develop the strategies to solve them.

Mental Health Counselor

Top 5 Live Counseling Tips for You

 

Live Counseling is the Best Form of Counseling:

 

Live counseling an excellent treatment for emotion and mental health concerns.

 

To be able to reap the full benefits from counseling, you need to choose the right counselor, one that is skilled and will make you feel comfortable.

 

The counselor should be able to offer you the best service to resolve your problem.

 

An experienced counselor is better able to understand your concerns and can offer you solace and mental peace.

 

How Can Live Counseling Help You?

 

There are many ways in which counseling will be able to assist you. First of all, it will make you feel better after sharing your problems with an experienced counselor.

 

It can and will, with the proper sessions, heal your mind and reduce your stress.

 

Live Counseling will be more effective and helpful once you find a good and caring listener who will understand you and will offer the required service in a friendly manner.

 

The counselor will be able to provide adequate advice that will suit your needs and will have a positive impact in your life.

 

When is the right time to decide whether or not we should seek help from a counselor?

 

We need a counselor when we lack any other emotional support from our friends and family members and we are finding it difficult to manage the emotions and stress on our own.

 

Hence the reason why you should choose a service that is cordial, caring and friendly.

 

Anyone who is suffering from stress and emotional turmoil should consider seeking the help counseling.

 

Your counselor is not required to have a certificate to be able to provide this type of counseling.

 

You can seek the help of a counselor if you are suffering career failures, marriage issues, child related issues, old age problems and any other issue that might be causing you to feel frustrated, worried and/or helpless.

 

You will be able to see the benefits and progress of live counseling if you choose the appropriate counselor.

 

How to find the right counselor?

 

You will have to do thorough research in order to be able to find a well-qualified therapist that will be able to asses and treat your mental health.

 

An experienced, friendly and trustworthy are a few of the top qualities that your counselor needs to possess.

 

If you are comfortable, seek advice and recommendations from your friends or people with similar needs to get obtain the right therapist for you.

 

The following are few factors that should focus while looking for a counselor.

 

• Experience

 

This is extremely important.  An experienced counselor will be more capable at understanding your problems and will be able to treat them in a better way.

 

He will be able to recommend best course of action.

 

Different counselor focus on different areas of practice.

 

It is wise that you understand the needs that you have and then choose a counselor based on those specific needs.

 

If you are worried about your marital life and are having issues, then you should seek a marriage counselor.

 

If you are having problems or doubts in your career then you should look for a career counselor.

 

• Inform yourself about the different treatment types and options available to you.

 

There is a wide and diverse variety of mental disorders which makes getting the right treatment crucial.

 

Learn a bit about all the types available to your needs and decide which type of treatment will be best for your needs and comfort.

 

• Easy Accessibility

 

Whatever option you choose, choose one that is easily accessible. You should have the ability of being able to contact your counselor anytime that you need.

 

Having your counselor available to you will help you work through situations that may be out your reach.

 

• Types of Therapy

 

There are different types of therapy, each focused on specific needs.

 

For instance, individual therapy is focused on solely you.

 

It is aimed at treating mental and emotional disorders that have risen due to prior personal experiences.

 

Group therapy is often when a number of individuals suffer through the same struggle.

 

It is aimed at giving emotional support to those that may otherwise not have it.

 

Family therapy is, as its name suggests, is focused on family issues.

 

Couples therapy is mainly focused on personal relationships, as well as marriage counseling.

 

As mentioned above, live counseling can be applied to any kind of mental disorder. If you, a relative or a friend, is going through emotion and mental turmoil and are looking for medical help, it is recommended to first seek the help of a counselor.

 

Medication cannot resolve your problem completely and it has many negative side effects that may aggravate your condition. Go to a counselor to obtain treatment and therefore the solution to your problem and get some peace of mind.

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