CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR

Roles and Functions of Clinical Mental Health Counselor



Abstract

This paper would discuss the roles and approaches of clinical mental health counselors across a range of mental health delivery systems to the clients of diverse ages, backgrounds and different issues. It explains how the policies of professional, governmental, and accrediting organizations affect the practice of clinical mental health counseling. It illustrates few conditions, when a CMHC is asked to provide consultation as well as times when a CMHC seeks professional consultation.

Roles and Functions of Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Introduction

The title of “mental health counselor” refers to those counseling professionals, whose primary affiliation and theoretical basis is counseling and not psychotherapy, psychology or social work (Christensen, 1991). The terms “therapy” and “counseling” seem to be used interchangeably in the professional literature. Counseling is defined as the application of principles, procedures, methods or services to assist patients to achieve and promote mental health. (Christensen, 1991).

Discussion

Roles of Clinical Mental Health Counselor

The role of clinical mental health counselor is as follows:

To diagnose, prevent and treat mental and behavioral disorders and distresses.

To do assessments for establishing treatment goals.

To plan, evaluate and implement plans using treatment interventions related to counseling (Ronald& Marilyn, 1999)

Diverse Approaches of Clinical Mental Health Counselor

“Clinical mental health counseling” means a clinical counseling service that involves the principles of psychotherapy, learning theory, human development, and mental illness to provide support to individuals, families, couples, groups, organizations and communities. It includes management of mental and emotional disorders. It detects clients at risk, prevents further deterioration. It involves management for addiction of drugs or tranquilizers. It helps in moving clients to mental health specialty care. It helps in providing assistance to primary care provider in managing patients of mental health abnormalities.

Examples

Behavioral Health Consultation

The clinical mental health councilor focuses on functional and diagnostic evaluation, problem-solving, and treatment. He manages the delivery of behavioral health care services for clients, by Behavior Medicine This type of therapy helps the clients, in coping with chronic conditions, like cancer and diabetes and in tolerating uncomfortable medical procedures. This also helps in management of health risk factors such as smoking cessation and weight loss.

Disability Prevention

This type of therapy assists clients who have taken medical leave from job to help them in rejoining the work quickly. It focuses on providing care related to job site and client to avoid disability building treatments.

Responsibilities of Counselors Providing Services to Clients of Diverse Ages, Backgrounds, and Exceptional Abilities

Marriage and Family Therapy

Marriage and family counselors apply special clinical interventions to provide l mental health care to married couples and families. Their treatment is associated with improved results for the mental health and functioning of the patients. These services include applying principles and therapeutic techniques for resolving emotional conflicts and changing behaviour. It enhances understanding among family members and prevents family crisis (Ronald & Marilyn, 1999.

Age and Stage-Related Issues

A successful counselor considers and treats age-related issues of the same age group and develops proper ...