Consultation and Advocacy in the Counseling Profession Michael Keller COUN5004 Abstract This paper discusses the roles of consultation and social justice advocacy in the counseling profession. There is a discussion of how I see my role in advocacy and consultation as I become a professional in mental health. The paper will also discuss how I view consulting as it relates to advocacy. Finally, there is a brief hypothetical situation which then illustrates how knowledge of consultation and advocacy could be applied to correct it. Role of a Mental Health Counselor The role of a counselor as a social advocate has been discussed in literature since the late 1800’s (Smith, Reynolds, & Rovnak, 2009).
Sigmund Freud was the first to challenge the view that mental disorders were caused by physical illness and proposed that psychological factors were responsible for the illness. The psychodynamic approach highlights the importance of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences. Psychodynamic psychologist’s attempt to deal with the mental health issues of their patients by incorporating these ideas and creating therapies using these ideas. The basic concept behind psychoanalysis is that a patient that suffers from mental health problems such as depression can address any regressed feelings thus, the patient gains insight of and can learn to work through their emotional baggage. It is a generalised concept that if the cause of the symptoms were tackled it would only be logical that the symptoms would then cease.
Mental health professionals practice active listening and encourage the client to express their feelings. Mental health counselors develop and implement treatment plans based on the client’s physical or mental condition. Client information is collected through interviews, observations or tests which guide counselors in the development of therapeutic information strategies that will help clients deal with their problems by targeting at-risk behaviors which promotes optimum mental and emotional well-being of the client (Erford, 2010). Over the past decade organizations have come to the realization that mental health professionals need to become competent in cross cultural interactions. Competent multicultural mental health professionals play a key role in success of mental health counseling interventions (Connerley & Pederson, 2005).
The ruling clearly indicated his mental health diagnosis, yet, the ruling allowed for his sentencing to still have the death penalty consideration. (Hughes, 2015) The nuance is created when looking at competency and criminal or deviant behavior. Mental illness with undefined capacity is such a large variable. If this ruling were to hold true with any mental health diagnosis, a large percentage of the population could commit crimes without facing stiff punishment under the umbrella of incompetency. There are varying degrees of mental illness and lessened capacity, there must be a line as to accountability instead of excused behaviors.
The Role of the Counselor in the Initial Stages of Psychopharmacological Intervention Brenda Feeler The Role of the Counselor in the Initial Stages of Psychopharmacological Intervention Counselors have the responsibility to assess, treat, monitor, and advocate for his or her client (Preston, O’Neal & Talaga, 2013). Dealing with a client that needs to be referred for psychopharmacological medication will require knowledge to educate the client concerning this need. Communication with the psychiatrist and client to develop a working alliance in the appropriate treatment strategies is vital in the planning and implementation of the correct treatment Preston et al. (2013). Symptoms of Depression and Medications Prescribed Depression is a mental illness that has become a major problem along with other disorders that are associated with depression.
During my research i found that the services provided by mental health courts are the following: Specialized training of criminal justice personnel to identify and address the unique needs of offenders who are mentally ill or intellectually disabled. Voluntary outpatient or inpatient mental health treatment, in the least restrictive manner appropriate as determined by the court, that carries with it the possibility of dismissal of charges or reduced sentencing on successful completion of treatment. Centralized case management involving the consolidation of cases that involve mentally ill or mentally disabled defendants (including probation violations) and the coordination of all mental health treatment plans and social services, including life skills training, placement, health care, and relapse prevention for each
The journalist argument is that we can save cost in healthcare by using Telehealth monitoring systems. She believes that if you provide patients with education and this suggested monitor, that the admission rates would go down, and patient would be able to same money. The cost is about the same as a one day admission. The monitor would educate the patient and alert them of warning signs if their condition is worsening. This in return will prompt the patient to alert his or her physician.
Critics believe modern law is more concerned with the consequences of crime and less with the moral imperatives. [3] When a crime is committed the person should be convicted. Mental illness could be taken into account at the time of sentencing. Several states have accepted this reasoning, the insanity plea is abolished and replaced with guilty but insane. This verdict carries a criminal penalty, the defendant is sentenced to a hospital prison and the defendant must prove he is no longer dangerous or mentally ill. Advocate of the insanity defense believe that a fundamental principle of criminal law is a stake.
The defendant must be competent to stand trial, therefore, must be able to understand the process of the trial, mentally stable enough to interact with the counsels for their defense. The defendant must also prove to the jury at the time of the offense the criminal act was a result of mental disease or mental defect (Montaldo, 2014). The defense should have convincing evidence and preponderance evidence the defendant was mentally ill, by undergoing testing conducted by a psychiatrist to determine the defendant’s mental state at the time the crime was committed. The medical expert would have to disclose to the judge and jury the defendant did not understand their actions were illegal. The instability of the defendant could have been, however, with the proper treatment they could recover.
For they will have a lower risk of recidivism and actually become a working part of society then generate a positive incline on recidivism statistics. Then if let out on parole or probation you can weed out the one who will really need to be raised to high risk and monitored.