Mental Health Counselors

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Application: Psychopharmacology and Mental Health Counselor Sabrina Anderson Walden University Abstract This paper will explain the boundaries regarding recommending and prescribing medications to clients as a mental health counselor. The mental health counselor’s role in educating the client about the medication and whom the client would be referred to for the medications. Also I will discuss what information would be given to the professional the client was referred to and how as a mental health counselor I would interact with the other professional. Psychopharmacology and Mental Health Counselor: Boundaries regarding recommending and prescribing medications as mental health workers we must have a basic understanding of the behavioral medications available. It is important for the counselor to understand the risks and benefits of the medication and communicate this effectively so the client has a clear understanding of the treatment options. The mental health counselor must be aware that the patients choice is potentially influenced by a variety of personal, economic, familial, and cultural factors and the influence these factors have when guiding a patients decisions regarding medications and treatment options. Prescribing therapists must give responsibility to the patients for the decision of whether to include medication in their course of treatment (APA). This is very important for mental health counselors when prescribing medication by letting the client make the decision. Some client’s have had adverse reactions to medications and may have tried a serious of medications therefore; they are not willing to be on medications and would rather try different treatment options. Understanding the clients true feeing on the medication is critical. The authors encourage today’s counselors to have a basic understanding of “Reductionism inherent in human
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