Exploring Becoming a Mental Health Counselor

1. Exploring Becoming a Mental Health Counselor Presented by: Jim Messina, Ph.D. , NCC, CCMHC

2. What are the Hallmarks of a Profession? • Professional Membership Organization • Code of Ethics • Research into Effectiveness of Service Delivery • Certification and Licensure • Accreditation

3. The National Professional Association of Mental Health Counselors American Mental Health Counselors Association

4. Florida Chapter of AMHCA Suncoast Chapter of FMHCA

5. Association AMHCA Belongs to American Counseling Association

6. CODES OF ETHICS GoverningMental Health Counselors

7. Research in the field is Reported in AMHCA’s Journal

8. AMHCA’s Online Newsletter

9. National Certification

10. Two National Certifications • NCC: National Certified Counselor – Over 48,000 • CCMHC: Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor – Over 1,000 are CCMHC’s

11. State Licensure-FL 491License Board In Florida • 7,784 Licensed Mental Health Counselors • 1,545 Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists • 10,070 Licensed Social Workers In USA • 120,429 Licensed Professional Counselors • 54,785 Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists • 202,924 Licensed Social Workers

12. Accreditation-CACREP 74 Graduate Programs in the USA are CACREP approved in Clinical Mental Health Counseling In Florida they are: • Argosy Sarasota • Barry University • Florida Atlantic University • Florida Gulf Coast University • Florida International University • Florida State University • Rollins College • Troy University Southeast Region: Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Walton Beach, Panama City & Pensacola • University of Central Florida • University of Florida • University of North Florida • University of South Florida Online: • Cappella University • Walden University

13. SO! What do Mental Health Counselors Do? Mental Health Counselors offer full range of services: • Assessment & diagnosis • Treatment planning and utilization review • Psychotherapy • Brief and solution-focused therapy • Alcoholism and substance abuse treatment • Psycho-educational & prevention programs • Crisis management • Trauma Intervention

14. ACA’s 20/20 Commission’s Definition of Counseling Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals

15. What Skills Do Mental Health Counselors Need? • Ability to understand dynamics of Human Development to capture good psychosocial history of clients • Diagnosis of and treatment for behavioral pathology • Evidenced based practices in psychotherapy to provide credible treatment to clients • Understanding of basic neuroscience of brain and nervous system to understand roots of emotional responses to life’s stressors • Understanding of psychopharmacological treatment of psychopathology

16. History Timeline of Creation of Mental Health Counseling Profession • 1976 – Coining of term Mental Health Counselor and formation of American Mental Health Counselor’s Association as Division of ACA • 1979 – Creation of the National Academy of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors • 1981 – First State Law to license Mental Health Counselors put into effect in Florida • 1985 – AMHCA had over 12,000 members • 2011 – AMHCA put out its newest Standards of Practice in Mental Health Counseling

17. What are the future prospects for the profession? • Recognized for VA Positions in VA Hospitals and Field Agencies • Hope to soon be recognized for Medicare Services • Increased work in Behavioral Medicine in Hospitals, Rehab Centers, and Primary Care Physicians’ Offices • Increased work in Substance Abuse and Alcohol Treatment Facilities • Increased work in Courts as Custody Evaluators

18. What Training is Needed to Become a Mental Health Counselor? • Masters in Mental Health Counseling – 60 hours including courses in all aspects of the field, plus a practicum and Internship • 2 years post Master Internship under supervision of LMHC or registered supervisor prior to becoming licensed • Pass the Master’s Comps and Licensing Exam

19. Where does one get Mental Health Counseling training? • CACREP accredited Mental Health Counseling Graduate programs either • in person on ground or • Online or • Hybrid mix of on ground and online

20. How do you get yourself ready? • Graduate from your Undergraduate Program • Take the GRE or MAT • Apply to CACREP accredited Masters Degree Programs • Get accepted • Enjoy the ride to becoming a Recognized Mental Health Professional as a Mental Health Counselor!

21. Any Questions?