Interview Mental Health Counselors

Interview a Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Capella
Introduction to Mental Health Counseling
COUN 5223
February 3, 2013
Abstract
For many years, people have his or her own perceptions of mental health counselors. Some people may even think that this is a pie job. This professional is overlook and underrated because so people who in need of this type of service are overlooked. While conducting this interview there were many of exciting job description of the two people this learner interviewed.
The two people interviewed gave some ideas to what they provide to clients daily and each person has 23 or more clients, including the students they work within the school system. The discussion was very intense, heartwarming, and rewarding. While conducting these interviews it gave a different outlook on the mental health world, from the outside in.
Table of Contents
Abstract… ……………………………………………………………………………….1
Table of Contents….……………………………………………………………………..3
Interview Questions……………………………………………………………………...4
Interview Summary……………………………………………………………………5-7
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….8
References……………………………………………………………………………….9

Interview Questions
1. What experience have you had that make you feel capable of a counselor?
2. What has been most rewarding experience?
3. What have you done to keep abreast of current practices in counseling and psychology?
4. What is the counseling theory that you most closely follow?
5. How would you handle an irate parent or client?
6. How do you know when to refer a student/client to another professional?
7. What new programs have you initiated?
8. How do you see group work being fit into the day?
9. How do you handle stress?
10. How do you handle criticism?
11. What is it that you like about (level) school students/clients?
12. What do you bring to this position that is unique?
13. How would you deal with student/teacher personality conflicts?
14. What do you think the role of the counselor is in preventing school violence?
15. Give an example of when you motivated others.

For many years, the role of the mental health counselor has worked behind the seams trying to provide the much need help to special clients, or under privileged families and his or her siblings. The first interview was very interesting, this particular gentlemen was willing to provide answers for the questions asked of him. First he stated that working in the mental health field for 25 years. Held other positions such as child protective services, social worker, rehabilitation counselor, case manager, group home counselor, psychiatric unit worker, and school counselor, (Hunter, 2013).
He stated it was an immense and rewarding to assist families with young children or help a disabled individual access a resource for additional support. Personally, achieving the goals of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and National Certified Counselor, and National Board School Counselor have been very rewarding, (Hunter, 2013). He continues to attend workshops and currently working on PhD in mental health counseling education. The counseling theory cognitive-behavioral. By remaining clam and allowing the parent or client the opportunity to vent/talk and give the reason that they are upset and what is needed for them to calm down.
It the clients has an issue or concern beyond my scope of practice or expertise. The client’s problem evokes personal feelings that would jeopardize his ethical and objectivity in working with the individual. No new programs at this time. It is extremely difficult as a mental health counselor with the other mandated duties. Group counseling is very important and can be beneficial to many students. Most school and other organizations in which I work for are receptive to working groups into a schedule, (Hunter, 2013).
Family time, vacations, resting, and relaxing, reading, attending church, and listening to music. By making certain that what he or she is doing ethical, morale, and researched-based practices to achieve the best results. The level of clients and students as it give me the opportunity to assist parents with building a strong positive foundation for everyone. This assists them with success throughout his or her life. Assist the student or clients to be empathetic and think about the other individual’s point of view and what can be done to bridge the issues that may be at the center of the conflicts.
Assisting school administrators in creating a warm, friendly, caring, and nurturing environment in which all stakeholders are appreciated and valued. The counselor should work with students in need of conflict resolution skills and anger management issues as well as preventing bullying and enforcing the state and national bullying policies. By encouraging students to go back to class and follow teacher’s directions to receiving getting an education will help him or her be successful. Inspiring and motivating individuals to pursue the counseling field as an area of study, (Hunter, 2013).
The other person interview was a mental health counselor for 20 years dealing with the domestic violence. The counselor actually could see client’s make the transformation from an abuser to someone who takes responsibility and is accountable for his or her actions. The most rewarding experience is to see a person emerge from his or her comfort zone, try the strategies and to have those strategies to work for him or her. As a counselor, you must be able to sell new ways or ideas to the people you are working with, (Solomon, 2013).
It seems as though things change daily in this field, either with your reimbursement agencies or through the state. One thing that counselors are required to do is to obtain 45 hours of CEU’s every two years to renew your license. In addition to those hours, read studies, journals, books, and talk with other to stay on top of the counseling field. The counseling theory is CBT. It is widely used because it is an action theory that required that clients work at becoming better. Assignments are given to the client to do after the session is over, and it works well if the client will do as suggested, (Solomon, 2013).
When dealing, with an irate client the first step will always be verbal de-escalation. If this does not work, you may have your partner to walk with the client because you almost are the source of anger for the client. Also it is never a good idea to be in a building alone with a client for that very reason. Never put your hands on a client!
Refer a person to another professional when his or her problem is beyond your scope of expertise. If the client begin to exhibit motions counterproductive to him or her getting better. This interviewee stated that she handles stress by reading, listen to music and sometimes “shop-talk” with coworkers. Exercise is also a good stress reliever! As for dealing with personality conflicts, she would have to see who is involved, (Solomon, 2013).
Once this has been established the counselor will be able to obtain that person to make the necessary adjustments to be civil toward the other. Both interviewees stated in motivating other, he or she would try to find his or her person out of his or her comfort zone. What ultimately makes is accompanied in a mutual search to see who gets who he is and decide from their privacy (Whiston, 2008).

Conclusion
In conclusion, to my surprise and understanding, as prior interviewee, family issues, and problems have a significant impact upon the decisions being made. This is because blood relations have been for quite some time, yet we must keep all our feelings and emotions aside and give out neutral, justified decisions, which would somehow benefit the person and make the life of the counselor easier in the light of giving decisions for better judgment, understanding, and comprehension.

References
Hunter, J. (2013, January 24). Interviewed by L. Hendricks
Solomon, Y. (2013, January 26). Interviewed by L. Hendricks
Whiston, S.C. and Rahardja, D. (2008) “Vocational counseling process and outcome in S. Brown and R. Lent (Eds.)” Handbook of counseling psychology, (4th ed). NY: Wiley

References: Hunter, J. (2013, January 24). Interviewed by L. Hendricks Solomon, Y. (2013, January 26). Interviewed by L. Hendricks Whiston, S.C. and Rahardja, D. (2008) “Vocational counseling process and outcome in S. Brown and R. Lent (Eds.)” Handbook of counseling psychology, (4th ed). NY: Wiley