The Practice of Mental Health Counseling

(Offered in spring and fall terms only.) This course looks at issues in the practice of mental health counseling, including: history and trends; specialized roles related to young people and schools (school social worker/school adjustment counselor, guardian ad litem, juvenile court clinician); roles, settings and special populations in mental health counseling practice; specialized treatment planning, assessment, and documentation for managed care. (The course does not focus on basic clinical skills.) Particular emphasis is given to professional identity and ethics, mental health consultation, the roles of members of an interdisciplinary team, developing a process for professional self assessment and continuing education planning, using appropriate language for managed care assessment and treatment, and developing a disclosure statement to introduce clients to the counseling relationship. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.