A Day in the Life of a Mental Health Counselor Essay

It is a privilege to interview veteran therapists who are exiting the counseling arena after a long career in the profession. I was honored to shadow Lea Keylon, a seasoned counselor, who on the eve of retirement set aside time for a student interview. The enlightening interview opened my understanding to the importance of proper diagnostic coding for insurance reimbursements, the financial struggles of private practice, and the poignant effect of forensic counseling on therapist (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Lea was eager to share her counseling accounts; however, the excitement of retirement planning could be seen in her demeanor. Private practice requires self-discipline, constant research for legislative†¦show more content†¦Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Private Practice Contentment and Distress Lea, very graciously, invited me into a very small office space. Stating that her walls are not insulated, Lea placed a white noise maker box outside of her office door to distort our conversation (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Lea said being on her own, being in total control of her business, and being able to take her business wherever she travels (by way of a cell phone) are the positives of private practice (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Conversely, Lea stated not being a part of a larger organization and financial issues as a negative of private practice (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Lea said, Private practice can be very lucrative . . . but it feels very exposed, exposed to mal practice (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Lea suggested obtaining a second source of income to compensate for cash flow problems due to the unpredictable flow of clients (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Mental health counseling at Denney Juvenile Justice Center is Leas second source of income (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Lea also has a state retirementShow MoreRelatedThe Experience Of A Professional Mental Health Counselor1356 Words   |  6 Pagesto a Professional Mental Health Counselor was very informative on October 19, 2015, I had a chance to meet K.W. she is a License Professional Counselor in Mental Health that holds her (LCPC) for the last ten (10) years. Ms. K.W. also holds her Therapist license in the arena of counseling for the last past six (6) years were her services of care is Mental Health, and Addiction Counseling were her population is men and women that struggles with addiction problems and mental health that is called co-occurringRead MoreStress For Relief : H elping Someone Can Play A Big Role On His Life Essay1319 Words   |  6 Pagesplay a big role on his or her life. Listening to them is even better. The things that are done by anyone for someone will have an effect whether it is positive or negative. That is what psychology is all about. Psychology is a popular field because many jobs are found when obtaining a degree with the major. The many jobs that come from psychology include counseling, therapy, and psychologist of all types. It revolves around the problems or illnesses of another person’s life. Sometimes those problemsRead MoreWhy I Chose to Become a Mental Health Counselor Essay1290 Words   |  6 Pagesbecome a mental health counselor Counseling others is a difficult job that requires people to listen, take notes, and respond in ways that are positive and helpful. It is important that trust be built between the counselor and the patient so that the patient will feel comfortable speaking about issues that are private or embarrassing. There are many different types of counselors including drug counselors; marriage counselors, grief counselors, job counselors, diet and exercise counselors, and othersRead MoreThe Effects Of Manic Depression On My Undergraduate Majors At Syracuse University1116 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Mom is in the hospital again,† my father said to me over the phone one evening this past April. Having spent the majority of that day at work counseling and planning for a client with suicidal ideation, my father’s phone call instantly put me on alert. Unfortunately, this was not the first time I received this call regarding my mother. Manic depression has been a lifelong battle and this was her third suicide attempt. However this time was different; this time, I knew how to react and how to helpRead MoreThe Effects Of Trauma On Clients And Mental Health Counselors1467 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effects of Trauma on Clients and Mental Health Counselors Cedric Hynson Walden University The Effects of Trauma on Clients and Mental Health Counselors This paper will define The Effects of Trauma and Crisis on Clients and Mental Health Counselors and give a brief overview on how these Natural and man-made disasters, crises, and other trauma-causing events have become a focus of the clinical mental health counseling profession. Due to the extreme trauma that childrenRead MorePersonal Statement : Becoming A Counselor834 Words   |  4 Pages My name is Andrea Ramos and my future career is being a counselor . In order to achieve my goals , I need to meet educational , requirements , have a specific skills and be passionate about my working/job. In order to be successful I need to be able to communicate with people more , and try to understand what a counselor s life would be all about , I will need excel at talking , and succeed in high school than college and my vocabulary and try to understand what people go through , this isRead MoreThe Role Of A Mental Health Counselor1607 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role and Life of a Me ntal Health Counselor Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals (Carmichael and Erford, 2014).I had to learn what it meant to be a counselor in order to decide if it was a path that I was willing to go down. I have learned a lot over the last 10 weeks from wellness strategies, writing clear and concisely and making ethical decisions. I also learnedRead MoreBackground Information . Cheltenham High School (Chs) Serves1546 Words   |  7 Pagessystems, there’s not much information regarding mental health that’s available to teachers and students. This underlying need that has been brewing at Cheltenham High School since the start of the academic school year. Each week at practicum, there are stories of a crisis that had already occurred in relation to mental health. Upon consultation with teachers, staff and school nurse, the theme that consistently popped up was the lack of mental health knowledge or awareness and training to appropriatelyRead More The Identity of a Professional Counselor 1777 Words   |  7 PagesThe identity of a professional counselor may present numerous differences based on the specialization of counseling, as well as, overall identity factors that remain the same across the entire counseling spectrum. The paper examines key philosophies of the counseling profession which include: wellness, resilience, and prevention and how these philosophies impact the counseling profession. Next it will discuss the characteristics of an effective professional counselor in two different professionalRead MoreProfessional identity and career paper1483 Words   |  6 Pagesorganizations. The key characteristics of a counselor can be summarized as; Patience – a counselor has to provide patience when interacting with clients during sessions because everyone moves at their own pace while in therapy. The need to release negative feelings and move forward towards positive change can vary by client. Good Listener – counselors spend a large amount of time listening to their client’s stories and feelings, as counselors you have to be comfortable with providing this time