VR #4: Roles and Function of Counseling Tiffany Smith COUN 500: Professional Identity, Ethical, and Legal Issues Dr. C. Ray Taylor Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling University of Mount Olive September 17, 2021 While discussing her various roles throughout her career, the counselor in the video mentions one very significant element, and that is ‘burn-out’. While burn-out can lesson our abilities in being an effective counselor, wellness and self-care is the most valuable measure against burn-out. Simple tasks like taking time for herself, engaging in personal interest, or even seeking her counseling, are all ways the counselor can become more efficient in all her various roles. Other means of ensuring effectiveness are staying on top of current trends, such as joining regional/national associations or organizations, networking connections, continuing education- which is offered in various ways, as well as implementing professional development resources. All of these mentioned or information related to, can be found on websites such as the American Counseling Association’s website (American Counseling Association, n.d.) For the statement, “The counseling field is a static”, I would have to strongly disagree. To label something as static, it would mean that it is stable, without change. The field of counseling, in today’s time, is vastly changing. Although counselors still implement theories that were hypothesized years and years ago, new theories are evolving all the time. The way in which clients receive counseling services is evolving, with more and more individuals seeking online counseling or distance counseling, as well as utilizing mobile apps (American Psychological Association, 2021). The fact that changes are being made against the stigma attached to mental health is one significant change and improvement. One year after graduation, my goal is to be a LCMHCA, while I hope to have become a LCMHC within five years preceding graduation. By ten years following graduation, my goal is to be a LCMHC working within a public/community setting with children and/or juveniles, specializing with behavioral development, or working with recovering substance addicts. My goal for twenty years is to be working with other community agencies to create and implement programs for juveniles, recovering substance addicts, and parolees, where both counseling services will be provided, as well as life coaching. I would absolutely love to help individuals turn their lives around, while supporting them and their mental health needs during the process. References: American Counseling Association. (n.d.). Knowledge Center- Mental Health Resources. http://counseling.org/knowledge-center/mental-health-resources. American Psychological Association. (2021). Monitor on Psychology: Annual Report: Fiscal year 2021. http://www.apa.org/members/content/2021-trends-report.pdf
