Counseling Types: Clinical Mental Health Counseling

There are many things you can do with a counseling degree! In this post I will describe clinical mental health counseling.

History

The counseling movement started with vocational counseling in the 1900s. Then, in the 1930s, the government began allocating dollars for mental health treatment. During the 1940s the NIMH (National Institute for Mental Health) was created, then after that, mainly in the 1960s, there was much growth in community mental health centers. The late 1960s and early 1970s saw expansion of laws that forced many to get substance abuse treatment. All of these events led to the general expansion of mental health services in one way or another.

Then, in the 1990s, the HMO (Health Management Organization) movement caused dramatic changes in the delivery of mental health services. Patients lost control of both the type and duration of service because those were now under HMO control. Then, in 2010, passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act added mental health counselors to state insurance plans. The upside? Hopefully this will mean the continued acceptance of mental health counselors as viable providers of mental health services.

Roles and Settings

Mainly because of the diverse agencies under which mental health counselors are employed, there are a wide variety of roles:

1. Case Manager- counselors must understand client needs, create treatment plans, connect clients with services, and follow-up with clients to make sure treatment plan goals are met.
2. Needs Assessor- counselors must interview and assess clients to determine client needs.
3. Counseling- of course, counselors must also counsel. Although the approach and theoretical orientation may vary, at some levels all counselors provide counseling.
4. Consultant- counselors may have the need to work with people or institutions external to the client in order to help the client in a holistic way. For example, a counselor may want to bring in the client’s family members to assist and participate in the client’s treatment. In addition, counselors may also need to consult with other clinicians to get a second opinion and/or suggestions on a case they are struggling with.
5. Crisis Responder- even if a counselor is not working in a crisis-oriented agency, like the Red Cross or a crisis center, he or she may find themselves needing to address the needs of a client in crisis.

Professional Issues

1. Professional Associations. There are many, but the most common is AMHCA (American Mental Health Counselors Association).
2. Salaries. Salaries range widely based on geographical location and type of institution. Starting salaries can range from $25,000 to $40,000, with more experienced counselors earning $50,000 or $60,000 in agencies. In private practice, salaries can reach $100,000 with good networking.

Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,

Barbara LoFrisco

*source: The World of the Counselor: An Introduction to the Counseling Profession by Ed Neukrug, fourth edition.