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My name is Ashlie Balderas. I am enrolled in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling. I am two classes away from reaching my goal! I will be graduating in December. I plan to work as a counselor in higher education. I have more work to do, but I am one step closer. I hope this class teaches me different techniques to treat trauma. With a diverse range of students in higher education, I want to learn as much as possible so I can create the best care plan for clients.

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Section 1 Unit 1: Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge.

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Section 1 Unit 1: Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge.

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I was able to introduce myself and provide information about my biggest "takeaway" from this unit's reviews. Also, I described and explained my personal connection to the quiz I took. Lastly, I attached a reference that I found relevant to my field of study.

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Section 2 Unit 1: Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders.

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Section 2 Unit 1: Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders.

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I was able to create a reference guide for mental health disorders. This spreadsheet provides definitions, references, and details on depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse, and eating disorders.

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Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders-Ashlie Balderas

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Section 3 Unit 2: Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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Section 3 Unit 2: Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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This Unit is a cumulative discussion. Each post has built on my knowledge of trauma that I will take with me into my future role as a counselor in higher education.

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My second discussion was about the documentary that I selected. A family member suggested The Other Shore: The Diana Nyad Story. After researching her story, I was interested to see how she accomplished what she did while experiencing so much trauma growing up.

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My third post discusses what in more detail the documentary that I watched.  I discuss what I learned after viewing the documentary in relations to trauma and what I found the most interesting.    Lastly, I discuss if the documentary supported what I have read or contradict it.  

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My last post goes into more detail about the documentary I watched and what type of trauma I noticed based on research.  I also included supporting resources.  I also discussed if there were any interventions and what my counseling plan.

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My first discussion post was about learning and describing the ACE study. Next, I described three interesting categories of trauma I found interesting through research in our unit. I also explained why I think kids are susceptible to trauma and described two grief or trauma-informed strategies. Lastly, I described why I think health professionals should be required to receive education on trauma. As a counselor in higher education, I believe learning different treatments for trauma is vital. 

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Section 4 Unit 3:  Psychological First Aid Online Certificate.

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Section 4 Unit 3:  Psychological First Aid Online Certificate.

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I've gained a lot from the Psychological First Aid Online Training course. I often find myself applying the steps I learned when I come across a crisis in the news. This is particularly relevant to my role as a counselor in higher education, as I feel more prepared to handle a crisis. The training has taught me how to better handle myself in these types of situations.

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) Certificate-Ashlie Balderas

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This assignment required me to select a case study. I chose a study that focused on a college student named Melynda, who struggled with her father's expectations and what to do with her future. I chose this case study because it closely resembled the scenarios I would encounter as a counselor in higher education.

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Sections 5 Unit 3: Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment

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Sections 5 Unit 3: Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment

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This was a group project about school violence, covering topics such as school shootings, bullying, fighting, gang violence, and sexual violence. Our presentation addressed mental health and threat assessments, at-risk behaviors, how to use multi-agency collaboration, universal screening types, community training, and legal requirements and ethical codes. This assignment was beneficial for my role as a higher education counselor because violence has become an epidemic in our schools and is something I will need to address.

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(Michigan Department of Education, 2020)

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Understanding ACEs and the Impact of Trauma

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Understanding ACEs and the Impact of Trauma

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Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the Impact of Trauma

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How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | Nadine Burke Harris | TED

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How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | Nadine Burke Harris | TED

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How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | Nadine Burke Harris | TED

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The Trevor Project

Crisis Intervention for LGBTQ Youth Lifeline:

866-488-7386

TheTrevorProject.org

Crisis Text Line:

Text HOME to 741741

Volunteer Crisis Counselor

Trans Lifeline:

877-565-8860

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

https://sprc.org

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The Texas Administrative Code states that a counselor needs to create a school counseling program that understands the social, environmental, and cultural aspects of students so that their education and personal growth can be developed.

This is applicable to my role as a counselor because Rule 239.15 states the requirements of a school counselor.

(Texas Administrative Code, 2001)

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As a counselor I will be following the ACA Code of Ethics. The mission of the American Counseling Association

is to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting

the development of professional counselors, advancing

the counseling profession, and using the profession and

practice of counseling to promote respect for human

dignity and diversity (American Counseling Association, 2014).

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), n.d

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MHMR Concho Valley

24/7 PHONE SUPPORT (free and confidential):

325-653-5933 or 800-375-8965

MHMR Concho Valley offers services and supports that meet the needs of people with mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and substance use disorders, enabling them to make choices that result in lives of dignity and increased independence.

(MHMR Concho Valley, n.d)

West Texas Counseling and Guidance

(325) 486-TALK (8255)

West Texas Counseling and Guidance offers a Zero Suicide Program that gives access to therapy to those experiencing overwhelming depression and thoughts of suicide.

(West Texas Counseling and Guidance, n.d.)

TEXAS SUICIDE PREVENTION COLLABORATIVE

https://texassuicideprevention.org

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(National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, n.d.)

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Guidelines for Responding to the of a Death Student or Staff Booklet 

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Guidelines for Responding to the of a Death Student or Staff Booklet 

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(National Education Association (NEA), 2018)

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National Education Association School Crisis Guide 2018

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National Education Association School Crisis Guide 2018

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Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events

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Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events

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AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)

https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2022/05/trauma-informed/

AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Publications-Research/Publications/Free-ASCA-Resources/Crisis-Trauma-Resources

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

https://www.nimh.nih.gov

NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)

https://www.nami.org/blogs/nami-blog/?category=young-adult-college

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About us | Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity. (n.d.). https://diversity.nih.gov/about-us

American Counseling Association. (2014). ₂₀₁₄ ACA code of ethics. https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

EpicTop10.com. (n.d.). Diversity. Flickr. https://www.epictop10.com

MHMR Concho Valley. (n.d.). About Us. MHMR Concho Valley. https://mhmrcv.org/about-us/

Michigan Department of Education. (2020, September 14). Understanding Adverse Childhood experiences (ACEs) and the impact of trauma [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ns8vNzbfQI

National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement. (n.d.). Guidelines for responding to the death of a student or school staff. In National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement. https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Guidelines-Death-Student-or-Staff-Booklet-Format.pdf#pdfjs.action=download

National Education Association (NEA). (2018). PREVENT PREPARE RESPOND RECOVER: HELP AND HEALING IN A TIME OF CRISIS. https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/NEA%20School%20Crisis%20Guide%202018.pdf

National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Let’s talk about eating disorders. In nimh.nih.gov. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/publications/lets-talk-about-eating-disorders/lets-talk-about-eating-disorders_0.pdf

Natwick, J. (2017, May). On the Ethics of Ending: Termination and referrals. Ethics Update. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/ethics/ethics-columns/ethics_may_2017_terminations-and-referrals.pdf?sfvrsn=ea25522c_6

Publication, N., No. 22-MH-8066. (2022). Helping children and adolescents cope with traumatic events [Report]. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/publications/helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-disasters-and-other-traumatic-events/22-MH-8066_Helping-Children-Cope-Traumatic-Events.pdf

TED. (2015, February 17). How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | Nadin

Texas Administrative Code. (2001). The Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved October 4, 2024, from https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=239&rl=15

Smith, W., Ph.D., (2021, July 30). PositivePsychology.com. Counseling Ethics Code: 10 Common Ethical Issues and Studies. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://positivepsychology.com/counseling-ethics-code/

Stubbe D. E. (2020). Practicing Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility in the Care of Diverse Patients. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), ₁₈(1), 49–51. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20190041

West Texas Counseling & Guidance. (n.d.). Zero suicide. Counseling in San Angelo. Retrieved December 2, 2023 from

https://www.sanangelocounseling.org/zero-suicide

Youngson, N. (n.d.). Help. Picpedia. http://www.nyphotographic.com/

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The COSWD is the NIH thought leader in the science of scientific workforce diversity, helping to build biomedical and behavioral research capacity through a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible scientific workforce. Our efforts focus on the NIH intramural, extramural, and external communities, including NIH-funded institutions. NIH established the COSWD role in 2014 as a pivotal advisor to the NIH Director and catalyst for programs across NIH (About Us | Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity, n.d.).

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Cultural humility involves entering a relationship with another person with the intention of honoring their beliefs, customs, and values. It entails an ongoing process of self-exploration and self-critique combined with a willingness to learn from others (Stubbe D. E., 2020).

Cultural competence is important because our society is becoming more diverse. Knowing how to properly deliver responsive services will provide higher-quality care to diverse populations.

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Referrals are an essential part of the counseling process. Here is the approach I would take when setting up a referral.

Obtain permission from the client before setting up a referral.

Explain the benefits of using a specialized counselor or programs to the client.

Get written permission from the client to share confidential information with the chosen referral.

Always conform to the ACA Code of Ethics when making referrals and transferring services.

Keep lines of communication open with the new provider and send necessary documentation. (Natwick, 2017)

Ethical concern: informed consent.

Informed consent is inherently subjective and may require help from the counselor for the client to understand. (Smith, 2021)