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Section 1: Introduction (Unit 1, Assignment 1)

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Section 1: Introduction (Unit 1, Assignment 1)

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My name is Lisa Augspurger, and I am in the College of Graduate Studies. I plan to graduate in May 2024 with a Master of Arts in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling. A personal goal I have is to pass the NCE the first time. I tend to be a nervous test-taker, and I know that has impacted my performance on exams in the past. A professional goal I have is to work as a counselor for a private practice and transition out of education in the next couple of years. Though, as a future LPC, I do want to continue working with adolescents. I actually decided to take this course as an "extra" because I felt it would have information that would benefit future clients. I want to learn more about the causes and impacts of trauma. I realize, as a future LPC, that effects of trauma will be something that I encounter often with clients.

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As a future LPC, I will need to utilize the ACA Code of Ethics. It contains important information that, when I follow, will keep my license safe. It is a guide for many situations including the confidentiality of clients, my responsibilities as a counselor, procedures to refer a client, and training needed. It helps to maintain best practices in the profession and serve as a reminder as to what is prohibited as a counselor such as having personal relationships with clients. It is also a document to ensure that I am legally aligned with the expectations of a counselor.

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Section 1: Assessing Prior Knowledge (Unit 1, Assignment 1)

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Section 1: Assessing Prior Knowledge (Unit 1, Assignment 1)

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I found the statistics for mental health in the United States to be concerning, especially since many individuals do not seek care. Even though the stigma around mental health has improved, there are still those who feel ashamed or embarrassed by their symptoms. Individuals with mental health disorders are also still singled out or ignored due to fears of how they might act and what they may do to others (Mayo Clinic, 2017). There are also people who do not have support or encouragement to get the help they may need. Some individuals do not want to be judged. When I experienced postpartum depression after the birth of my second child, I did not want to get help. I made excuses for my feelings and behaviors. I did not see what others were seeing, and I thought the sadness would go away on its own. I attributed it to lack of sleep and believed if I could just get a little more sleep, I would feel better. Thankfully, I have a supportive family and sought out therapy to move through what I was experiencing.

Local Services: https://memorialhermann.org/services/specialties/mental-health

Statistics: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm

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Section 3: Developmental Discussion on Trauma (Unit 2, Assignment 2)

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Section 3: Developmental Discussion on Trauma (Unit 2, Assignment 2)

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I was engaged in this unit as I did not realize there were so many categories of trauma. I have experienced burnout and its effects on health. It becomes a challenge to go into work. When a person feels overwhelmed and negative, is tired often, or experiences a separation from the workplace, they may have burnout (American Psychological Association, 2023). The stress it creates impacts all areas of life. This includes performance at work, how a person interacts with others personally and professionally, and plays a role in health issues.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are also important to consider when working with others. Trauma that a person has gone through as a child can create long-term challenges. As a future LPC, I want to consider this as I work with clients and decide on the best course for treatment. If a person was raped as a youth, they may have trouble functioning in their life until they learn ways to cope with the trauma. When a child's safe space is jeopardized, it can cause confusion and chaos in their life. This could increase the chance of having negative experiences in the future.

Brain Development and Trauma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYBUY1kZpf8

Child Traumatic Stress: https://www.nctsn.org/trauma-informed-care/secondary-traumatic-stress/introduction

Compassion Fatigue: https://ct.counseling.org/2020/08/grappling-with-compassion-fatigue/

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Resilient Reporting: Tips on How to Cope with Burnout and Trauma

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At GIJC21, experts from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma offered advice for journalists on how to take care of their own mental well-being while working in stressful or even dangerous circumstances.

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Section 2: Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders (Unit 1, Assignment 4)

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Section 2: Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders (Unit 1, Assignment 4)

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This unit was particularly helpful in organizing different disorders. I am quite interested in anxiety disorders and eating disorders. Since anxiety is abundant in society today and can be caused by so many factors, I feel that having a deep understanding of where it may originate with a client and the effect it is having on physical symptoms is essential. In regards to eating disorders, I have heard about Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa since I was young. However, I have learned there are more disorders under this umbrella. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Pica are two that I should be aware of in working with clients. With ARFID, individuals tend to be overly picky about food and may have less interest in eating food (Cammarata, 2023). My daughter had a high school friend with Pica. She ate rocks. When I first heard about it, I thought my daughter was exaggerating or the girl might be trying to get attention. Then, I learned more about the disorder and realized it is a serious mental health condition.

Research: https://bbrfoundation.org/

Screening Tools: https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/

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Section 4: Psychological First Aid Online Certificate (Unit 3, Assignment 1)

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Section 4: Psychological First Aid Online Certificate (Unit 3, Assignment 1)

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I truly enjoyed taking this course. It offered me tips and techniques to work with people who have experienced a traumatic event. The course allowed me to think through how different people react to a crisis and how to help them calm and ground themselves. Since I plan to practice in the future as an LPC in Houston, it was helpful in considering what to do with hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding. I liked how it showed ways to communicate and keep people informed about missing loved ones. Listening to how a conversation might play out allowed me to imagine future conversations with clients and the careful word choice I need to use when someone is experiencing trauma. It also served as a reminder to be culturally aware of those who I am serving.

NCTSN Learning: https://learn.nctsn.org/

Cultural Competence: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/July-2020/Why-We-Need-More-Culturally-Competent-Therapists

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Section 6: ABC Crisis Model (Unit 3, Assignment 3)

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Section 6: ABC Crisis Model (Unit 3, Assignment 3)

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This unit was very helpful as a reminder on how to build rapport with clients. As a future LPC, I think that it is important to remember each client and his or her situation is unique and should be treated accordingly. Being aware of my nonverbal cues is something I need to pay attention to as I often cross my legs or arms and can seem unreceptive. It is essential to build a positive therapeutic rapport with clients in an effort to create a safe space in which the client can open up about their feelings and ultimately find a solution to their problems (Fritscher, 2023). Also, I feel that being cognizant that people handle a crisis in many ways will benefit my future clients. I should not assume that everyone gets angry if their house floods or if they are involved in a divorce. Some clients may already have tools for coping but need support in working through their next steps.

Counseling Skills Quizlet:

https://quizlet.com/6443097/apply-individual-counseling-skills-in-groups-part-1-flash-cards/

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Section 5: Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment (Unit 3, Assignment 2)

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Section 5: Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment (Unit 3, Assignment 2)

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Creating a crisis and threat assessment allowed me to understand all the components that are included. Learning more about assessments that can be given for suicide prevention was helpful. The Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) is a quick and simple tool. As a future LPC, I plan to keep a copy with me in case there are concerns with a client. Since there are only four questions, it takes only moments to gauge a client's risk for people over 8 years of age (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024). In addition, the PHQ-9 offers more questions for a client to rank how they are feeling, which can also offer insight. Knowing how and where to find these tools is essential, as well as where to refer them for help, if needed.

ASQ: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/asq-toolkit-materials

PHQ-9: https://www.verywellmind.com/phq-9-patient-healthcare-questionnaire-for-depression-4149685

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Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment 

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Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqj5zDbkPxY

Eating Disorders Symptoms: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms/

The Harris Center: https://www.theharriscenter.org/

Learning to be Culturally Competent: https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2010/09/culturally-competent

Suicide and Crisis Line: https://988lifeline.org/

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American Psychological Association. (2023). Employers need to focus on workplace burnout:

Here's why. APA. https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/workplace-burnout

Cammarata, C. (2023). Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/arfid.html

Fritscher, L. (2023). What to know about therapeutic rapport: A component that helps you feel

safe and respected. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/therapeutic-rapport-2671659

Mayo Clinic. (2017). Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/mental-health/art-20046477

National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Ask suicide-screening questions toolkit (ASQ).

NIMH. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/asq-toolkit-materials