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In responsive service, cultural competence is important to provide respectful and effective care.

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I have a professional goal to start my own private counseling practice in my small town and eventually grow to the other small towns in the area. In 6 years, I will have started my own counseling practice both in person and online.
When I earn my license in professional counseling, I would like to continue my work with adolescents to help them understand, cope and overcome the silent battles they face every day.

I have a personal goal at this time to increase my outdoor activity. For the next 6 months, I will complete some type of outdoor activity for at least 30 minutes a day.

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Introduction to Crisis Trauma, and Mental Health Concerns

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Introduction to Crisis Trauma, and Mental Health Concerns

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As a school counselor, I have seen an increase in students with suicidal ideation this year compared to the previous years. This is a topic I would like to learn more about because suicide is something on many adolescents’ minds. A goal I have for this course is to learn crisis prevention strategies that I can use in my future role as a professional counselor.

In my future role as a professional counselor, knowledge of how to identify, understand and respond to people with thoughts of suicide will be key in preventing and intervening in situations involving suicidal ideation. I would like to learn about the connection between trauma and suicidal thoughts. Additionally, I think of suicide as a sign of mental illness, but I am curious about what type of mental illness is correlated to suicidal thoughts.

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Licensed professional counselors must adhere to the ACA Code of Ethics. These guidelines assist counselors in constructing a course of action that best serves their clients.

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Reflection for Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge. 

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Reflection for Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge. 

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In this section, I was able to introduce myself to the class and think ahead about what goal I would hope to learn. I was also able to reflect on why learning about trauma and mental health issues are important in my future role. There are many areas I feel strongly about, but I immediately thought about suicide. In my current work, I have seen the number of students with suicidal ideation increase in the last couple years. I do believe, in my future role as a professional counselor, knowledge of how to identify, understand and respond to people with thoughts of suicide will be key in preventing and intervening in situations involving suicidal ideation.

In reading my classmates introduction posts, I really enjoyed getting to see what program of study everyone was in. I also really liked seeing pictures of classmates. It is nice to put a face to a name. Some of the resources provided by classmates were very interesting and a helpful tool.

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Reflection for Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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Reflection for Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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The guide we created on Excel is an excellent tool for information about specific mental health disorders. It is a functional one-stop-shop for definitions and resources. I also enjoyed making the mental health disorder guide because it allowed me to dive deeper into understanding each area.

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Reflection for Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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Reflection for Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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This assignment included information about the different types of traumas. I was really interested in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the ACEs study. I really feel like the information regarding the long-term effects of ACEs are important for families to know. Especially families of young children because of how vulnerable children are to trauma. Having a basic knowledge and understanding of the effects of trauma helps me understand and build empathy for children that have experienced traumatic events.

In this assignment, I also really enjoyed the trauma documentary evaluation. With the knowledge I have now, I want to continue to watch other documentaries to see if I can identify the specific trauma and make connections to how the trauma impacted the lives of the individuals involved.

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Licensed professional counselors use the Texas Administrative Code for laws regarding licensing and rules of practice.

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Roark Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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Trauma and Jeffery Epstein Filthy Rich Documentary

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Trauma and Jeffery Epstein Filthy Rich Documentary

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) online training was a 5-hour interactive course designed to help students learn the core actions of a person providing PFA. I valued the course offering several disaster scenarios and walking me through how to help the survivors based on their needs. We learned what to do and how to apply those skills in a real-world situation.

I really enjoyed the information on how to maintain your own well-being as a provider of PFA. These are very high stress and high emotion situations which can be very hard on responders. People providing PFA need to care for their own well-being before, during, and after a crisis situation to ensure they can help others and stay healthy themselves.

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online_Certificate

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Reflection for Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment Presentation

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Reflection for Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment Presentation

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This was my favorite assignment in the course. I really enjoyed working in a group to collaborate on each part of our crisis plan and presentation. This assignment was a great way to put all the pieces together from other assignments and create a product that I can use in my future role as a professional counselor.

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Group Presentation Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self Injury

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Group Presentation Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self Injury

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Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment (1)

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The ABC model for crisis intervention is a framework to build a connection with the client, identify the nature of the crisis, and offer coping skills. Breaking down the problem into physical, emotional, social, and mental needs/issues was challenging to me, because I felt like areas of the situation could fit into several categories. Regardless, they are still parts of a problem and important to the action plan. The following resource gives helpful examples of counseling skills, counseling stem description, and counselor effectiveness rating form. I like to know what is expected in my role, so the rating form is a nice resource to have moving forward.

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Counseling Skills Resources - Dr. Loretta Bradley, PhD(1)

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Admission Requirements

Submit a graduate application through ApplyTexas.

Pay the $40 non-refundable application fee.

Submit official transcripts from the institutions where you earned your bachelor's and master's degrees.

Prerequisites

Master's degree in counseling or counseling-related field

No minimum undergraduate GPA

Additional Information

Professional School Counseling - Online LPC Bridge coursework prepares students to apply for licensure only in the state of Texas. Students must assume responsibilities for securing a practicum site(s) and a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), and maintaining constant communication with the supervisor to meet the LPC-A state licensure pre-requisite requirements.

Texas Professional Counselor Licensing Information

After completing the LPC supplement courses outlined in the Texas Administrative Code, students seeking licensure as a professional counselor in Texas must:

1. Pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHC) (NBCC Exams).

2. Pass the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counseling Texas Jurisprudence Exam (BHEC LPC Jurisprudence Exam).

3. Secure a master's-level/doctoral-level, board-approved Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. This information will be submitted on the Supervisory Agreement Form for LPC Associate license application.

4. Apply for an LPC Associate license through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. This involves an application process through an Online Licensing System to submit requirements, including the Practicum Documentation Form and the Supervisory Agreement Form. Additional documentation from third parties is also required for application and outlined on BHEC Applying for a License.

5. Once granted licensure as an LPC Associate, you will accrue the required 3,000 clock hours (1,500 direct counseling) under your board-approved supervisor for application for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Requirements for licensure vary from state to state. Our online bridge prepares students for licensure ONLY in the state of Texas. We do not imply that our online bridge prepares students for licensure in other states.
You may also find out more information about the counseling profession through the following professional counseling websites:

Credit Requirements

This graduate-level online bridge consists of 18 credit hours*. That means you only have to complete six courses to be ready to apply for licensure.

*Hours are dependent on transcript evaluation.

Application Deadlines

8-Week Bridge Deadlines:

Spring A - Jan 1

Spring B - Mar 1

Summer - May 23

Fall A - Aug 1

Fall 2022-B Semester (October 17 - December 9) will open on Aug. 24

Fall B - Oct 1

Bridge Courses (3 credit hours each)

*Hours are dependent on transcript evaluation

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Professional School Counseling - Online LPC Bridge

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Submit a graduate application through ApplyTexas. Pay the $40 non-refundable application fee. Submit official transcripts from the institutions where you earned your bachelor's and master's degrees. Master's degree in counseling or counseling-related field No minimum undergraduate GPA Professional School Counseling - Online LPC Bridge coursework prepares students to apply for licensure only in the state of Texas.

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Referral Process
● The crisis team will contact the parent/guardian and notify them of the student risk for suicide or risk of injurious self-harm.
● The crisis team will provide parents/guardians with local medical and/or mental health provider resources for immediate evaluation and treatment.
● Parents/guardians must agree to immediately be taken to appropriate medical and/or mental health providers of their choosing.
● If parents/guardians refuse to seek help for the child in their care, it may result in a referral to Child Protective Services and/or law enforcement

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Emergency 911
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Crane Memorial Hospital 432-558-8255
Crane Sheriff's Department 432-558-3571
West Texas Centers (MHMR) Main 432-264-2650
West Texas Centers (MHMR) Crisis 800-375-4357

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Things you can do:
Ask for guidance about the cultural norms that may be relevant to the situation you are responding to.

Watch for cues from survivors about personal space.

Identify if there is a "spokesperson" for a family.

Respect cultural traditions with regards to gender roles and appropriate contracts.

Things you should avoid:
Approaching an individual or group too closely

Making prolonged eye contact

Touching people

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Mental Health Statistics in America (US) (Statistics, Facts, and Data)

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Mental Health Quiz | Deconstructing Stigma

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So you think you know the facts about mental illness? Test your knowledge against this 8-question quiz.

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Skip to content

Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible.

How does it work?

After your mental health test, you will see information, resources, and tools to help you understand and improve your mental health.
How can online mental health testing help me? What do my mental health test results mean?
Please note: Online screening tools are meant to be a quick snapshot of your mental health. If your results indicate you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, consider sharing your results with someone. A mental health provider (such as a doctor or a therapist) can give you a full assessment and talk to you about options for how to feel better.

This website is an informational resource. We are not a crisis support line. If you need immediate help, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or using the chat box at 988lifeline.org/chat. You can also text "MHA" to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Warmlines are an excellent place for non-crisis support.

For all other screening-related questions and non-emergency support, please use MHA's Contact Us form.

Mental Health America Inc., sponsors, partners, and advertisers disclaim any liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of these screens.

MHA Screening is made possible through the generous contributions of individuals and organizations that share our vision of mental health for all. This program is supported, in part, through philanthropic contributions from Abbvie, Alkermes, The Anthem Foundation, Janssen, Neurocrine Biosciences, The NFL Foundation, Sage Therapeutics, Takeda Lundbeck Alliance, and Teva.

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Skip to content Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019). Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences: Leveraging the Best Available Evidence. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019). Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences: Leveraging the Best Available Evidence. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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As part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma offers Free Online Education with:

300+ FREE CE certificates

50+ speakers

200+ online webinars

90,000+ members

Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) are promising practices for disaster behavioral health response and recovery. Both PFA and SPR were developed by the National Center for PTSD and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, as well as other individuals involved in coordinating and participating in disaster response and recovery.

PFA and SPR intervention strategies are intended for use with children, adolescents, parents and caretakers, families, and adults who are survivors or witnesses exposed to disaster or terrorism. PFA and SPR can also be provided to first responders and other disaster relief workers.

While grounded in the same foundations of disaster response and recovery, there are several differences between PFA and SPR.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) are promising practices for disaster behavioral health response and recovery. Both PFA and SPR were developed by the National Center for PTSD and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, as well as other individuals involved in coordinating and participating in disaster response and recovery.

PFA and SPR intervention strategies are intended for use with children, adolescents, parents and caretakers, families, and adults who are survivors or witnesses exposed to disaster or terrorism. PFA and SPR can also be provided to first responders and other disaster relief workers.

While grounded in the same foundations of disaster response and recovery, there are several differences between PFA and SPR.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online is 5-hour interactive online course that helps participants learn the core actions of PFA and describes ways to apply them in different post-disaster scenarios and with different survivor needs. This course also covers provider well-being before, during, and after disasters. This course is relevant for new providers who are wanting to be oriented to PFA, as well as for seasoned practitioners who want a review of the PFA concepts.
This 5-hour interactive online training offers certificate of completion with 5 CEs upon completion.

Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) is a 5-hour interactive course designed for providers to help survivors gain skills to manage distress and cope with post-disaster stress and adversity. This course is for individuals who want to learn about using SPR, learning the goals and rationale of each core skill, delivering SPR, and supporting survivors in the aftermath of a disaster or traumatic event.
This 5-hour interactive online training offers certificate of completion with 5 CEs upon completion.

Los Primeros Auxilios Psicológicos constituyen un enfoque modular basado en la evidencia y cuyo objetivo es ayudar a niños, adolescentes, adultos y familias a afrontar las consecuencias inmediatas de desastres o actos de terrorismo. En este curso en línea, Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo, PhD, ha adaptado el entrenamiento de PFA en un formato de 3 horas, en Español. Luego de ver este curso en línea, los participantes recibirán 3 créditos de educación continua.

Destrezas para la Recuperación Psicológica (SPR por sus siglas en inglés) es un curso de 3.5 horas diseñado para que los proveedores ayuden a los sobrevivientes a adquirir destrezas para manejar la angustia y afrontar el estrés y la adversidad luego de un desastre. Este curso es para personas que desean aprender sobre el uso de SPR, conocer los objetivos y la justificación para cada destreza básica, brindar SPR y brindar apoyo a los sobrevivientes después de un desastre o evento traumático. Luego de ver este curso en línea, los participantes recibirán 3.5 créditos de educación continua.

Skip Contact Us

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learn: psychological first aid (pfa) and skills for psychological recovery (spr)

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Learn: Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR)

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As part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma offers Free Online Education with: 300+ FREE CE certificates 50+ speakers 200+ online webinars 90,000+ members Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) are promising practices for disaster behavioral health response and recovery.

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How Crisis Counselors Help People Coping With Trauma

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How Crisis Counselors Help People Coping With Trauma

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A crisis refers not just to a traumatic event or experience, but to an individual's response to the situation. The events that trigger this crisis can run the gamut of life experience, from developmental hurdles (such as going through puberty) to natural disasters, to the death of a loved one.

Crisis counseling is an intervention that can help individuals deal with the crisis by receiving assistance and support from a crisis counselor (also sometimes called a crisis intervention counselor or trauma counselor). The roots of modern-day crisis counseling date back to World War I and World War II.

Before this time, soldiers who exhibited significant psychological reactions to the experiences they had at war were frequently seen as weak or even disloyal. However, it soon became apparent that soldiers who were immediately offered treatment fared much better than those who weren't treated.

Meeting With a Crisis Counselor

Crisis counseling is intended to be brief, generally lasting for a few weeks. It is important to note that crisis counseling is not psychotherapy, but crisis intervention techniques do draw from psychotherapy practices.

Like psychotherapy, crisis counseling involves assessment, planning, and treatment, but the scope is generally much more specific. While psychotherapy focuses on a broad range of information and client history, crisis assessment and treatment focuses on the client's immediate situation including factors such as safety and immediate needs.

A Crisis Counselor's Job

The first part of crisis counseling involves assessing the client's current situation. This involves listening to the client, asking questions and determining what the individual needs to cope effectively with the crisis.

The crisis counselor needs to define the problem while at the same time acting as a source of empathy, acceptance, and support. It is also essential to ensure client safety, both physically and psychologically.

Crisis counselors use psychotherapy to help people, families, and groups cope with traumatic experiences and emotional turmoil-especially people who are engaging in (or at risk of engaging in) self-harm or suicidal behaviors.

A professional crisis counselor is someone who has completed a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field, a master's degree in counseling, and has passed numerous exams and requirements in order to be certified in crisis intervention.

However, there are also crisis counselors who work on a volunteer basis. Volunteer crisis counselors are not necessarily therapists, but they undergo training by the organization they work for to respond to people's calls or texts over a crisis hotline. They often refer callers to a mental health service in their area so a therapist or mental health professional can follow up and provide additional care.

People who are experiencing a crisis need information about their current state and the steps they can take to minimize physical and psychological damage.

During crisis counseling, mental health workers often help the client understand that their reactions are normal, but temporary.

While the situation may seem both dire and endless to the person experiencing the crisis, the goal is to help the client see that they can eventually regain a sense of control over their life.

Offering Support

One of the most important elements of crisis counseling involves providing support, stabilization, and resources. Active listening is critical, as well as offering unconditional acceptance and reassurance.

Offering this kind of nonjudgmental support during a crisis can help reduce stress and improve coping. During the crisis, it can be very beneficial for individuals to develop a brief dependency on supportive people. Unlike unhealthy dependencies, these relationships help the individual become stronger and more independent.

Developing Coping Skills

In addition to providing support, crisis counselors also help clients develop coping skills to deal with the immediate crisis. This might involve helping the client explore different solutions to the problem, practicing stress reduction techniques, and encouraging positive thinking.

This process is not just about teaching these skills to the client; it is also about helping the client to make a commitment to continue utilizing these skills in the future.

When to Meet With a Crisis Counselor

You should seek the help of a crisis counselor whenever you are in the midst or aftermath of an event that triggers emotional turmoil and/or causes a significant disruption to your daily life.

Examples of crises include (but are not limited to) experiencing domestic violence, the loss of a loved one, a natural disaster or community-wide devastation, an unplanned pregnancy, a home invasion or robbery, any kind of assault, harassment, or bullying, or losing your job.

If you experience a traumatic event, there are also physical and mental warning signs that may indicate it's time to meet with a crisis counselor. Some of these signs include:

If you are in crisis, there are hotlines you can call to receive immediate help from a volunteer crisis counselor. The American Psychological Association provides a comprehensive list of crisis hotline numbers including:

Volunteer crisis counselors that operate these hotlines assist you confidentially. They are trained to listen to you, validate your feelings, and communicate with you "person to person" instead of treating you as a patient or victim.

They can address your immediate needs, such as offering you guidance on how to process what you're feeling and calm yourself down in the moment. They can also refer you to a mental health professional in your area who specializes in (or has experience with) the type of trauma you've experienced.

How to Become a Crisis Counselor

First, you must decide what type of crisis counselor you want to become. To become a volunteer crisis counselor, you may not require the extensive training that becoming a therapist requires. For instance, volunteers for the Crisis Text Line must comply with the following:

Make sure you meet the requirements: Services require volunteers to have a U.S. social security number. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have access to a computer and the internet.

Visit the crisis counseling website: Visit the volunteer page and fill out an application.

Complete training: Complete a 30-hour training during which you'll learn crisis intervention techniques.

However, there are other crisis lines that only accept licensed therapists or psychology students as volunteers.

If you are looking to become a full-time crisis counselor in a clinical setting (where you can see patients one on one or in a group setting), you'll need to complete the following steps:

Earn a bachelor's degree: Most often, clinical psychologists earn their degrees in psychology or a related field.

Earn master's and doctoral degrees: Clinical psychologists usually earn master's degrees in psychology as well. In order to practice psychology independently, you'll need a doctoral degree in most states.

Finish clinical requirements: You'll most likely be required to complete an internship in your field of study, giving you practical experience in your area of counseling. In addition, you'll have to pass numerous exams in order to ultimately earn your license.

Professional crisis counselors often continue their education so they can keep current on crisis intervention techniques for different types of trauma.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a crisis counselor do?

A crisis counselor's job is to help people who experience trauma (such as domestic violence, a natural disaster, a death, or a significant life change). A crisis counselor teaches emotional coping skills, educates on mental health disorders, and provides other resources.

What are some effective techniques used in crisis intervention?

Effective crisis intervention techniques include conducting an assessment (i.e., if there is suicidal risk or a need for medical attention), and developing a rapport with a person by speaking and asking questions non-judgmentally. Counselors also use active listening skills and encourage clients to express their own emotions and needs.

How do I become a crisis counselor?

If you want to become a crisis counselor, you must complete at least a bachelor's degree and master's degree in psychology, plus a clinical internship. Some organizations let people volunteer as crisis counselors without this formal education, however, and provide training sessions for those who want to respond to texts and calls on crisis hotlines.

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How Crisis Counseling Can Help You With Traumatic Events

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A crisis refers not just to a traumatic event or experience, but to an individual's response to the situation. The events that trigger this crisis can run the gamut of life experience, from developmental hurdles (such as going through puberty) to natural disasters, to the death of a loved one.

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Angelo State University. (n.d.). Professional school counseling-online LPC bridge. https://www.angelo.edu/academics/programs/professional-school-counseling-lpc-bridge/

Bradley, L. (2020). Counseling skills. Texas Tech University College of Education- counselor Education Field Experiences Handbook.

Cherry, K. (2022). How crisis counselors help people coping with trauma. Very well mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-crisis-counseling-2795060

Deconstructing stigma. (n.d.). Mental health quiz. https://deconstructingstigma.org/mental-health-quiz

Healthery. (2019). Mental health statistics in America [video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/aCyd_3zqkhY

HSE Health and Wellbeing. (2020). Minding your wellbeing. https://hsehealthandwellbeingnews.com/minding-your-wellbeing/

Mental Health America. (n.d.). Take a mental health test. https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). What is cultural background? https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Living-with-a-Mental-Health-Condition/Finding-a-Mental-Health-Professional/Finding-Mental-Health-Care-that-Fits-Your-Cultural-Background

Posner, K., Brent, D., Lucas, C., Gould, M., Stanley, B., Fisher, P., Zelazny, J., Burke, A., Oquendo, M. & Mann, J. (2010). Columbia-suicide severity rating scale. https://cssrs.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/C-SSRS_Pediatric-SLC_11.14.16.pdf