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My name is Josh Cowley, and I am in the Mental Health and Wellness program. My personal goal is to travel more and take some fun trips with my wife. We plan a cruise this Fall and are looking to travel more worldwide. My professional goal is to continue to gain counseling skills and begin a career in mental health counseling. My goal for the course is to gain foundational knowledge of trauma and its impacts on mental health and wellness.

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Ethics of particular relevance to mental health and wellness counseling:

A:1 – Primary Responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients

B:1 – The obligation to maintain and respect privacy and confidentiality

C:2 - Maintaining professional competence in all cases

D1: - Counselors must not discriminate based on race, religion, age, gender, or ability.

E2: Counselors must provide informed consent in each assessment to explain activities' and assessments' purpose, nature, and risks (American Counseling Association, 2014).

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

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Unit 1 Section 1 - Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Unit 1 Section 1 - Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Reflection:

I am on track to meet the goals I set for this course. I have learned much about trauma thus far and am looking forward to reading and researching for unit 3, which involves crisis and how it relates to and differs from trauma. In my research for the unit 2 discussion on ACEs, I found several great articles about studies on trauma and PTSD that I did not cite but will keep for potential future use.

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Unit 1 Section 2 - Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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Unit 1 Section 2 - Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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Reflection:

When I read this assignment, I thought it would be relatively simple since it was not a creative-type project, but I found it challenging to research the scientific definitions and put them into my own words. I spent many hours on this trying to perform graduate-level, detailed, and researched thoughts on paper. I learned a lot from this assignment, and I appreciate having a reference guide for future use. I found some additional resources in my research that will be beneficial to me are regarding depression an suicide since it has such a deep impact on individuals.

Jain, A., & Mitra, P. (2023, February 20). Bipolar Disorder. In StatPerarls. Retrieved January 25, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558998/

Gonzalves, L., Ferrer, E., Robins, R. W., Guyer, A., & Hastings, P. (2023). Psychosocial Predictors of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Mexican-Origin Youths: An 8-Year Prospective Cohort Study. Clinical Psychological Science, 11(3), 425-443. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026221102924

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Reflection:

I enjoyed the challenge of researching good resources for this project and mastering the information to be able to put it into my own words. I put much time into this project and learned a lot from it.

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I watched Restrepo. A documentary based on an American Outpost in the Afghanistan war.

In researching trauma, I found a very interesting resource that I saved that delves into the effects of trauma and PTSD.

Bryant, R. (2017). Acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. In S. N. Gold (Ed.), APA handbook of trauma psychology: Foundations in knowledge (pp. 161–184). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000019-010

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Restrepo documentary was really intense to watch. The documentary showed vivid details of the platoon's trauma.

Below is a reference with relevant resources regarding the different types of trauma

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2018). Trauma Categories: there are Different Types of Trauma. https://www.ok.gov/odmhsas/documents/HH%20OKSOC%20Trauma%20Categories%20Types%20of%20Trauma.pdf

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For Discussion Post 4, I did more research to provide another insight and knowledge of the type of trauma and how it should be treated.

Burns, M., Griese, B., King, S., & Talmi, A. (2020). Childhood bereavement: Understanding prevalence and related adversity in the United States.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 90(4), 391–405. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000442

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Unit 3 Assignment 1 - Psychological First Aid Certificate

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Unit 3 Assignment 1 - Psychological First Aid Certificate

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Reflection:

This course provided me with knowledge and skills to effectively support individuals impacted by traumatic events. The modules covered the fundamental principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), emphasizing the importance of safety, comfort, and practical assistance through periods of crisis. I gained insights into recognizing signs of distress, offering empathetic listening, and facilitating access to further support services. I feel more comfortable with my knowledge of assisting in times of crisis, and it will help me in the future as an LPC. Currently, if a traumatic event happens, and I am a responder, I have the skills to respond and manage the situation.

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(Mental Health Association in Orage County, Inc, 2024)

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Unit 3 Assignment 2 - Group Presentation - Bullying

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Unit 3 Assignment 2 - Group Presentation - Bullying

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Reflection:

I was initially concerned about this assignment since we all work on school at different times. Some are procrastinators, and some like to work early to have their weekends free. Our final product impressed me, and I enjoyed collaborating with other master's level students. I spent much time on this project and learned a lot of new information about bullying and creating a crisis plan.

I found a great resource that had clear information on bullying that I saved and will use in the future on researching or handling bullying.

Wang, J., Iannotti, R. J., & Luk, J. W. (2012, August). Patterns of adolescent bullying behaviors: Physical, verbal, exclusion, rumor, and cyber. Journal of School Psychology, 50(4), 521–534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2012.03.004

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Reflection:

With this assignment, I learned how to build rapport with a client who has experienced trauma. I enjoyed working with the concepts a counselor uses to work with clients and skills to get information and guide conversations with clients. It was challenging to break down the case study and how to address each concern. Part C will help me in the future by having a list of steps for the counselee and counselor.

The resource is a good guide for becoming a competent and skilled counselor.

Parsons, R., Zhang, N. (2013). Becoming a skilled counselor. Reference & Research Book

News, 28(4). Retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/vip/cpiseries/parson- zhang/materials/Chapter5ParsonsBecomingSkilledCounselor.pdf

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Texas Administrative Code for Licensed Professional Counselors

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Texas Administrative Code for Licensed Professional Counselors

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TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS

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Rule Book for Texas Behavioral HealthExecutive Council and Texas StateBoard of Examiners of ProfessionalCounselors

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Rule Book for Texas Behavioral HealthExecutive Council and Texas StateBoard of Examiners of ProfessionalCounselors

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Fact Sheet and Referral Information for LPCs

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Fact Sheet and Referral Information for LPCs

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A Reflection on the Importance of Cultural Competence when Delivering Responsive Services

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A Reflection on the Importance of Cultural Competence when Delivering Responsive Services

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Cultural competence is an essential aspect of providing the most appropriate services across various fields, ranging from healthcare to education and beyond. It involves understanding and appreciating the cultural backgrounds, beliefs, values, and norms of individuals or communities being served. By acknowledging and respecting cultural diversity, service providers can ensure that their practices are inclusive and effective. Lacking cultural competence can create misunderstandings, miscommunication, and even unintentional harm. In mental healthcare, a lack of cultural competence might lead to improper treatment due to differences in beliefs or practices among culturally diverse patients.

Cultural competence shows respect, fosters trust, and builds rapport between service providers and those they serve. When individuals feel understood and respected within their cultural contexts, they are more likely to engage with and adhere to the services being offered. By promoting cultural competence, service providers can create environments where everyone feels valued and supported. I believe embracing cultural competence improves the quality and efficacy of diagnoses and treatments. It also fosters a society of inclusion where people have positive and meaningful interactions, especially in a trauma response situation.

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Emergency - 911

Suicide Crisis line - 988, call or text

Non-Emergency - 940-349-8181

Denton County MHMR - 800-762-0157

Dallas Trauma Support Services - 972-709-4904

Denton County Mobile Crisis Outreach - 800-762-0157

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

Centers for Disease Control (2020). 6 Guiding Principles To A Trauma-Informed Approach [Infographic]. https://www.cdc.gov/orr/infographics/6_principles_trauma_info.htm

Gonzalves, L., Ferrer, E., Robins, R. W., Guyer, A., & Hastings, P. (2023). Psychosocial Predictors of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Mexican-Origin Youths: An 8-Year Prospective Cohort Study. Clinical Psychological Science, 11(3), 425-443. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026221102924

Jain, A., & Mitra, P. (2023, February 20). Bipolar Disorder. In StatPerarls. Retrieved January 25, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558998/

Mental Health Association in Orage County, Inc (2023). Types of Trauma [Infographic]. https://mhaorangeny.com/learn-more/trauma-crisis.html

News, 28(4). Retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/vip/cpiseries/parson-zhang/materials/Chapter5ParsonsBecomingSkilledCounselor.pdf

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2018). Trauma Categories: there are Different Types of Trauma. https://www.ok.gov/odmhsas/documents/HH%20OKSOC%20Trauma%20Categories%20Types%20of%20Trauma.pdf

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6 Guiding Principles to a Trauma-Informed Approach

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6 Guiding Principles to a Trauma-Informed Approach

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(Centers for Disease Control, 2020)