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National Help

National Suicide Hotline

Call: 800-273-8255

SAMHSA’s National Hotline

Call: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Text:  435748

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hotline

Call: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

Local Help

Crisis Care Center (San Antonio)

Call: (210) 246-1300

San Antonio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital

Call: (210) 541-5300

Sigma Mental Health Urgent Care

Call: (210) 541-5300

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Mental Health & Wellness Counseling Code of Ethics 

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Mental Health & Wellness Counseling Code of Ethics 

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One aspect that is vital to any health care role is cultural competence. Cultural competence is “the ability to understand, appreciate and interact with people from cultures or belief systems different from one's own” (DeAngelis, 2015). This means to have the ability to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable across different cultures. For example, a muslim woman is able to show her face to a doctor if she is wearing a niqab and can even take off her hijab. However, to make her more comfortable it would be better, if available, to have a female practitioner take the exam.

DeAngelis, T. (2015). Cultural competence. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/03/cultural-competence#:~:text=Cultural%20competence%20%E2%80%94%20loosely%20defined%20as,practice%20for%20some%2050%20years.

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed modular approach to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism. Individuals affected by a disaster or traumatic incident, whether survivors, witnesses, or responders to such events, may struggle with or face new challenges following the event (Atwood, 2022, para. 1). Obtaining a certificate in Psychological First Aid, allowed me to better understand how to help people in stressful situations. First, this course allowed me to recognize which individuals would require immediate attention in a crisis. Secondly, the course dove deep into the different approaches that would be required to manage the variations of stress levels between each person. From this course, I am confident that I now have the tools to recognize those in need during a crisis and how to properly handle the situation.

Atwood, A. (2022). Psychological First Aid. BlackBoard. https://angelo.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_74109_1&content_id=_3348142_1

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I was surprised to find, that I knew so little about what trauma can do to the body. Living with several chronic illnesses has impacted me in a way that can be considered traumatic. My pregnancy with my daughter and her birth was also traumatic events. However, it wasn’t until seeing a counselor that I realized these events could be labeled as trauma. I just thought they were things that I couldn’t get past. Things that I still have nightmares about. However, I now realize the harsh impact that trauma can have on your body. I am excited to see what other eye-opening aspects this class has to offer.

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1. If you think you are experiencing a mental health issue (depression, anxiety, etc.) see your primary care physician (PCP).

This will help establish a baseline for the issue.

You will be able to confide in your PCP if you encounter any issue, making the process easier on you.

2. Ask your PCP questions to ensure you are being referred to quality care. Such as:

How long have you worked with the physician you are referring to?

"How often do you work with the physician you are referring?

What type of communication will occur between you and the physician you are referring? Email, phone calls, other?

How often will you talk with the physician you are referring to my case?

Who will be managing my overall care? And have you discussed this with the physician you are referring?" (Arrowhead Health, 2017)

Arrowhead Health. (2017, May 17). The Mental Health Referral Process: Starting Your Journey Towards Mental Health. Redirect Health Centers. https://arrowheadhealth.com/mental-health-referral-process/

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Unit One - Section Two - Reflection for Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders.

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Unit One - Section Two - Reflection for Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders.

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By the end of unit two, we completed a reference guide for mental health disorders. This assignment dove into the different aspects of depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse, and eating disorders. Each mental health topic then goes over the definition of the disorder, causes of the disorder, the importance of intervening early, specific types of the disorder, and other helpful resources related to the disorder.

One aspect of depression disorder that I found to be the most interesting was that there is no exact known cause of depression. Although there are many risk factors that can increase the odds of depression, such as trauma, there has not been a direct link found yet. However, it is known that it can be detrimental to an individual if depression is not treated as early as possible. The longer the disorder goes untreated, the worse the symptoms increase posing a risk for the individual suffering from the disorder.

Possibly, the most intriguing disorder throughout this reference guide was anxiety. As someone who has suffered from severe anxiety, it was eye-opening to see it presented in a logical way. Through research, I learned that the main cause of anxiety is a chemical imbalance. However, similar to depression, anxiety can also stem from roots in trauma and even genetics. Getting treatment for anxiety allows for a quality of life.

Psychosis is a mental disorder that alters the individual's perception of reality (What Is Psychosis?, 2017). This disorder is often combined with other disorders, such as psychotic depression. This is a disorder is when a person has depression but also suffers from psychosis symptoms. Along with the other two disorders, psychosis also has roots in trauma. However, it can also be caused by an illness or even can stem from substance abuse.

Substance abuse is one of the only disorders within this reference guide that has large roots in genetics. Substance abuse problems occur more frequently in families that have substance abuse issues. Whereas, the last disorder on the reference guide stems from emotional or psychological issues. Eating disorders occur often in individuals that suffer from other ailments, such as depression or anxiety. Although a constant theme throughout the reference guide is that the exact causes of these disorders are unknown. There are common denominators that are present within individuals that suffer from the disorder.

What is Psychosis? (2017, August 10). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRGGxK3OpNc&ab_channel=TheCenterforHealthCareServices-BexarCounty

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Hello There,

My name is Alaina Baker. This is currently my second semester towards a Master’s degree in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling. Surprisingly, I didn’t choose this career field for the great insurance package, but because I had a life-changing moment that required the help of a counselor. She was amazing and made me feel like I wasn’t crazy, so I decided I wanted to help make someone else feel not crazy too and become a mental health counselor. From personal experience, I understand how significant mental health is, but have also experienced the harsh reality of the stigma surrounding it. To people suffering from mental health issues, it further amplifies your fear of what is going on within yourself. You feel as though you can’t get help or people will think you’re crazy, but if you don’t get help people will think you are crazy. Then, you are just stuck in a cycle of not knowing what to do. In pursuing this career, I hope to eliminate this void for people. However, by furthering my educational career, I hope to find out more about myself. With this course, I hope to have a deep understanding of what trauma is and remedies to help those that have faced trauma. I also, hope to apply this understanding on a personal level. With that being said, I hope you enjoy this collection of snippets from my spring 2022 semester. Thank you.

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Guerrero, N., Hernandez, A., Baker, A., & Trevino, Y. (2022). HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING A PLAN SCREEN AND FIGHT AGAINST IT [Slides]. BlackBoard. https://angelo.

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Establishing a crisis plan and threat assessment, helped me better understand how detrimental human trafficking is. This issue extends far beyond my initial comprehension. However, understanding the gravity of the situation, better helps you understand the problem. Once the problem is understood, we can implement tasks to achieve to help reduce the trauma for the victims. Such as utilizing trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy. This therapy is geared toward helping individuals that have faced trauma at the hands of their parents or caregivers (Hunt, 2022). It is useful in helping resolve the symptoms of complex trauma experiences, making it resourceful for human trafficking victims. Therapy offers a safe, secure place for the victims to realize and cope with the trauma that has occurred to them. Making it an essential tool in the crisis plan.

Hunt, J. R. (2022, February 9). TF-CBT Certification Program - Official Website. Trauma Focus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certification Program. https://tfcbt.org/

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The adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) tests “potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood” from infancy to the age of seventeen (CDC, 2021). This test looks for instances of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, mental illness within the household, substance abuse within the household, witnessing violence in the home; and having a family member attempt or die by suicide (CDC, 2021). These trauma does not only impact the cognitive development of a child, but they can cause further harm later in life. This is because ACEs can impact the health of an individual, leading to mental and chronic illnesses, as well as substance abuse problems (CDC, 2021).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Leveraging the Best Available Evidence. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/preventingACES.pdf

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I am a killer - Trauma Documentary Assessment 

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I am a killer - Trauma Documentary Assessment 

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Within this assignment, the implications that can occur when past traumas are not acknowledged were apparent. The subject of my chosen documentary, Flenoy was subject to many different forms of childhood traumas. Consisting, mainly of sexual and physical abuse. Having multiple occurrences of witnessing violence at a young age puts you at a greater risk to have parallel behaviors in adulthood (Kehoe, 2020). All of Flenoy’s experiences from her youth shaped her cognitive development in a way that would greatly impact her decisions. An example of this is when she decided to go across state lines with a man that she had no prior knowledge of. All of the instances that would indicate red flags in a healthy developed adult were not present in Flenoy's case. Her life is filled with unsettled traumas. These traumas molded and adjusted Flenoy’s behaviors. However, if Felony could have received help for these traumas prior to her encounter with her victim, I do not think she would have acted as recklessly as she did and maybe the whole incident could have been avoided.

Kehoe, M., Ott, N., & Hopkins, L. (2020). Responding to Adolescent Violence in the Home – A Community Mental Health Approach. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 41(4), 342–354. https://doi.org/10.1002/anzf.1432

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Arrowhead Health. (2017, May 17). The Mental Health Referral Process: Starting Your Journey Towards Mental Health. Redirect Health Centers. https://arrowheadhealth.com/mental-health-referral-process/

Atwood, A. (2022). Psychological First Aid. Black Board. https://angelo.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_74109_1&content_id=_3348142_1

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Leveraging the Best Available Evidence. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/preventingACES.pdf

DeAngelis, T. (2015). Cultural competence. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/03/cultural-competence#:~:text=Cultural%20competence%20%E2%80%94%20loosely%20defined%20as,practice%20for%20some%2050%20years.

Hunt, J. R. (2022, February 9). TF-CBT Certification Program - Official Website. Trauma Focus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certification Program. https://tfcbt.org/

Kehoe, M., Ott, N., & Hopkins, L. (2020). Responding to Adolescent Violence in the Home – A Community Mental Health Approach. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 41(4), 342–354. https://doi.org/10.1002/anzf.1432