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Welcome to my EDG 6332 Padlet!

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My goal is to successfully complete the Professional Counseling Program at Angelo State University.

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My goal is to become a Licensed Professional Counselor.

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What would you like to get out of EDG 6332?

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What would you like to get out of EDG 6332?

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I would like to learn best practices for approaching a session with a client who has experienced trauma. Knowing the best practices will allow me to have a starting point for beginning sessions with clients who are experiencing trauma. I am anxious to learn what to do, what to say, and how to approach different scenarios where trauma and crisis are present.

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The ACA Code of Ethics outlines the expectations counselors should follow in relation to the counseling relationship, confidentiality and privacy, professional responsibility, relationships with other professionals, evaluation/assessment/interpretation, supervision, research, distance counseling and technology, and resolving ethical issues. This should be a guidebook to serve counselors when questions arise.

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Unit 1 provided a basic introduction to mental health statistics and activated our prior knowledge in relation to trauma. What I found interesting in Unit 1 was the "Mental Health First Aid Training." This was a new training to me and is something that I plan to complete before the semester is over. I live in a rural area, and I want to bring this. knowledge to my area as well as other rural areas. I do plan to become an instructor so that I can reach places who need this type of training-especially in the schools.

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Create healthier, more engaged employees with MHFA at Work. It’s research-backed, taught to millions and trusted by top companies.

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This was a very comprehensive section in that we were required to research different mental health disorders. Through that research, I found the causes of disorders and why early intervention is important. I was able to also link some resources into my reference guide for mental health disorders that will help me down the line. I really like having different toolkits handy to share and I was able to locate several of those type resources to have on hand.

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Final Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders TEMPLATE-2-3

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Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders TEMPLATE-3

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Earning my Psychological First Aid (PFA) certification was one of the highlights of my coursework this semester.  Sometimes, some assignments feel like busy work, but this one felt purposeful. The skills and knowledge I gained will be helpful not only as a counselor, but also in my current role as a teacher. I really liked how this activity was built into the course.  I was able to use my designated homework time for the week to complete the training.  This allowed me to be able to fully engage with the material and work through the modules at my own pace. I also loved how the course incorporated interactive scenarios. These scenarios provided real-world situations where I was able to “see” the principles of psychological first aid being employed.  Being able to put myself in a situation and think about what to do and say is how I learn best. This certification is one I will be able to use both now and in the future when I become a counselor.  I feel that I will be able to positively contribute to crisis situations and reach my ultimate goal, which is to help people.

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online_Certificate

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This was an excellent assignment that allowed me to work with my classmates to explore creating a crisis prevention plan and threat assessment in relation to bullying. I wasn't too sure about this topic and assignment in the beginning because I felt like it was focused more towards schools and school counseling, and that is not my path. But, as I got into it, I realized that, while bullying is a topic in schools, it does occur outside of schools and in personal lives, adult situations, and work environments. Once I was able to shift my thinking, this became a little easier for me to complete the assignment. My favorite part was learning about the assessments available to utilize in different types of situations. I recently visited with a counselor and she referenced different types of assessments she uses with clients, so I have really been exploring all different types of assessments and thinking about how I can incorporate them into practice.

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The ABC Crisis Model was another assignment I enjoyed as it allowed me to showcase the skills I've learned this semester. I love work that involves scenario and practical application. In addition to the case study I chose, I also found myself mentally going through the process for each additional case study on the list. Through this assignment, I also learned about how crises can show up in different ways. I found out that a crisis isn’t always something that’s “real" and that it can also be imagined or anticipated. This helped me understand that a crisis doesn’t always equal immediate danger. In using the ABC model, I really like that the first part is developing a relationship. As a teacher, I know the importance of relationships. There is no path forward when a relationship is not established, communication is clear, and trust begins to form.Once that foundation is established, then work can be done to identify the issues and work towards solutions.

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As a counselor, there may be instances where clients need to be referred for additional services from other providers. In such cases, the counselor will offer the referral and discuss it with the client. The client will then sign a consent form allowing the sharing of records and communication between the counselors.

There may also be situations where referrals are made to community resources, especially when basic needs need to be addressed. In these instances, the counselor will provide clients with a list of available services to support them. The client would need to reach out to the resource to determine what is needed in order to receive services.

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In an emergency:

Suicide-Dial 988

Domestic Violence-Freedom House 817-596-7543

Pecan Valley Centers 1-800-772-5987

In a non-emergency:

Center of Hope 817-594-0226

Texas Dial 211

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As a counselor, it is important to understand that each individual you work with is going to be unique. Everyone will have different circumstances, come from different backgrounds, and have experienced different events in their lives that have shaped them to who they are. Counselors must recognize these unique circumstances and tailor their approach with sensitivity to each. To be culturally competent, counselors must be aware of the cultural differences that exist and make a conscious effort to understand them. Additionally, counselors should regularly reflect on their own cultural identities and how these experiences have influenced or are currently influencing their perspectives. Finally, counselors must engage in ongoing self-reflection and seek out professional development opportunities so as to broaden their own understanding of different backgrounds and circumstances, so that they can effectively provide services to their clients.

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Overall, this class was one of the more difficult classes I have taken. There are some types of crisis and trauma that really scare me and there are others that I am confident in my ability to manage. I think this just stems from some of my own trauma and maybe I just feel comfortable helping people through "what I know." A specific area that I am unfamiliar with and that scares me is in working with individuals who are suicidal. I've asked myself many times what I would do if the situation came up. The course has provided me with valuable resources and I feel I can now help in this type of crisis situation, even if I do feel a little scared. Being a counselor is about implementing the tools and practices we have learned so that we can manage the situation and provide assistance to the individuals involved. I know time and practice will help me to become better in my approach to different situations and I will learn through application what works best and where I could do better in future situations.

As an added note-you had provided feedback on creating columns to reduce scrolling-I really like the single column and being able to scroll. I just get overwhelmed by the columns and when I cannot find what I am looking for because there is so much information on one page. Having one column and keeping things in order is my preference. I hope to use these resources and I will better be able to find them with this structure. Thank you for your understanding.

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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

West Coast University. (2024, January 31). Cultural competence in counseling. https://westcoastuniversity.edu/blog/cultural-competence-in-counseling