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Hello! My name is Mallory Morrison. I am in the second semester of the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling Program. A personal goal that I have is to continue creating time for self-care and really getting a routine down that works best with home, work, and school. My professional goal is to develop and refine my counseling approach to effectively support diverse adolescent populations. I want to learn more about trauma, how different types of traumas affect people, and how we can work to overcome the effects of trauma. I was a teacher for five years and left the classroom last May, and it honestly was the best thing that I could have done for my mental health. I know I was experiencing teacher burnout, and I want to prevent myself from experiencing this as an LPC.

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Legal Requirements/Ethical Code - 2014 ACA Code of Ethics

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Legal Requirements/Ethical Code - 2014 ACA Code of Ethics

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The 2014 ACA Code of Ethics is a fundamental guideline for ethical counseling practice. It outlines core values, ethical responsibilities, and professional expectations to ensure clients' well-being. It highlights confidentiality and privacy, relationships with other professionals, evaluation, assessment, and interpretation, and distance counseling, technology, and social media. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), the Code of Ethics is essential in shaping my decision-making, ensuring client safety, and maintaining professional integrity. In practice, this means upholding client confidentiality and informed consent while respecting legal reporting obligations, maintaining professional competence through continuing education and adhering to best practices, establishing appropriate counselor-client relationships, and navigating ethical dilemmas using the ACA’s ethical decision-making model.

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Legal Requirements/ Ethical Codes - Texas Administrative Code

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Legal Requirements/ Ethical Codes - Texas Administrative Code

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The Texas Administrative Code outlines the rules and regulations governing Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Texas. Chapter 681 provides legal requirements and ethical guidelines that all LPCs must follow to ensure professional and ethical counseling practices within the state. Key areas covered in this chapter are the licensure requirements, scope of practice, ethical standards, continuing education, and professional misconduct. As an LPC in Texas, compliance with Texas Administrative Code Title 22 Part 30 Chapter 681 is essential for legal and ethical practices. This code ensures that I meet licensure and supervision requirements before practicing independently, adhere to ethical standards regarding client confidentiality and informed consent, maintain professional boundaries, engage in continuing professional education, uphold professional integrity by avoiding misconduct and reporting any ethical violations, and provide competent, lawful and ethical counseling services.

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Unit 1 Assignment 1 : Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Unit 1 Assignment 1 : Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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In Unit 1 Assignment 1, my biggest takeaway was the staggering statistic that 1 in 5 adults in America experiences a mental illness in a given year. While mental illness is being discussed more openly than ever, seeing this reality reflected in numbers was eye-opening. Additionally, I learned that about half of those affected actually receive treatment for their mental health, which further emphasizes the importance of understanding these issues.

This knowledge will enhance my understanding of clients' mental health and how to provide appropriate treatment for individuals at different stages of their mental health journey. I recognize that some clients may experience trauma before or during treatment, and it is essential to offer the most effective evidence-based practices to support them.

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Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Unit 1 Assignment 4: Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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Unit 1 Assignment 4: Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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In Unit 1 Assignment 4, my biggest takeaway was becoming aware of the vast range of specific types of disorders. While I was familiar with many of them, I gained a deeper understanding of what each disorder entails, how they impact individuals, and the treatment options available for each specific disorder. This experience allowed me to significantly expand my knowledge of various disorders.

This knowledge will be beneficial in my future role, as I will have a better understanding of these disorders and their specific categories. I also now know how to effectively research and find accurate information related to specific disorders. This understanding will enhance my ability to counsel clients who may present with different and diverse disorders.

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Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders - Mallory Morrison

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Unit 2 Assignment 2: Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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Unit 2 Assignment 2: Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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In Unit 2 Assignment 2, my biggest takeaway was learning about the different types of trauma and how traumatic events can affect individuals in various ways. I previously thought trauma was a broad term, but now I understand the specific types of trauma, which will be beneficial in my future role. I will be able to treat trauma using different types of therapy, such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Being knowledgeable about these therapies and knowing external resources that provide them will greatly benefit my future clients. Another important takeaway was realizing that many individuals who struggle with trauma do not seek help and often try to cope on their own or not at all.

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Unit 3 Assignment 1: Psychological First Aid Online Certificate

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Unit 3 Assignment 1: Psychological First Aid Online Certificate

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In Unit 3 Assignment 1, my biggest takeaway from the Psychological First Aid (PFA) training is the ability to provide immediate, compassionate, and evidence-based support to individuals in crisis. This training equipped me with skills to help people manage stress, process trauma, and connect with appropriate resources. I now understand that individuals may react differently to crisis or trauma, and these reactions are not always evident in everyone. I learned effective communication skills that will enable me to offer comfort and reassurance while maintaining respect and being non-intrusive. Additionally, I became aware of the importance for professionals providing services during crises to prioritize their own mental health, as they may experience burnout and secondary trauma. This knowledge will enhance my future role by enabling me to handle crisis situations sensitively. I will also be able to foster a safe and supportive environment for clients and compile a list of outside professionals who may have more specialized expertise in certain areas.

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online_Certificate

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Unit 3 Assignment 2: Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment

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Unit 3 Assignment 2: Crisis Prevention and Threat Assessment

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In Unit 3 Assignment 2, my biggest takeaway was understanding the processes and collaboration needed to create a comprehensive and supportive prevention plan. While I was familiar with some of these steps from previous classes, researching them more deeply was truly eye-opening. I hadn’t realized the extent of collaboration involved in an intervention plan; I had always viewed it on a smaller scale, considering just family, a few friends, and a counselor. Learning that agencies such as law enforcement, social workers, and hospital and emergency providers can also be involved has expanded my perspective. This knowledge will be beneficial for me in the future, as I plan to work with individuals struggling with substance use. With this understanding, I now have foundational ideas for developing an intervention plan and the collaborative efforts that can support this process.

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In Unit 3, Assignment 3, my biggest takeaway was understanding how trauma shapes behavior. I learned that addressing needs requires a multilayered approach, and structured support systems are crucial for success. One issue can be broken down into smaller needs, such as physical, emotional, social/relational, and mental/cognitive aspects. It’s essential to observe these needs, recognizing that while they are individual, they often overlap. I discovered that having structured support systems, whether large or small, is vital for providing consistent guidance and developing a plan for positive change. This knowledge will be valuable in my future role, as it has equipped me with the tools to identify different needs, determine how to address them, and create actionable goals for change. I plan to apply the steps to build relationships, which will help me earn the trust and respect of my clients.

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ABC Model of Crisis Intervention - Mallory Morrison