My name is Priscilla, and I am currently enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Angelo State University. A personal goal of mine is to stay balanced as I juggle school, work, and family life as a mom of three. Professionally, my long-term goal is to create accessible, after-hours counseling services in my rural community, since so many people in areas like mine face barriers to timely care.

From this course, I hope to deepen my knowledge of trauma-informed care and learn practical ways to support individuals with complex trauma histories. My background is in crisis services, where I responded to suicidal and homicidal calls, conducted risk assessments, and provided immediate safety planning. These experiences taught me how critical it is to meet people with calm and compassion in their most vulnerable moments.

Outside of work and school, I enjoy reading, being outdoors, and spending time with my family. I look forward to learning alongside all of you this semester and growing together in our future roles as helping professionals.

The ACA Code of Ethics serves as the national standard for professional counseling. It outlines how we protect confidentiality, maintain professional boundaries, respect client autonomy, and practice only within our scope of competence. I see this as my ethical guideline, it will help me guide difficult decisions, like when to break confidentiality if there is risk of harm, or how to ensure clients always feel safe, respected, and supported.

On the legal side, the Texas LPC Rules regulate licensure and practice within the state. These rules explain what’s required to earn and maintain an LPC license, such as supervised clinical hours, continuing education, and adherence to professional conduct standards. For me, these rules are a standard to ensure I’m practicing legally and responsibly.

Both of these resources work together: the ACA provides the ethical foundation for how I interact with clients, while the Texas LPC Rules make sure I’m meeting the state’s legal requirements to serve my community.

Links to Resources:

2014 ACA Code of Ethics (PDF)

Texas LPC Rules – Behavioral Health Executive Council (PDF)

This assignment also helped me appreciate the value of connecting with peers who bring diverse experiences and perspectives to the field. Reading through others’ introductions made me feel part of a shared learning journey, and I’m looking forward to learning from one another throughout the semester. Overall, this was a meaningful way to start the course and reflect on my purpose and goals.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was the significance of early intervention. Across every disorder I researched, the earlier a person receives support and treatment, the better their long-term outcomes tend to be. This reinforced how vital it is for counselors to be able to recognize signs and symptoms early on. I also appreciated the opportunity to explore reliable resources and tools that I can use in the future. Overall, this assignment served as a meaningful reminder that building clinical competency starts with accurate knowledge and it’s our responsibility to keep that knowledge up to date.

Viewing We Are Columbine brought these concepts into sharper focus. The film illustrated how trauma remains present long after the event, shaping survivors’ sense of safety, identity, and relationships. The documentary showed clear signs of primary, secondary, and community trauma, reinforcing the need for ongoing support rather than short-term crisis responses.

This assignment clarified the importance of trauma-informed practices in all helping professions. Recognizing trauma and understanding its effects is essential for providing compassionate, effective care. It also underscored the need for counselors to engage in community-wide efforts, not just individual work, when supporting people through collective trauma.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Prevention Resource for Action:  A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cohen, J. A., Deblinger, E., & Mannarino, A. P. (2018). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral

therapy for children and families. Psychotherapy research : journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, 28(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2016.1208375

Ferber, L. (2019, April 18). It took me 20 years to finally talk about surviving the Columbine High

School shooting. USA Today. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/04/18/columbine-shooting-anniversary-school-massacre-column/3473084002/.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA’sConcept of

Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

We are Columbine. (n.d.). We Are Columbine. Retrieved

from https://tubitv.com/movies/100017944/we-are-columbine.

What stands out to me most is how PFA integrates both emotional and practical support, highlighting the importance of human connection in times of crisis. By promoting coping, linking survivors to resources, and fostering social support networks, PFA empowers people to rebuild resilience and autonomy after traumatic events. This approach reinforces the idea that effective disaster response is not only about physical recovery but also about restoring hope, dignity, and emotional well-being.

Despite these struggles, I gained a stronger appreciation for the critical role mental health and threat assessment play in our career paths as future counselors, educators, or crisis responders. This assignment reinforced the need for clear collaboration protocols, culturally competent practices, and interagency cooperation to effectively identify and respond to potential risks. It also highlighted that understanding at-risk behaviors and having structured response systems in place can significantly improve safety and support for individuals in crisis. Overall, this project emphasized not only the importance of the topic itself but also the professional responsibility we hold in ensuring preparedness, teamwork, and ethical action in crisis situations.

Resources

Everly, G. S., & Mitchell, J. T. (2008). Integrative crisis intervention and disaster mental health.

Ellicott City, MD: Chevron.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). National guidelines for

behavioral health crisis care – A best practice toolkit. U.S. Department of Health

and Human https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/national-guidelines-

for-behavioral-health-crisis-services-executive-summary-02242020.pdf

I’ve learned that people in crisis often need someone who can not only assess risk but also convey understanding and hope. This assignment helped me connect my real-world experience with the theoretical framework of crisis counseling, reinforcing the balance between compassion and clinical judgment. It reminded me why this work is so meaningful to me.

References

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

Clough, A., Draughon, J. E., Njie-Carr, V., Rollins, C., & Glass, N. (2014). "Having Housing

Made Everything Else Possible": Affordable, Safe and Stable Housing for Women Survivors of Violence. Qualitative social work : QSW : research and practice, 13(5), 671–688. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325013503003

De Arellano, M. A., Lyman, D. R., Jobe-Shields, L., George, P., Dougherty, R. H., Daniels, A. S.,

Ghose, S. S., Huang, L., & Delphin-Rittmon, M. E. (2014). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for children and adolescents: assessing the evidence. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 65(5), 591–602. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201300255

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma

and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). (2022). Screening and safety planning with adults at risk of intimate partner violence and suicide. Education Development Center. https://sprc.org