M.A. Professional Counseling

Personal Goal: I want to be more organized with outlines for schoolwork and score an "A." I am focusing on networking and collaborating with my peers.

Professional Goal: I aim to become a Licensed Mental Health Professional for our local jail facility.

This course will help me develop trauma-informed counseling skills like how recognizing trauma responses, gaining the tools to create a safe and effective environment for counseling sessions, and using mindful techniques to manage PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms. By helping inmates process their trauma, it can reduce anger, impulsivity, and destructive coping mechanisms, which, in turn, can enhance rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.

Reflection

The key takeaways from this assignment were the ratios of mental health professionals to individuals and the rapid decline in the mental health of our children in the United States today.

According to Statista, there was one mental health professional per 340 individuals in 2024. Some states have as few as 1 in 800 people, which signifies the vast amount of mental health concerns that may go undocumented and untreated.

The mental health of our children is declining at rates suggesting that 15.08% of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE), with females being three times more likely to be depressed than males, according to Mental Health America, MHA, a non-profit organization in 2022.

I have learned that America's shortage of mental health professionals is significantly impacting society's ability to live a productive, healthy life.

Reference

Mental health provider ratio by US state 2024 | statista. Statista. (2024). https://www.statista.com/statistics/607087/us-mental-health-providers-rate-state/

Youth Data 2022. Mental Health America. (2022). https://www.mhanational.org/issues/2022/mental-health-america-youth-data

In doing this assignment I learned a great deal about each disorder. I realized I knew basic knowledge but was surprised at how common these disorders are today.

This reference sheet will significantly benefit me as it allows me to quickly reference the most common disorders as I have identified the signs and symptoms and the importance of early intervention.

I enjoyed this assignment as it enlightened me on how we see and interpret trauma. It is beneficial to have multiple viewpoints and opinions on how to deal with trauma and what trauma looks like to others. Each person's experience will give way to unique counseling and therapeutic experiences.

Psychological First Aid is designed to reduce the initial distress of a traumatic event to foster short-term and long-term adaptive functioning and coping to help people in the immediate aftermath of a disaster or terrorism. (Peterson, 2018).

The eight PFA Core Actions include

• Contact and Engagement

• Safety and Comfort 

• Stabilization (if needed)

• Information Gathering on Current Needs and Concerns

• Practical Assistance: To offer practical help to survivors in addressing immediate needs and concerns.

• Connection with Social Supports

• Information on Coping

• Linkage with Collaborative Services

Group projects offer collective decision-making because it allows for diverse expertise, enhanced information sharing by pooling information from multiple sources in real-time, risk mitigation through debate like healthy disagreements and critical questioning, faster response coordination where teams can divide tasks up so as not to overwhelm an individual, and psychological resilience as threats and crises can be stressful. Working in a group provides emotional support and shared responsibility, preventing burnout and maintaining focus under pressure.

Crisis intervention aims to reduce the intensity of an individual’s reactions to a crisis, restore their prior level of functioning, enhance coping skills, and eliminate ineffective coping mechanisms. It also prepares individuals to handle future challenges more effectively.

This website lists public safety requirements for a Texas Jail Facility.

NAADAC: The Association for Addiction Professionals

NCC AP: The National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals

NAADAC Code of Ethics

• P1 Non-discrimination

• P4 Confidentiality

• P8 Client welfare

• P10 Cultural Competence

This website offers information for individuals and professionals regarding the privacy of electronic healthcare records.

• Call 911: Tell the dispatcher it’s a mental health emergency. Request assistance from a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) if available. While Crockett County may not have a dedicated CIT, law enforcement can connect you to regional crisis services.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 9-8-8 (24/7). TTY users can dial 711 then 9-8-8.

• Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 (24/7). A trained crisis counselor will respond quickly to provide confidential support.

Local/Regional Crisis Support

Ozona falls under the service area of the West Texas Centers, the Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) for Crockett County:

• West Texas Centers Crisis Hotline: Call 1-800-375-4357 (24/7). This hotline offers immediate assistance, including phone counseling and, if needed, dispatch of a Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT). The MCOT provides face-to-face assessments and intervention within 1-2 hours, depending on urgency and location.

• In-Person Crisis Services: West Texas Centers operates out of multiple locations, with the nearest likely being in San Angelo (Tom Green County, about 70 miles from Ozona). Call the hotline first to confirm availability or transport options:

  • San Angelo Office: 409 W 1st St, San Angelo, TX 76903. Phone: (325) 653-5933.

  • Services include crisis assessment, stabilization, and referrals.

Non-Emergency Mental Health Support

For ongoing support or non-urgent concerns:

• West Texas Centers Behavioral Health Services: Contact their main line at 1-800-852-5632 or the San Angelo office at (325) 653-5933 to schedule an appointment. They offer outpatient counseling, case management, and psychiatric care for Crockett County residents. You may need to travel to San Angelo or another nearby hub for in-person visits.

• 2-1-1 Texas: Call or text 2-1-1 (24/7) or visit 211texas.org. This free service connects you to local health and human services, including mental health resources, support groups, and financial assistance for care.

• NAMI West Texas: The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides education, support groups, and referrals. While based in San Angelo, they serve the region:

  • Phone: (325) 212-6060

  • Website: namiwesttexas.org

  • Check for virtual or in-person support group schedules.

THSC 483.102

Title 42 —Public Health Chapter IV —Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services Subchapter G —Standards and Certification Part 483 —Requirements for States and Long Term Care Facilities Subpart C —Preadmission Screening and Annual Review of Mentally Ill and Mentally Retarded Individuals.

ACA Code of Ethics

• A.1.a: Primary Responsibility

• B.1.c: Respect for Confidentiality

• C.2.a: Boundaries of Competence

• A.6.a: Crisis Response

LPC Code of Ethics

• LPC Rules 681.31 - 681.51

• Duty to warn and protect

PREA Demonstration Projects establish “Zero Tolerance” Cultures for Sexual Assault Program. The PREA Program provides funding to state and local governments and federally recognized tribes for demonstration projects within confinement settings including, adult prisons and jails, juvenile facilities; community corrections facilities; law enforcement lockups and other temporary holding facilities, and tribal detention facilities.

Peterson, S. (2018a, March 29). About PFA. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. https://www.nctsn.org/treatments-and-practices/psychological-first-aid-and-skills-for-psychological-recovery/about-pfa

Youth Data 2022. Mental Health America. (2022). https://www.mhanational.org/issues/2022/mental-health-america-youth-data

Building Trust and Reducing Tension

Effective Communication

Tailored Mental Health and Crisis Support

Addressing Disparities in Behavior

Supporting Rehabilitation and Reentry