One of my goals for this course is to achieve a deeper understanding of the 5 W’s; who, what, when, where, and why, related to mental health issues. Gaining insight beyond the surface level will help me grow as an educator.

By obiding to these ethical guidelines, counselors create a safe environment where clients can openly share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. This document sets clear standards that counselors are expected to follow, which helps ensure the delivery of high-quality services. 

Ultimately, the code of ethics not only protects the client but also strengthens the integrity of the counseling profession as a whole, establishing trust and accountability between counselors and those they serve.

As a counselor, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to support those who are struggling with depression and other mental health challenges. Listening to their stories and being there for them is something I stand on business with. I believe that everyone deserves to feel heard and understood, especially when they’re facing such difficult times. That said, I also recognize how important it is to take care of my own mental health. This work can be emotionally demanding, and I know that in order to be a good counselor, I need to be in a healthy place myself. By prioritizing my own well-being, I can provide the best support possible to my clients. It’s all about finding that balance and being there for others while also nurturing my own mental health. After all, the journey toward healing is one we can all share together.

Upon reflecting on the resources from Unit 2, I have gained valuable insights into the signs of childhood traumatic grief. These signs include being overly occupied, reliving or reenacting the death through art or play, showing emotional or behavioral distress, and being easily startled. Furthermore, traumatic stress reactions in children encompass intrusive and avoidance behaviors, negative moods, and physical symptoms such as trembling, nausea, dry mouth, and difficulties with sleeping or breathing. 

Effects of Traumatic Events Regarding Counselors 

One significant fact that caught my attention was that the percentage of individuals in the U.S. exposed to traumatic events, whether directly or indirectly, ranges from 40% to 81%. Additionally, the website I attached resonated with me, particularly the information about counselors experiencing "trauma-related symptoms" or "first-hand experiences" as a result of absorbing their clients' traumas and responsibilities. This can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion, burnout, and in some cases, substance abuse, ultimately in what is known as "vicarious trauma." The resources also provided valuable strategies for counselors to navigate and cope with these challenging experiences.

Keim, J., Olguin, D. L., Marley, S. C., & Thieman, A. (2008). Trauma and burnout:

Counselors in training. In G. R. Walz, J. C. Bleuer, & R. K. Yep (Eds.), Compelling counseling interventions: Celebrating VISTAS' fifth anniversary (pp. 293-303). Ann Arbor, MI: Counseling Outfitters

• Being overly preoccupied with how the important person died

• Reliving or re-enacting the traumatic death through play and/or artwork

• Showing signs of emotional and/or behavioral distress when reminded of the loss

• Withdrawing from important aspects of their environment

• Showing signs of emotional constriction

• Increasing in antisocial or delinquent behavior

     One significant takeaway from my readings of the mental health resources is that approximately 46.6 percent of adults in the United States experience depression at some point in their lives. This statistic nearly represents half of the population, yet there is only about one mental health provider for every 340 individuals in the U.S.

     When reflecting on my understanding of depression through the quiz, I realized I had underestimated both the prevalence of depression and the associated service costs. In my future roles as a behavior analyst and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), this knowledge is crucial, as it provides insight into an individual’s mental state. This understanding enables me to reach out and support someone before it becomes too late.

     I also came across an article titled “About Behavioral Health,” which discusses how behavior includes all aspects of overall health. It highlights the importance of our work, play, lifestyle, and learning, while also referring to our mental, emotional, and social well-being, which are factors that significantly impact our wellness.

https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/about/about-behavioral-health.html#:~:text=People%20may%20sometimes%20turn%20to,recover%20from%20substance%20use%20disorders. 

Examples:

• mass violence

• public health

• natural disasters

• school based crisis

PFA is based on 5 principles

1. Safety

2. Calm

3. Connectedness

4. Self and Community Efficacy

5. Hope

PFA Deliverers

• early assistances

• faith communities

• school personnel

• public health officials

• first responders

• disaster volunteers

Ways to be delivered:

• Phone / Crisis Hotline

• Homes

• Response Locations

• Medical Setting

• Community Setting

• Attending Behavior

• Questioning

• Paraphrasing

• Clarifying

• Reflection

• Summarization

Part B: Breaking Down the Problem

• Physical- needs and issues

• Emotional- needs and issues

• Social/Relational- needs and issues

• Mental/Cognitive- needs and issues

Part C: Commitment to Action

• What steps does the counselee need to take?

• What steps does the counselor need to take? 

• Eye contact

• Warmth

• Body posture

• Vocal style

• Verbal following

• Overall empathy

Questioning

• Open-ended

• Close-ended

Paraphrasing

• Restating in own words

Clarifying

• A close-ended question that serves to clarify what the client just said

Reflection

• Painful feelings

• Positive feelings

• Ambivalent feelings

• Nonverbal feelings

Summarization

• Tying together precipitating event, subjective distress, and cognitive elements

Kanel, K. (2014). A guide to crisis intervention. Cengage Learning.

• Identify the precipitating event

• Identify cognitions

• Identify subjective  distress

• Identify impairments in functions: behaviorally, socially, academically, occupationally

• Ethical checks: suicide, homicide, organic issues, psychosis, substance abuse, child abuse, elder abuse

• Therapeutic interaction statements: educational, empowerment, validation, reframes

Kanel, K. (2014). A guide to crisis intervention. Cengage Learning.

• Explore what client wants to do now to cope

• Explore what client has tried in the past to cope

• Explore other things client can do to cope

• Offer alternative strategies for coping: 

  • Support groups

  • Twelve-step groups

  • Marital or family therapy

  • Lawyer

  • Doctor

  • Bibliotherapy

  • Reel therapy

  • Assertion training

  • Stress management

  • Shelters or other agencies

  • Secure commitment and follow-up

  Kanel, K. (2014). A guide to crisis intervention. Cengage Learning.

Additional public health support:

• Trauma-Sensitive Schools

• Social-Emotional Learning

• Mindfulness

• Circle Discussions

• Restorative Justice

• Maturational Crises - predictable transitions experienced by individuals moving from one stage of human development to another (i.e., marriage, adolescence, midlife). 

• Situational Crises - sudden and unexpected events that threaten physical, social, and psychological aspects of an individual. (i.e., injury, death, divorce, violence).

• Adventitious or Social Crises - rare and unexpected events of disaster such as floods, fires, riots, etc. Social crises may include acts of terrorism, assault, and rape. 

• Mental Illness Crises - individuals who are living with a mental illness who face non-life threatening situations or stressors that may become overly difficult to deal with. This type of crises can lead to risks of self harm or harm to others, substance abuse, and psychotic behaviors.

A way to support this is by getting your Psychological First Aid Online Certificate, this allows you to be certified to help someone who is experiencing or experienced the immediate aftermath or disasters, terrorism, or other emergencies. 

One crisis that I was able to go further into depth with is bullying. Bullying occurs when school-age children engage in aggressive, unwelcome conduct that involves a perceived or actual power imbalance. It is the abuse, aggressive dominance, or intimidation of others by the use of force, compulsion, cruel taunting, remarks, or threats (What is bullying, 2024).

Types of bullying: 

• Verbal bullying 

• Social bullying 

• Physical bullying

• Cyberbullying 

• Racial bullying 

• Religious bullying 

• Etc. (many more) 

Lastly, the ABC model allowed me to dig even deeper into the ways you could conduct an observation by tying in theories. There are so many factors taken into account when doing an observation. I have provided links and attachments to explain into detail.