Licensed Professional Counseling

Goals

My goals are to improve the quality of my research and to learn how to plan treatment for individuals dealing with chronic trauma. There are various avenues in which I can improve, but research and education are chief amongst them.

ACA Code of Ethics

The primary emphasis of these codes is to serve as guidelines for counselors regarding scope, mission, clients' rights, expectations, limitations, and miscellaneous ethical and professional concerns.

https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

There is an increasing need for qualified individuals in mental health-related professions. As of 2024, over 240 counties out of 254 are designated as mental health shortage areas (Simpson, 2024). My original understanding was that, as a society, we have made great strides towards prioritizing mental health. In fact, I would have gone on to say that, in comparison to years past, mental health today has significantly improved when compared to any other time period. This seems to be incorrect. While there seems to be a greater emphasis on mental health, there are also a myriad of mental health concerns unique to the current age. While allowing for counseling access to populations that may have found such access difficult, there is evidence that the internet, and by extension social media, may have negatively impacted aspects of mental health for some people (Social Media and Mental Health in Children and Teens, 2025).

There are a plethora of mental health disorders that a professional counselor must have a working knowledge of. Some of these mental health disorders can be further specified and have their unique triggers and exacerbations. It is commonly referenced that professional counselors treat individuals with anxiety and depression. This is mentioned so commonly that it disguises the seriousness of these disorders and their derivatives. The correlation between chronic and complex trauma and the disorders mentioned in this assignment is unmistakable.

The Developmental Discussion on Trauma assignment provoked some introspection. I was prompted to take the ACES and ponder the results. Interactive assignments like these require a significant amount of vulnerability. This is a more than adequate representation of what one must undertake in the role of a professional counselor working with individuals who are relaying experiences of trauma. Transference and other forms of bias can see the sharpest counseling mind dulled by the unresolved, unmitigated enthralling of one’s own trauma. I learned the importance of trauma-related education in my profession. I also gained a deeper understanding of how interwoven precipitated aspects of trauma can impact adult life.

This assignment afforded me the opportunity to partake in CE-credited coursework related to psychological first aid. There was an emphasis on identifying, assessing, and properly aiding those who may or may not be in need of assistance in instances of crisis. The process is tantamount to triage in certain respects. Rather than merely going into every exchange with the mindset of a professional counselor looking to help those who may be struggling with mental health and acute trauma, the stressed point is on the needs of the individual. In some cases, an individual may see a more positive outcome overall if their resource and information needs are met, rather than if one were to bombard them with tactless probing about their state of mind. This knowledge is useful because it forces the helping professional to mold themselves around the needs of the client. As a professional counselor in this scenario, I would not be expected to do and be everything for the impacted population of a crisis, but I should be willing to help how I can with careful consideration of my limitations. An example of this would be that one in my role should not over-promise, even if it would be to make someone feel better about their situation. I also must be comfortable with relaying to others that if I am not sure about the information they want regarding a disaster or crisis, I will work to get the answers they need or the resources they seek.

This assignment was a group project regarding intervention in relation to domestic violence or intimate partner violence. The point of this project was to assess the need for intervention and create an action plan for those experiencing DV/IPV. What was especially challenging about this assignment, other than the collaboration, was understanding and creating an assessment response for individuals outside of my role. In the case of school counselors specifically, I was particularly curious about what a counselor can do within their scope in instances where they suspect the child may be experiencing DV between their parents. As I conducted research into this topic for my own edification, I found that it may be the case that school counselors cannot take on students as clients without the permission of their parents or guardians. This made me wonder in DV cases, as children who observe partner violence experience trauma as well. Additionally, individuals suffering from the effects of domestic violence may be unlikely to report (Beel, 2023).

The ABC crisis model assignment provided the opportunity to participate in an applied theory exercise. The project required one to stress their analytical skills to surmise the best course of action and likely engagement based on the case study. There was a surprising amount of empathy required to successfully accomplish the task. After repeated readings of the second case study, I was able to visualize the potential encounter illustrated in the prompt. What was noteworthy was that the case articulated the many issues with Roger, but also complicated the first meeting. He has a family history of alcohol use disorder, was dealing with overwhelming amounts of stress due to the turbulent work environment, which included layoffs, and his wife was having recurring health problems. Roger shoved his wife, and it seems as though his ire was beginning to turn towards his children. It was when I began to put myself in Roger’s shoes that the factors complicated the first meeting.

I am awaiting the day that I get laid off. My wife is sick. When she is not feeling sick, she is nagging me about where I go to blow off steam. She reminds me of my mother and my uncle and their drinking problems. What does she know about my family? What makes me like them? She wants me to talk to her, but when I open up, she will not leave me alone. No one will leave me alone. Even the kids refuse to get off my back. My job, my home, my bosses, my wife, my kids, everyone needs something from me. What is the problem if I have a drink to ease the annoyance of the constant needling? Why hide it? And now, I have to talk to a counselor about it. Why do I have to tell this man anything? If I do, will she leave me alone?

Considering that I know so much about Roger prior to the first meeting, I am challenged to guess how much he would likely share in our first meeting and how I might get him to unearth what I perceive may be necessary. This assignment revealed to me the incredible amount of patience and care required to be a skilled counselor. This is because, rather than probing Roger to open up to me, I must pay great attention to establishing rapport with him. I also must be “in the moment” with him, as I cannot cheat the honesty of the session by effectively breadcrumbing towards a future conversation I wish to have.

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