What is Counseling?
v. coun新eled, or coun新elled coun新el搏ng, or coun新el損ing coun新els or coun新elsv. tr.
-To give counsel to; advise. See Synonyms at advise.
-To recommend: counseled care in the forthcoming negotiations.
v. intr.
- To give or take advice.
Professional counseling can help children, adolescents, young adults, families, couples and seniors. When you are facing life's challenges, professional counseling can help.
Mental Health Therapy: Many people assume that a mental health therapist (also known as a clinical counselor) is always a psychologist. Sometimes a mental health therapist is a psychologist, but usually he or she is not.
What it takes to become a Clinical Counselor:
Different Degrees:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (My personal favorite) - Requirements are a 2-year master's degree, this includes on-site field work followed by 4000 hours of clinical counseling and related work that is supervised by a state approved clinical social worker.- Marriage and Family Counselor - This is also based upon a Master's level degree and on-site fieldwork followed by several hours of one on one counseling under the direct supervision of a certified and experienced Marriage and Family Counselor.
- Professional Counselor - Requirements are a master's degree including on-site fieldwork followed by several hours of one on one counseling under the direct supervision of an experienced clinical counselor.
- Ph.D. Psychologist - As indicated, a Ph.D. psychologist goes beyond the master's degree and completes requirements for a Ph.D. Although Ph.D. psychologists do engage in therapeutic counseling, they also administer psychological tests that are often utilized by state agencies and court systems in determining mental competence and emotional well being of a particular individual.
- Psychiatrist - a psychiatrist is a medical doctor with a specialty in medications that enable more effective brain functioning. A psychiatrist does not usually see individuals on an on-going counseling basis. The psychiatrist will, however, meet regularly with the patient to ensure that medication is working properly. Administered medications may address such issues as depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive behaviors. A psychiatrist will also monitor medications for serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bi-polar.
A psychiatrist usually coordinates care with an individual clinical counselor.
Specialties:
The specialties of the various therapists are dependent on his or her interest, experience, and of course, on-going training. (Most disciplines require 20 hours of post-graduate training every year that the clinician remains practicing his or her craft.
