Counselor in the continuum of care

Introduction

Counseling has its roots in the era of early philosophers including Plato and Aristotle. Counseling is a complicated technique that demands deep and broad theoretical knowledge, a high level of self-knowledge, profound and broad theoretical knowledge and course knowledge of critical approach to tools, methods, techniques, and abilities. While there are various definitions of counseling, a counselor essentially engages in providing direction and advice. Counseling takes a humane dimension in exploring feelings and situations to help solve the problem. The practice is based on theories of personality. Effective treatment of patients entails a combined approach by Different professionals rather than a single health care professional. Counselors have the knowledge to obtain deeper understanding patients’ conditions. They have a better chance to achieve consistent care, by ensuring that psychological factors are taken into consideration during the treatment of patients. However, treatment is effective when patients, health professionals, and carers work as a team.

Counselor in the continuum of care

Counselors have a critical role in the continuum of care. The profession of Counseling has expanded over the years from the initial role of vocational and guidance activities with healthy individuals to actively providing mental health care and education to clients with different levels of functioning. Through the development of counseling profession, practitioners have constantly supported the promotion of respect for human diversity and dignity. The assessment of the appropriate intervention as well as patients’ needs is based on the recognition of the physiological status of the patient. The possibility of patients’ positive response is also dependent on caregivers and on the resources that are available in assisting the situation. The role of counselors in a healthcare setting also involves rehabilitating the patients spiritually, physically and psychologically. The work of the counselor, therefore, assists the patient in regaining his previous social and personal roles in the best possible way. (Jung & Ryan, 2013)

Counselors are required to be aware of their feelings so that they may not interfere with their effort to understand the patient as a person. Otherwise, they might be extremely absorbed with eagerness to help, or he might be so engaged in proving how successful they are which might overshadow the counseling process. Counselors often face situations that demand specialized well-developed counseling abilities, such as providing services to people with special needs, chronic disease or in mourning. As health professionals, counselors face new and different diseases such as AIDS and HIV. (Mannarino & Hamilton, 2007)

They also face different policy initiatives, such as the national framework of mental health services and its consequences. Counselors are required to be conversant with different theories of theories of counseling and how to connect them with different theories of personality. Initiation of counseling is imperative as counselors often act as the start of the counseling relation. They encourage the patient to contribute to the discussion for them to obtain the best results. Counselors secure the best opportunity to ask questions, to devote time for a chat, to the session to express the hope in participation in order to help other health professionals either in the diagnosis or treatment of conditions. (Mannarino & Hamilton, 2007)

Other roles played by the counseling profession in the 21st century include the provision of mental health services. They also collaborate with health care professionals and educators who work with patients with mental health issues. In these roles, a counseling professional should have a solid working knowledge of primary diagnostic systems used in the mental health and psychopathology. Such knowledge allows these professions to have access to employment, reimbursement for services from insurance companies and managed care and professional credibility. (Moleski & Kiselica, 2005)

One of the most difficult to treat in mental disorder is schizophrenia. Identifying a patient with symptoms in the first episode is invaluable to the individuals. Clinicians require patients to be treated early where intervention is highly effective. Today, the present recognition and assessment of symptoms remain debatable. However, research shows that counselors have a critical role to play in conductive behavioral therapy, offering a supportive environment as well as utilizing low-dose antipsychotic medication. Such activities assist in achieving secondary and tertiary prevention. Reducing suicidal mentality and delaying the onset of psychosis prevent schizophrenia from occurring. Counselors receive referrals to assess patients by healthcare providers, the patient or concerned family members. A counselor uses the multi-method approach of clinical assessment and interviewing to tests, diagnose and help place the individual in the most suitable treatment algorithm. (Jung & Ryan, 2013)

Providing and encouraging opportunities for others in your school to play a part in this continuum

The services of a counselor are useful in the continuum of care. Students should be equipped with the knowledge to determine needs of patients and members of a community who need services of a counselor. It would be impractical for every patient facing the emotional issue, psychological illness or stressful life changes to have to see a clinician. Today, the number of patients in need of counseling is numerous as people recognize the impact of mental conditions to the overall health. Counseling makes more sense as a profession as it allows patients to develop coping strategies understand the complexities of problems and devise solutions. Individuals with a passion for counseling need to make a considerable investment of resources in acquiring necessary knowledge and skills. (Bruce, 1984)

References

Bruce, P. (1984). Continuum of Counseling: Counseling Strategies. Guidance Journal, 62(5), 259.

Jung V. & Ryan P. (2013) A Counselor’s Role in Diagnosing the Proposed -5 Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome: A Pathway to Early Intervention or Iatrogenic Consequences? American Counseling Association: Article 86 (1-24) 

Mannarino, M. & Hamilton, D. (2007). The professional counselor: Opportunities and training. Association for Counselor Education Conference, Columbus, OH.

Moleski, S. M., & Kiselica, M. S. (2005). Relationships: A Continuum Destructive and Therapeutic. Journal Of Counseling & Development, 83(1), 3-11.

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in graduate paper writing service if you need a similar paper you can place your order from custom research paper writing service.