Mental Health and Community Counseling

ABSTRACT

This research paper focused on finding the role of the counselor in dealing with patients of mental health problems. The role of a counselor is to amalgamate art of human behavior with the framework of science and medicine and present this in psychological practice. A counselor coordinates with other medical staff and interdisciplinary health treatment teams for the mental and emotional well being of a patient. Counseling programs are therefore, wise to heed the overwhelming evidence from the research on counseling and psychotherapy that demonstrates the importance of a strong relationship to the change process. Research specific to counseling is beginning to yield convergent findings, with close and enduring relationships associated with great, positive outcomes for youth involved in them. Whatever the focus of the counseling relationship, whether short-term tutoring or long-term emotional support; some attention should be given to building a working relationship.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTii

Introduction1

History and Development of Counseling1

Mental Health and Importance of Counseling2

Clinical Psychology3

Important Elements of Counselor Identity, Function, and Ethics4

Clinical Trials on Ethics in the Field of Psychology5

Professional Quality Assurance Guidelines6

Issues In Involved In The Process Of Psychological Research6

Invasion of privacy7

Research without consent7

Biasness in research8

Ambiguous presentation of findings8

Professional Counselling8

Personal Reflections9

Conclusion10

Mental Health and Community Counseling

Introduction

History and Development of Counseling

Psychotherapy and counselling theories were developed in the early 20's, but it is common belief that it has been initiated a long time ago. In 188, Sigmund Freud led the foundation for carrying out research into human mind. He contributed a lot in this field through his research work. He became a neurologist after getting trained and started working and counselling with patients who were diagnosed as hysterical. He continued his method of psychoanalysis and applying theories till the 1930's. Freud came up with techniques known as Hypnosis, which he also adopted in his own work in order to treat the patients with mind disorders and later on he just concentrated developing his own theories right after identifying the fact that hypnotherapy is the only solution and useful approach in order to deal with the patients with mental disorders. Even though, the work done by Freud is still well known. He was the one who delivered an idea of mind division into id, ego and super ego. He further revealed and believed that toddlers go through Oral, Anal and phallic phases and appears to be stuck in one of the stage, which later on can lead them to devastating results (Arrocho, 2004).

The period of 1940's and 1950's is considered to be significant in terms of expansion of counselling field. The recent practice of counselling established on the basis of person's centered approach was initiated by one of the US Psychologists Carl Rogers. That person centered approach is listed and named under the branch of psychotherapy “Humanistic”, which are now considered as three general kinds of psychological therapies: psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies, behavioral therapies and humanistic therapies (Arulmani, 2007).

Mental Health and Importance of Counseling

Counseling Psychology treats people who are suffering from depression, anxiety or other family or ...