The specifics of professions associated with psychological counseling
In the first part of this discussion post, it is required to highlight the specifics of various professions associated with psychological counseling. The peculiarity of the professions of a chocolate counselor and a psychologist is the need to show empathy for the child while analyzing their actions and developing a strategy for psychological support. School pedagogy imposes a special humanistic role on the work of psychologists and counselors since sometimes they may be the only ones a student can turn to. In this aspect, the professions of psychotherapist, addiction counselor, or marriage psychoanalyst are essentially related.
A psychologist, regardless of specialty, is the person who is addressed in a critical mental situation. Undoubtedly, the specifics of the work of an addiction counselor are more focused on the formation of inhibition mechanisms and control of habits. A marriage psychologist, on the other hand, may strive to work through problems and find new strategies in order to help people understand each other; that is, this work is more focused on bringing people together. It can be said that the work of a psychologist or mental health counselor is generally similar to the above professions as it allows the patient or client to return back to an active social environment. The task of these professions is to allow a person to live and act fully, overcoming their problems at school, at work, or in the family.
Obtaining a professional license as a counselor requirements
Obtaining a professional license as a counselor in South Carolina requires a master’s or doctoral degree in the relevant discipline, as well as 60 hours of direct graduation practice. These hours of work can be devoted to counseling or other similar work in a related field, education, or family counseling. An abbreviated course of study in relation to the full 1000 hours should present the prospective mental health counselor with a certain professional challenge. The focus on practical work, which occupies the overwhelming majority of training, makes it possible to gain deeply delayed expertise. Also, during this period of study, the student has the opportunity to more clearly articulate his professional priorities. The experience of working with children, for example, is a fairly common practice for novice practicing counselors (Guest et al., 2020). During the training period, a future specialist can determine a more specific field of activity and improve in it.
Participation in the active professional life of the community
The American Counseling Organization seems to be the most authoritative of the alliances of professionals focused on various problems of mental and psychological support. The organization is the largest of its kind and includes both professional specialists and student counselors. The task of the organization, as approved on its official website, is the constant expansion of its branched formation in order to include as many specialists as possible (American Counseling Association, 2021). Joining this association and getting a member in it opens up an impressive number of prospects for the young researcher. In particular, the student gets access to a large-scale archive of specialized articles and scientific papers.
Moreover, participation in the life of the organization makes it possible to get paid internship in the specialty through the Job Center. Participation in the active professional life of this community also greatly improves the professional ethics that are so necessary for delicate psychological work. But the most important benefit of being a member of the American Association of Counselors is networking – an opportunity to connect with like-minded people around the world, ensuring a comfortable existence in a natural professional environment.
Reference
Guest, J. D., et al. (2020). Beginning counsellors’ experiences working with children who exhibit externalised behaviours. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 20(4), pp. 605-614
Join/reinstate. (2021). American Counseling Association. Web.