PSY 5200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Human Services, The Counselor, Psy
PSY 5200 Primer 2 Notes
Who? Answers about counselors and clients
The profession of counseling
To be considered a profession, five characteristics must be present:
1. A common body of knowledge acquired through special training.
2. A national or international organization that oversees standards, competencies, and
credentialing.
3. Prescribed and formalized code of ethical conduct.
4. Sanctioned and legal recognition at the national and state level
5. Clear identity of its practitioners as members of the profession.
The Counseling-Related Professions
Categories of Helping
-Individuals who offer services to those in emotional, mental health, or wellness need are best
described as providing the service of helping. Counseling = helping
-An informal or formal process of assisting individuals in their times of need. (counseling
dictionary)
• Non-Professional Helpers: those who possess no specific training in counseling and are
not members of an identifiable professional organization with a common body of
knowledge, a code of ethics, or legal recognition.
• Paraprofessional Helpers: Human services workers. Individuals who have received some
formalized training in human services. Can have college degrees, job training, etc. Have
positive influence on mental health needs.
• Professional Helpers: individuals who belong to the allied helping or counseling
professions that meet all 5 criteria. Have training beyond a bachelor degree. And real
world experience.
Psychotherapy and Counseling
-Psychotherapy is a system of activities in which helping professionals provide mental health
assistance to those who seek their services. No profession of psychotherapy is considered an
actual profession.
-Counseling refers to those activities that predominantly promote growth and wellness, but
also may be involved with the remediation of mental distress and disorders.
-Psychotherapy refers to those activities that are predominantly involved with the amelioration
and treatment of mental distress, but may also may be involved in health and wellness.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Individuals who offer services to those in emotional, mental health, or wellness need are best described as providing the service of helping. Individuals who have received some formalized training in human services. Have positive influence on mental health needs: professional helpers: individuals who belong to the allied helping or counseling professions that meet all 5 criteria. Psychotherapy is a system of activities in which helping professionals provide mental health assistance to those who seek their services. No profession of psychotherapy is considered an actual profession. Counseling refers to those activities that predominantly promote growth and wellness, but also may be involved with the remediation of mental distress and disorders. Psychotherapy refers to those activities that are predominantly involved with the amelioration and treatment of mental distress, but may also may be involved in health and wellness. Approaches to counseling: developmental approach to counseling: professional counselors work with their clients from a developmental perspective.