Education/Career in Mental Health (long)?

Re: Re: Re: Education/Career in Mental Health (long)?

In many locations school psycs are locked into restricted assessment roles. In other states (Iowa being one of them) school psycs are involved in a full range of provision of mental health services. There is wide variation around the country and even within individual states. If you are interested in transition kinds of activities, you might consider secondary special education. Transition issues are a key part of the role of a special education teacher at the secondary level.

 

I would like ot offer you one more thought for consideration. It may be reasonable to consider a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling. It is a very very versatile degree. People with this degree work in mental health settings, hospital settings, public agencies and in private practice. In most states you are eligble for the LPC and most also seek a CRC (certified rehabilitation counselor). Many insurance companies actually pay third party payment to CRC's when they do not do so for other kinds of counselors. There are a number of 100% on-line programs (except for practicum and internship, which can be done locally in sites that you can work out and many of the sites are paid positions). On-line programs include the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Texas Tech, San Diego State, University of North Texas, Georgia State, Utah State, Virginia Commonwealth (also a distance Ph.D.), Western Washintgon University, Wayne State to name just a few. There is also a helpful web page at the National Clearinghouse on Rehabilitation Training Materials at Oklahoma State. If you send me a personal email I can actually connect you with some specifc programs. Because there is a shortage of Rehab counselors, many programs will have fellowships.

 

Re: Re: Re: Education/Career in Mental Health (long)?

Hi Scott - I've never worked in a school system but I've been a kid therapist for 15 years so I've spent more than a few hours talking to school counselors, etc. Here's a sumary of my experience:
First, every school is different, every town is different and every state is different. This stuff gets complicated. There are laws, budgets, policies and then there are "personalities." (This means office politics) Second, you are the M*A*S*H therapist. The guy on the ground, where it happens. We're not just talking about bullying here, we're talking about rape, incest, hardcore drug abuse, violent crimes of all descriptions. Think this doesn't happen in your nice town? You're not paying attention (no offense intended, this stuff is not generally public info and so there's no easy way that you could be aware of how bad it gets) You do the triage, and refer the kid to a therapist on the outside (hey, who knows? maybe the parents will even follow through and get the kid a therapist.) You're the counselor with a couple of hundred kids on your caseload. There are no 50-minute therapy appointments. It's all First-Aid.
I'm sorry to be the one to say it but it's better that you hear it now. As I said at the outset, go to the schools and talk to the people who are doing the job. They'll be honest, and that's what you want.
Jack
(on the plus side, the kids are great and your co-workers will be the best you've ever known)

 

Hi Simon

The Director of Counseling Services for a very large HMO tells me Medicaid will not reimburse LPC or other Master"s level counseling/psychology graduates, but will reimburse MSW's. If the Federal Government makes this restriction, I assume some or most HMOs do also. Am I mistaken about this? Thanks for your information.

 

Hi Dave,

The information provided to you regarding medicaid not reimbursing counselors is correct. However, the American Mental Health Counseling Association, through lobbying efforts, is currently attempting to gain acceptance for Mental Health Counselors to receive medicaid reimbursement on par with Social Workers. Last year, they came pretty close to gaining this acceptance and it appears that in the near future this will become a reality.

In regard to HMOs, many allow Licensed Professional Counselors to become panelists and receive reimbursement. Although not all HMOs do so, the wider recognition of this profession and the fact that the majority of states license these professionals (only two states do not), it is only a matter of time prior to their incorporation into the majority of these health plans.

As I suggested, to swoerner, if he is interested in pursuing this profession, he should contact HMOs in his state to determine their position on this matter.

 

Check out Capella's School of Human Services

If you are open to getting a degree that gives you the required course and training for a LMHC or LPC then consider Capella University.

Their Masters in Counseling is the only CACREP accredited program that is online. CACREP is the highest level of programmatic accreditation for Masters Level training in Mental Health Counseling.

Go to www.capella.edu