Counseling and Mental Health

Counselor

Work Activities

• Conducting intake interviews with an individual or a group to determine the problem area and the focus of the counseling (This procedure can include testing (personality, aptitude, achievement, and psychological), observation, and interviewing.)
• Formulating a treatment plan to accomplish the client's goals
• Counseling individuals, groups, marriage partners, or families
• Assisting others in understanding and overcoming social, emotional, and psychological problems
• Using appropriate therapies that improve the functioning of the client
• Referring clients to other professional or community resources
• Conducting workshops in special subjects, such as assertiveness, career development, job search skills, interpersonal relationships, relaxation and stress management, coping skills, and wellness
• Maintaining records of tests and counseling sessions
• Teaching counselor education classes at universities and colleges
• Conducting research and reporting results in professional journals

Career Specialties

Counselors may specialize in the following areas:

Mental Health Counselors work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. They work therapeutically with individuals to deal with such concerns as: addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; suicide; stress management; self-esteem; issues associated with aging; job and career concerns; educational decisions; and issues of mental and emotional health. Mental Health Counselors work closely with other mental health specialists, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.

Marriage and Family Counselors work with individuals, partners, and families to promote the highest level of functioning within the family unit. While focusing mainly on family and marital problems, Marriage and Family Counselors may deal with the same issues as mental health counselors.

Rehabilitation Counselors help persons deal with the impact of their disabilities on their personal lives and in their jobs. They evaluate the clients' disabilities and potential for employment by interviewing the clients and their families, reviewing school and medical reports, and conferring with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, employers, and others. The goal of these counselors is to work toward increasing their clients' capacities to adjust and live independently.

School and College Counselors help students to understand and deal with social, behavioral, and personal problems. They provide students with life skills necessary to deal with problems before they occur, and to enhance personal, social, and academic growth. Another primary goal for School and College Counselors is to help students understand their abilities, interests, talents, and personality traits so that students can develop realistic academic and career options.

In addition, these Counselors may manage career information centers and educational programs. High School Counselors provide advice on college admission requirements, entrance exams, financial aid, and trade/technical school and apprenticeship programs. Elementary School Counselors concentrate on developmental counseling, with a social/behavioral emphasis. They confer with elementary teachers, administrators, and parents on developmental issues and special needs of children.

Career and Employment Counselors help individuals make wise career decisions. They help clients explore and evaluate personality traits, interests, skills and abilities, education, training, and work history through counseling sessions and testing. They also help people to develop job-seeking skills and assist them in locating and applying for jobs.

Work Settings
Counselors work in a variety of public and private establishments, including mental health clinics, social agencies, health care facilities, job training and vocational rehabilitation centers, correctional institutions, residential care facilities, half-way houses, group homes, and elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools. Counselors also work in federally- and state-funded agencies that engage in community life improvement, such as public assistance agencies, and in substance abuse facilities. A growing number of counselors are employed in private practices, health maintenance organizations, and group practices.

Special Requirements
Employment as a Counselor requires a minimum of a master degree. The most common requirements to enter a graduate program in counseling include completing a bachelor degree with an acceptable grade-point average, taking the Graduate Record Examination, and having teaching or other professional experience.

To become licensed as a School Counselor in New Mexico, applicants must meet certain educational and experiential requirements or must be certified as a School Counselor by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Educational Institutions

Northern New Mexico Community College(C/A)
University of New Mexico(B/M/D)
University of New Mexico, Gallup(C/A)
Western New Mexico University(M)

Genetic Counselor

Work Activities

• Helping individuals and families to comprehend relevant medical facts, including how to manage the disorder
  
• Evaluating a family's medical history to determine if heredity contributes to the disorder or the risk of occurrence in other family members
  
• Explaining the possible risks for other family members to experience the same disorder
  
• Helping individuals and families choose the appropriate course of action, while considering the level of risk, family goals, and ethical or religious standards
  
• Performing research in the field of medical genetics and genetic counseling
  
• Educating and informing other health professionals and the general public
  

Work Settings
Genetic Counselors participate in many aspects of health care. Most work as members of a health care team that provides information and support to families who are affected by a genetic disorder. Genetic Counselors frequently work for health care or research facilities, although some are employed by health organizations with specific interests (such as diabetes or mental retardation).

Special Requirements
Most Genetic Counselors have master degrees in genetic counseling and are certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics. The requirements for admission to master-level programs vary by school, but most applicants have undergraduate training in biology, chemistry, or statistics. Cytogenetic Technologists generally hold a bachelor degree in biology or a related science and are certified by the Association of Cytogenetic Technologists and the National Certification Agency for Medical Personnel.

Educational Institutions
No program information is available.

Psychiatric Aide and
Psychiatric Technician

Work Activities
The duties of Psychiatric Aides and Psychiatric Technicians vary according to their work settings and levels of responsibility. Psychiatric Aides who work primarily in hospitals have duties that may include:

• Assisting patients to bathe, dress, and groom themselves and helping them with other personal care activities
  
• Taking patients to and from wards for examinations and treatment
  
• Encouraging patients to participate in social, educational, and recreational activities
  
• Feeding patients who need assistance
  
• Aiding or restraining patients to prevent injuries to themselves or others
  
• Escorting patients off the grounds of the facility for medical or dental treatment and to libraries, churches, theaters, or athletic events
  
• Assisting professional staff as needed with patient orientation, housekeeping, and security
  

Psychiatric Technicians, who usually have more formal education and training than Psychiatric Aides, have duties with greater responsibility. These may include:

• Interviewing patients and their families and recording information
  
• Participating in developing and implementing patient treatment plans
  
• Observing patients and reporting any meaningful actions to the professional staff
  
• Leading individual and group counseling sessions and therapy activities
  
• Teaching skills that help patients resolve employment, financial, housing, and other personal problems that affect daily living
  

Career Specialties
Psychiatric Technicians may specialize in certain areas, such as crisis intervention, substance abuse, or children's problems.

Resident Care Aides assist in providing self-care training and therapeutic treatment to the residents of facilities for the mentally impaired.

Work Settings
Psychiatric Aides and Psychiatric Technicians work as part of a rehabilitation team under the direct supervision of mental health therapists, psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers, and experienced Psychiatric Technicians.

Because of emotional problems, patients may be demanding, temperamental, easily upset, and overly sensitive. Some may become violently upset. By following hospital procedures and using reasonable care, the possibility of personal injury from patients can be reduced or eliminated.

Special Requirements
Educational requirements for these careers vary. A high school diploma and postsecondary training are needed for employment as a Psychiatric Technician but not as a Psychiatric Aide. Persons wishing to work for governmental agencies must pass a civil service test. Most of these workers also must pass a physical examination.

Psychiatric Aides and Psychiatric Technicians may be employed as paraprofessionals in crisis centers, substance abuse facilities, and social service centers. They may work as teacher's aides in schools for the mentally retarded or in community mental health programs.

Alliance Hospital of Santa Teresa(O/X)
Gila Regional Medical Center(O)
Heights Psychiatric Hospital(O)
Las Vegas Medical Center(O)
Lovelace Health Systems(O/X)
Memorial Medical Center(O/R)
Mesilla Valley Hospital(O/R)
Piñon Hills Hospital(O)
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital(O)
University of New Mexico Mental Health Center(O)

Psychologist

Work Activities

• Diagnosing and treating psychological problems
  
• Collecting data through interviews, case histories, and observational techniques
  
• Developing, selecting, administering, and interpreting psychological tests, questionnaires, surveys, and experiments
  
• Counseling individuals and groups
  
• Conferring with parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, and others
  
• Determining the effectiveness of treatments through follow-up procedures
  
• Conducting research and developing and evaluating mental health programs
  
• Serving as a consultant to social, educational, medical, or other agencies
  
• Writing for professional and trade journals or other media
  
• Teaching in colleges and universities
  

Educational Psychologists design, develop, and evaluate techniques and materials to solve problems in training programs.

School Psychologists evaluate the needs of average, gifted, and physically or mentally challenged students. They make suggestions about placing disabled and/or emotionally impaired students within an educational system, and they recommend implementation of the appropriate programs.

Psychometrists or Quantitative Psychologists design, develop, implement, and analyze results of intelligence, aptitude, achievement, and other tests.

Developmental Psychologists investigate the emotional, mental, physical, and social growth and development of humans.

Social Psychologists study human relationships to gain understanding of individual and group thought, feeling, and behavior.

Experimental Psychologists plan, design, conduct, and analyze the results of experiments in human and animal learning, thinking, motivation, and perception.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists develop and apply psychological techniques to personnel administration, management, and marketing problems.

Psychologists may specialize in teaching, research, therapy, or community service. Other specialties include: counseling, rehabilitation, community health, physiology, and psycho-pharmacology. They may specialize in working with specific age groups or persons with certain psychological problems.

Work Settings
Psychologists work alone, with other Psychologists, or with psychiatrists and other physicians. Employment settings include college classrooms and laboratories, hospitals, correctional institutions, clinics, private offices, industries, schools, businesses, and government agencies.

Special Requirements
To become licensed as a Psychologist, an applicant must have a doctorate in psychology from an accredited university with training in the area(s) of intended practice. Also, two years of supervised post-doctoral experience and one year of internship (or two years of part-time experience) are required for a specialty in clinical services. Applicants must pass one oral and two written examinations as required by the certifying board. School Psychologists must hold at least a master degree.

Educational Institutions

The College of Santa Fe(B)
Eastern New Mexico University(A/B)
New Mexico Highlands University(B)
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology(B)
New Mexico State University(B/M/D)
University of New Mexico(B/M/D)
Western New Mexico University(B/M)

Social Worker

Work Activities

• Interviewing and counseling individuals, families, and groups regarding their physical, social, and psychological concerns
  
• Evaluating information to determine the nature and degree of the clientÕs problems
  
• Assisting clients in improving personal and social functioning by helping them secure services, education, and job training
  
• Determining the client's possible need for future assistance
  
• Improving services through community and organizational changes
  
• Referring clients to other professional or community resources
  
• Coordinating or working with civic, religious, business, and union organizations to combat social problems through community programs
  

Career Specialties
Social Workers usually conduct clinical and/or administrative practice. Areas of specialization include health, mental health, family and child welfare, adult and juvenile justice, aging studies, school social work, and special needs within these area such as substance abuse, physical disability, and illness.

Medical Social Workers and Psychiatric Social Workers are readily available to the patients and their families to help adjust to the impact of physical and/or mental illness and to promote maximum benefits from the health care and/or mental health services provided. They collect patient information through patient and family interviews and collaboration with other health professionals to assess the social, psychological, and environmental status.

Work Settings
Social Workers may work in public or private settings. They often work independently, but may work as part of a treatment team that includes physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, lawyers, nurses, therapists, teachers, the clergy, and other professionals.

Working conditions vary with the nature of the work, the type of employer, and the location. Social Workers may work in agency offices, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, group homes, learning centers, schools, prisons, or courts of law.

Special Requirements
To become a Licensed Social Worker, an applicant must earn a bachelor degree from an accredited school of social work, have two years full-time post bachelor degree experience under supervision satisfactory to the Board of Social Work, and pass an examination. To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, an applicant must earn a minimum of a master degree from an accredited social work school, have two years of full-time post-master degree experience in clinical services under supervision satisfactory to the Board of Social Work, and pass an examination.

Educational Institutions

New Mexico Highlands University(B)
New Mexico State University(B/M)
Western New Mexico University(R/B/M)