Foundations of Mental Health Counseling

This course offers the beginning student an introduction to the counseling profession. It is a necessity that counselors not only understand their professional identity but also understand the legal and ethical issues involved in the practice of counseling. According to New York Counselor Law, counselors are legally required to know their Code of Ethics, which are designed to guide and govern the practices, attitudes, and behaviors of licensed counselors. In this course students will begin to familiarize themselves with ethical codes, legal issues, standards of professional conduct, and the various facets of the counseling profession. This course will explore the student's self-makeup and disposition toward working closely with others of varying socioeconomic, education, ethnic, racial, political, and religious backgrounds. Students will also gain an appreciation of the historical perspectives credentialing, and organizational structures that exist in the professional of counseling. The American Counseling Association, its major subdivisions, and other credentialing bodies will be reviewed. Opportunities will be provided for each student to examine his/her perceptual and value structures as those structures fit what is embodied in the ethical codes of practice of the counseling profession. The American Psychology Association (APA).(This course is for Mental Health Counseling majors only. All other students must obtain permission from the (Dean's Office) can it say WSAS Office of Graduate Studies.)