Doctorate Degree Online

Have you made the decision to have your client psychologically evaluated? Have you found yourself struggling to strengthen his defense?

If that is the case, you may want to check out what options are available to you when it comes to seeking and finding a mental health assessment expert. Through this article, you are provided with the guidance that you will need in order to identify those mental health experts who will be of the greatest use and service to you and your clients today.

When you are looking to find a consulting psychologist to assist you with assessing a clients mental state, the first factor to keep in mind is the reputation of a particular professional. Obviously, when you are dealing with such sensitive and potentially life-changing issues as your clients culpability in committing a felony or his fitness to stand trial and assist counsel, be sure that you connect with a reputable practitioner.

As with other areas in todays world, there are less experienced professionals who inject themselves into the field of forensic psychology, the psychological evaluation of the criminal defendant. Therefore, be cautious about the consulting psychologists that you consider engaging for your clients assessments.

Ask how many years the psychologist has been practicing. 15 or more years is adequate and be sure to check with your state Board of Psychology to find out if any disciplinary action has ever been filed against him, and if so, its outcome.

In addition, make certain that you connect with a professional who does not have the reputation of being a commercial purveyor of testing services to lawyers. Practitioners who run testing or assessment mills can be superficial, careless, impatient and unavailable by phone and email.

Their arrogant and non-caring attitude can antagonize your client who is likely to be resistant anyway to giving such private and sensitive information to someone whom he does not already know. The ability to develop a genuine rapport with your client is imperative to eliciting useful information from him.

The psychologists clinical experience is particularly important when it comes to dealing with issues relating to psychological assessment. Therefore, make certain that your consultant also has a practice which is largely clinical and oriented to psychological treatment.

Clinicians are best at developing that all-important rapport with your client, and when testing is only part of their practice, they justifiably create the impression of being a well-rounded and seasoned practitioner, rather than that of being the operator of an assessment mill.

In your analysis of various professionals rendering assessment services, you will want to consider their credentials. For instance, typically a psychiatrist has only about three years of training in mental health, which is obtained during the residency.

The overwhelming majority of their training is in biochemistry, anatomy and general medical issues. They mainly prescribe medication, do very little counseling or psychotherapy and receive no specialized training in psychological testing and assessment.

On the other hand, the psychologist has the bulk of his training in counseling, psychology mental health and psychological assessment. This is obtained during his last 2 years of college, his 3 to 4 years of graduate and professional school and his internship. Where psychological assessment is concerned, there is no question that the consulting psychologist will be more suitable to the assessment needs of your practice. Therefore, only consider those mental health professionals who have their doctoral degree in psychology and are licensed to practice it independently.

The Internet has now become a valuable resource for attorneys who need psychological services for their clients. There are a number of different resources available to you today in this regard.

You will find that by accessing the web site of the American Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association or your states psychological association, you will be able to make smarter and faster decisions regarding your practices needs for psychiatric assessment services.

50% of married couples get divorced in the US. In today’s society the options are so varied and the hazards are so numerous that the odds are too high that this will happen to you AS WELL.

Divorce is a Life Changing event that hurts everyone, including children, spouses and grandparents. Marriage counseling is much cheaper than divorce and the doorway to a happier life for all, including for those living in the Algonquin and Cary areas of Illinois.

Married couples can go from the halo stage to the fighting stage in almost no time. Bitterness, fault-finding and cross-blaming can become the order of the day. Fights over money, the children, dashed expectations, substance abuse and fidelity can drown a couple and the children who have to listen to it.

Conflict, doubts, worries, depression and bitterness can overwhelm an entire family and the effects can contaminate multiple generations that follow. Thats right. Your children and grandchildren are likely to have the very same quality of life in their marriages as you have right now! Pretty scary, isn’t it?

You owe it to your kids and their kids to get marriage counseling now-before it’s too late!
There are almost too many types of marriage counselors from which to choose: Social workers, psychologists, mental health counselors etc. Your choices are confusing, overwhelming and often complicated.

What kind of credentials should your counselor have? What kind of training? The questions go on and on.

Credentials and Training

Psychologists have approximately 8+ years of college training in the psychological sciences and hold a doctoral degree (EdD, PhD, PsyD). Typically their training includes the treatment of all aspects of emotional problems, including psychological testing and the performance of research studies.

Clinical social workers have approximately 6 years of college training and hold a masters degree in social work (MSW). Their training includes various aspects of the treatment of emotional problems, including using community resources and working with the poor and abused.

Mental health counselors have approximately 5+ years of college training in counseling and hold a masters degree (MS, MA). They also treat various aspects of emotional and relationship problems.

Any one of these professionals may have more or fewer hours of training, specifically in marriage counseling, because the training is often discretionary. Therefore, it’s important to ask anyone you call how many hours of training they do have and what percentage of their current practice is in marriage and family counseling.

OK, but How Do I Actually Find a Counselor?

There are several ways: The Web, The Yellow Pages, referrals, professional organizations and your insurance plans provider directory.

The easiest way is searching the internet. Start by using words, such as: Marriage Counselor, Counselor, Marital Therapist, Marriage-Family Therapy etc. Then add your city, such as: Cary, IL, Cary Illinois, Algonquin, IL or Algonquin, Illinois.

You will receive instant listings from the directories, articles and websites of practitioners in your area. And just click each listing to find loads of additional info about each one.

The Yellow Pages is another convenient resource. Use any of the latest editions that include your town. You might also get some good leads by looking in the books that contain surrounding cities

Look under Counselors-Marriage and Family, Social Workers or Psychologists. However, one big drawback is that the listings and ads in the Yellow Pages are very sparse with the details. To get more specific information, youll have to search the web or call the therapist personally.

Another excellent way to find marriage counselors in your city is to get a referral from your physician, friend or a professional organization. You can search for the professional organizations on the Web; sometimes you can even access names directly from the website, other times just call the referral number you see listed there.

The organizations to plug into the search engine include: The American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, The American Psychological Association, The National Association of Social Workers and The American Mental Health Counselors Association.

If you anticipate that psychological issues will also be treated in your counseling, look up counselors, psychologists or social workers in your insurance companys provider directory. The directory lists the mental health providers in your area who accept your insurance. They will be much easier for you to afford than those who don’t take it.

One caveat, however, is that little information beyond the counselors credentials, contact information and location is provided. Just like with the Yellow Page listings, to get more specific information, youll have to search the web or call the therapist personally.

Of all of these methods, my favorite is searching the internet. Start searching now by using words, such as: Marriage Counselor, Counselor, Marital Therapist, Marriage-Family Therapy etc; add your city, such as: Cary, IL, Cary Illinois, Algonquin, IL or Algonquin, Illinois.

Search for Marriage Counselor-your city (eg Cary, Illinois) and see what you get. Then, all you need to do is just click each listing to find loads of additional info about each one. It couldn’t be easier!

I’m looking for the average GPA requirements needed in order to be accepted into graduate programs for Master’s Degrees in clinical and counseling psychology.

It’s not as important, but knowing the GPA requirements for acceptance into doctoral degree programs for clinical and counseling psychology would both be great too.

Thanks.

Family and marriage therapy as a discipline includes graduate and post graduate programs: masters degree (2-3 years),  post-graduate clinical training programs (3-4 years) or doctoral program (3-5 years).

A few words about family counseling online. This question is still opened and has many aspects to discuss. This is because online counseling is a relatively new form of therapy and the regulations have yet to be established. However the International Society for Mental Health Online has already published ethical guidelines to assist professionals in the development of ethical  online counseling practices.

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are trained in psychotherapy and family systems (2 years of clinical experience is required) and have masters degree in family psychology. MFTs are licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems. In the center of the therapy is a family.

Marriage and family therapy is a short-term therapy. Usually it consists of 12 sessions. And quite often it includes one-on-one as well as a family therapy. As for the fee, family and marriage therapy and counseling costs can vary from about $75 to $200 per hour. Average cost is approximately $100 per session.

And now a couple words about how to choose a family and marriage counselor. You can consult the internet but you can also ask your friends and family. Most therapists will have a brief phone consultation with you. They will answer all your questions. And after this phone consultation you can decide whether you and the marriage counselor might work well together.

Consider  CounselingTo Help Save Marriage If your relationship is in difficulty, you may want to think about support to help save marriage. Your marriage is the central point in your life. Your other relations with youngsters, with family, and with chums revolve round the marriage axis. Thus , there’s a need to help save marriage.

How does one know if marriage support is right for you? If you have got any of these issues, you may want to consider Counseling to help save your marriage : Infidelity Communication Conflict Work-Life Balance Issues with Kids Mixed Family Issues Family Violence drug use A family advisor or consultant will be in a position to help you to improve your folks relationship by helping you to explore effective communication methods, conflict resolution solutions, and other categories of coping abilities which will make your family work better.

A consultant can also help you’re work on resolving deep issues that have carried over from adolescence traumas. So, the simplest way to you select a family therapist?

Well, you must know that you do not have to choose the 1st one you call. It is completely OK to interview 3 to 5 advisors before choosing which specialist will work best for you and your partner.

Some of the questions you may want to ask include :

Have you worked with couples experiencing the problems we are having?

What should I predict from counseling?

What are your treatment methods? What are your prices?

You will find the names of consultants by asking for referrals from pals or family members who’ve attempted support themselves. There also are referral services set up by non-profit boards who can offer you the name or names of approved executives. If you don’t get an acceptable number of referrals, you may want to test out specialist’s sites online. When the yellow pages was the sole source of advertising for specialists, the shopper would get little more than a name and a telephone number. But now, an advisor’s site can include a resume, articles she has written, and an outline of their practice. You’ll be ready to get an idea of how a specialist will work from their website.

You do need to be certain the consultant you select is licensed. Some specialists have what is commonly known as a MFT ( Wedding & Family Therapist License ) which can only be got after a specialist completes both an advanced degree in Psychology and 1500 hours of internship work under another approved consultant. Other sufficient licenses include the LCSW ( Approved Clinical Social Employee ), Ph.D or Psy.D. ( Trick cyclist with a doctorate degree ) and M.D. ( Psychiatrist. ) you wish to select an approved pro because there are tutorial, internship, and practice standards that has to be maintained to keep the license. Relationship coaches and others with similar names don’t have similar needs.

Different advisors have different payment options. Some offer sliding scale fees while others are ready to take insurance.

At the top of Mt. Sinai, as the earth shook and fire blazed in deference to the Almighty, God didn’t instruct Moses to go down the mountain and conduct an opinion poll regarding the people’s views on Sabbath, adultery, murder, and how they ought to treat their parents. Neither did Jesus conduct a systematic program evaluation to see if having entrepreneurs in the temple was distracting to people trying to pray. Instead, he made a whip and drove out the merchants. God does not determine truth by empirical research, but defines and reveals truth and calls us to follow. But then again, most of us don’t do counseling with tablets of stone or whips in our hands. And it’s a good thing we don’t, because none of us are nearly as wise and righteous as God, and time and experience has proven both that we understand God’s truth imperfectly and that we often communicate it poorly to those who do not share our Christian values.

Through many centuries, Christian ethicists have wrestled with the proper connection between truth revealed in the Scriptures and in human experience. Empirical research is a systematic way of understanding human experience—our beliefs, emotions, and behaviors—but these experiences should not be confused with truth that has been revealed to us by a transcendent God. So Christian counselors often feel uneasy about the relationship of empirical research and ethical decision making. We affirm that God’s revealed word trumps human experience in distinguishing right from wrong, but still there are ways that empirical research can help sharpen our understanding of ethics and shape our work as Christian counselors. In this article, we identify five ways that keeping upto- date with ethics research can help Christian counselors.

Identifying Problem Areas

Ethics research allows us to look back over time and see what ethical issues counselors have struggled with most. And, of course, the best predictions of future problems are informed by understanding past problems. Research can help us answer questions such as, what prevailing ethical issues are counselors most likely to face? Which issues challenge and trip up counselors the most, causing them to cross ethical boundary lines? The American Psychological Association (APA) ethics committee offers an annual report reviewing the ethical cases that have been opened by APA against its members.1 We tallied the types of cases opened over the last four years (2000-2003) by the APA to see which issues were predominant. The overwhelming majority of new ethics cases involved sexual misconduct (39%). Child custody (15%), insurance/ fee problems (13%) and nonsexual dual relationships (12%) trailed signifi- cantly behind sexual misconduct. It would be irresponsible for Christian counselors to disregard these statistics as merely a reflection of a secular institution of psychologists.

That would be to deny the susceptibility of our sinful nature to be tempted by our own selfishness, lusts, and greed. King David is commonly remembered as a man after God’s own heart, yet even this great man of God, who knew the law, faced his own ethical slippery slope of lust as he abused his power, committed adultery, and ultimately designed a murder. Ethics research that identifies problem areas has the power to humble us and serves as a reminder of the weakness of our own flesh. When we are able to recognize this, we can look outside ourselves for help both from God and from trusted friends. Reviews of the prevalence of past ethical cases may help to open our eyes to areas where we are most vulnerable. Recognizing Risk Factors It has long been known that impaired counselors are at higher risk for ethical violations than counselors who are functioning well. Research on ethics is useful when seeking to understand what risk factors lead to impairment and make a counselor vulnerable to unethical choices. One conclusion from recent research is that married counselors need to pay attention to their marriage.

An analysis of 334 health professionals—including physicians, psychiatrists, and counselors— who were treated or evaluated at the Menninger Clinic suggests that marital problems are among the most common reasons for professional distress.2 Another risk factor has to do with previous trauma that counselors may have experienced. A study reported in 2001 reveals that male counselors who have been sexually abused in the past and who are experiencing psychological distress in the present are at high risk for violating sexual boundaries with their counselees.3 These are just two examples of how research can help identify risk factors that predispose counselors to make unethical choices. Whether Christian counselors endure relationship problems at home, emotional wounds from the past, or some other trials or temptations, it is important to be aware of how personal life struggles can affect ethical decisions in counseling. Counselors who lack such awareness and avoid seeking help run the risk of further impaired judgment and possible ethical violations.

Exploring Social and Cultural Influences Each of us lives in a complex array of social and cultural mores and expectations, and so it is sometimes dif- ficult to think clearly about how God’s truth, revealed through cultures of the ancient Middle East, fits in today’s milieu. Empirical research can help us identify the social and cultural trends that influence Christian counseling ethics. Consider three examples: informed consent, managed care, and the use of technology in practice. Scripture does not speak of informed consent in counseling, but it does address the importance of honesty, human agency and choice, and treating people with fairness. In today’s society, these biblical principles translate to the need for written informed consent in counseling, as stipulated in the AACC code of ethics. But this translation from scripture to contemporary counseling practice only occurred because leaders in the Christian counseling movement paid attention to the research and professional trends of our day.

A second example is found in managed care. The Bible gives no specific guidelines for health care reimbursement, but all through scripture God insists that we have no part in taking advantage of others for the sake of profit. In a survey of 442 psychologists, most respondents indicated that managed care has detracted from the quality of their services and led to inappropriate and insufficient treatment, indicating that today’s reimbursement systems raise important ethical questions.4 Perhaps Christian counselors ought to speak out and rise up against policies that place corporate profit above human compassion. At times this may mean refusing to sign managed care contracts that detract from the services counselors provide. At other times it may mean accepting a reduced fee, or even no fee at all, to serve counselees who cannot afford a counselor’s full fee.

Or perhaps the economic changes plaguing the mental health industry open new opportunities for the church-based counselors to care for those who may have otherwise never come to the Church for help. Ethics research can also be useful as Christian counselors consider rapid technological changes that raise questions about virtual reality treatments for phobias, confidentiality of electronic databases, online services and supervision, and so on. A recent survey of 420 psychologists revealed a striking lack of clarity about the ethics of using various technologies in clinical practice.5 Empirical research can help identify issues that are confusing to Christian counselors so that additional guidelines can be developed. Sharpening Our Values Sometimes ethics research helps identify areas where our values need to be sharpened or considered in greater detail.

For example, a survey of AACC members in the mid-1990s suggests that Christian counselors are more cautious in their sexual thoughts and behaviors than a group of practicing psychologists selected without regard to their religious beliefs.6 Specifically, psychologists in the comparison group were more likely than Christian counselors to report having kissed, engaged in sexual fantasy about, or expressed attraction to a counselee. Psychologists in the comparison group were also more likely than Christian counselors to view these behaviors as ethical. All this seems to be good news for Christian counselors, affirming Christian values of sexual purity. But a closer look at the data suggests some cause for concern. Approximately 12% of the psychologists in the comparison group believed it is clearly unethical to feel sexually attracted to a counselee—a number that is alarmingly high because it suggests the possibility of denial.

From time to time, virtually all counselors experience feelings of sexual attraction toward counselees. Handling these stirrings properly typically requires us to admit our feelings to ourselves and God, discuss them with a trusted colleague or counselor in a way that respects confidentiality, and to work through our personal emotions so that we can continue providing competent services without abandoning the counselee. When counselors deny feelings of sexual attraction, they cannot seek out the accountability and support they desperately need, and may be prone to respond in ways that are potentially damaging to those seeking their help. The 12% of psychologists who believe sexual attraction to a counselee is always unethical is shockingly high, but it pales in comparison to Christian counselors’ ratings. Over a quarter (26%) of Christian psychologists surveyed, 44% of licensed counselors in the AACC sample, 57% of Christian counselors who are not licensed, and 75% of Christian lay counselors reported that it is always unethical to be sexually attracted to counselees! Neither scripture nor church tradition teaches that feelings of sexual attraction are wrong.

Rather, we are called to guard our hearts—to avoid lustful fantasy and misbehavior. If we are too quick to condemn ourselves for natural feelings that are likely to occur in the course of counseling, then we inadvertently shut off the possibility of admitting our feelings to God, seeking accountability and support, and responding in a godly way. Facilitating Teaching Finally, ethics research can be useful in identifying effective ways of teaching ethics to counselors. Knowledge of theological ethics—which we know through scripture and centuries of thoughtful Christian scholarship—is an essential foundation for Christian counselors, but it is also important to know about contemporary trends in mental health care and counseling ethics. How do we learn the proper application of Christian ethics in a counseling context? How do we teach it? A recent study demonstrates that mental health professionals find interactive strategies—such as discussion of vignettes and videotapes and dialogs between teachers and learners—more helpful than writing essays and studying for exams.7 Lectures are helpful in learning the philosophical and legal issues involved in ethics, but not as helpful for learning self-awareness and ethical decision-making.

These findings from empirical research can help teachers and workshop leaders make their courses engaging and relevant to Christian counselors-in-training. Conclusion Christian counselors typically have clear commitments to the notion of revealed truth: that God defines what is right and wrong and reveals it to humanity through scripture, church tradition, reason, and experience (these four are known as the Wesleyan quadrilateral). But every experienced counselor will acknowledge that it is not always easy to discern how God’s truth translates into specific counseling situations. How does one handle confidentiality with a suicidal or homicidal counselee? At what point does personal impairment render a counselor ineffective in the office? How are feelings of sexual attraction best handled in a way that does not harm the counselee?Online therapy can be helpful to get rid of such problems.

When are spiritual interventions psychologically irresponsible or psychological interventions spiritually irresponsible? It is precisely here, in the details of counseling practice and personal life, that empirical research on ethics can be most useful. Because ethics research is no more than a systematic way of evaluating human experience, it cannot be trusted for authoritative views of right and wrong, but still it can be of great help to Christian counselors as they attempt to be ministers of truth and grace in a complex world.  Mark R. McMinn, Ph.D., is the Rech Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College (IL) where he teaches in the doctoral program in clinical psychology and coordinates the Center for Church-Psychology Collaboration. His latest book is Finding Our Way Home: Turning Back to What Matters Most (Jossey-Bass, 2005). Steven J. Runner is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Wheaton College (IL). He has also studied at Dordt College and Geneva College.

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