ABSTRACT
Clinical mental health counseling describes those counseling services that take into account the “principles of psychotherapy, human development, learning theory, group dynamics, and the etiology of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior” (AMHCA, 2011, p. 2). The scope of practice for clinical mental health counselors ranges from prevention, intervention, consultation, and treatment around problems of living to more pathological mental and emotional concerns. Clinical mental health counselors are likely to work with diverse populations of individuals, families, and groups across the life span in clinics, private practice, non-profi t and for-profi t agencies, homes, schools, colleges and universities, and the workplace (AMHCA, 2011). Some clients may deal with issues of a more severe nature requiring longer term counseling, as well. Likewise, counselors in private practice may specialize in specifi c problems such as depression, anxiety, phobias, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, or a particular population such as children with attention defi cit disorder or gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered individuals.
