How to Counsel Mental Health Fpr LGBT Youth Essay

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Running head: PRACTICE PLANPRACTICE PLAN 3Counseling Licensure Practice PlanPractice PlanThe professional identity of mental health counselors is very important. Therefore, it is paramount that before anyone chooses a profession such as mental health counselor, they need to be level-headed, weigh all the available options for a while, and understand what is required of them. This paper is focused on a mental counselor for the LGBTQ population. The paper begins with a discussion on the historical background section, which covers the motivation and expected rewards for a mental counselor for the LGBTQ population and the historical developments on counseling for this group. Next, the paper explores the various mental health networks available for the LGBTQ population and identifies a specific professional niche for my practice. Fourth, the paper describes my plan for receiving post-masters clinical supervision and the professional community within the terms of reference of my case. Eventually, the document will identify several organizations that will facilitate the practice of mental health counselors.Historical BackgroundSexual orientation has never been a source of fear, distress, hate, or ridicule. However, with the continued growth of freedoms, various groups have emerged divergent from the conservative heterosexual. These people fall under the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Pansexual) umbrella. There have been reports that indicate that they suffer from social stigma by most community members who identify as heterosexual. Thus, any other sexual orientation is wrong, a sin, or a curse. Counseling services are central to the LGBTQIA+ group as research that has been done shows that teens with this sexual orientation have a higher rate of suicidal thoughts (Baams, Grossman & Russell, 2015). The motives for suicide and self-harm are driven by the acts of discrimination they face from society. Ybarra and colleagues (2015) found that LGBT-identified teens were at higher risk of victimization and bullying in the community and were more likely to have thought about suicide than their heterosexual counterparts. The LGBTQIA+ community needs ongoing counseling due to repeated acts of discrimination. Sexual assault, physical and verbal bullying can lead to chronic stress and mental health deterioration (Akibar & Langroudi, 2021). Therefore, I am motivated to be available and provide counseling to members of the LGBTQIA+ group when they seek therapy.The developments in mental health for the LGBTQIA+ group have been closely related to the legal and policy advancements related to recognition of the group in law. Several recent changes in the legal and political landscape have helped improve access to care and insurance for LGBT people and their families. These include the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the repeal of a large portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the United States v. Windsor and the subsequent ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges to legalize same-sex marriages across the country (Kates et al., 2015). The ACA expands access to health insurance to millions, including LGBT people, and includes specific safeguards related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

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However, recent actions by the Trump administration have sought to reduce some of these benefits. The 2013 Supreme Court ruling on DOMA resulted in state recognition of same-sex marriages for the first time. It paved the way for recognition in many more states to recognize such marriages abroad, further expanding access and coverage throughout the country. Before the expansion of freedoms of same-sex marriages in the USA, there have been efforts to deliver mental health care by various healthcare facilities or healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, these efforts have always died out because of the lack of a legal framework to back the services. For instance, one of…

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…2014; Clayton & Bongar, 1994) and ensure that any information gathered is not applied blatantly but as per the client’s needs.Professional OrganizationsThere are various organizations for mental health professionals to join. These are available from the regional level to the national level. At the national level, the professional organizations available for mental health counselors include; the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counselling (ALGBTIC), and the American Psychological Association (APA). At the state level, some of the professional organizations include the Minnesota Psychological Association (MPA), Minnesota Career Development Association (MCDA), Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, and the Minnesota School Counselor Association (MSCA). Based on the internet research conducted using Google.com for this paper, there was no regional professional organization for mental health counselors identified.Membership in professional organizations is beneficial for various reasons. First, they employ as they are part of the licensure required for employment at national and state levels. Second, they are useful platforms for networking, professional development, and education. Professional organizations are also an opportunity for keeping up with the legal requirements and developments. Lastly, professional organizations provide the requisite code of conduct and social responsibility for operations within the profession.ConclusionMental Health among LGBTQIA+ youth is an increasingly important need as it has been attributed to some of the mental health challenges facing the group. This is a niche I would like to specialize for my practice. There are several advancements in the area, especially with the legalization of same-sex marriages in 2013. However, still much remains to be done, mainly due to the stigma that LGBT youth face. To gain licensure, I will engage supervisory in line with APA and ACA requirements and secure membership with the various professional organizations as needed. My….....

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