Stanislaus County is facing an increasing demand for mental health resources, but a shortage of mental health clinicians to meet all of them is a challenge. After making an appointment, people often wait weeks or even months just to see a doctor, mental health experts say, but in especially crisis situations, help is provided immediately. It may be important to Experts say the rise in phone calls in recent years is partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also due to rising alcohol and drug abuse. problem? There are not enough experts in this field to respond quickly to all questions. Now the county is trying a different approach to addressing the shortage. About 50 caseworkers and outreach workers from the county’s behavioral health and recovery services will begin training at the Lay Counselor Academy to become lay mental health counselors. In a nutshell, it is a training program that puts people without a degree or license into the mental health counseling profession. This includes his 65 hours of specialized training including lessons in motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy strategies, supportive counseling, and deep listening. Modesto psychologist Elizabeth Morrison co-founded the academy less than a year ago. She also trains and provides mental health care,” Morrison said. Morrison said there was a perceived need for more mental health staff and resources nationwide, which sparked the idea of finding workarounds. Her own family was no exception to the long wait for resources. “I have two teenagers and a child, and I had my own mental health take a turn for the worse during the pandemic. He’s been on the waiting list for seven weeks to see someone. But by the time the pandemic hit, I didn’t want to see anyone anymore,” Morrison said. Applicants for training are carefully selected based on their skills and experience. But Morrison said the program can also serve as a good experience for fresh out-of-university students to gain the skills and practices they need to establish themselves in the field. But having these unlicensed workers on site raises questions for some. Darlene Thomas of Modesto’s National Mental Health Alliance is one of the county’s many responses to calls for mental health assistance. According to Thomas, many of those calls are: Loved ones come on behalf of families who may not necessarily be aware that they need help. “If case managers and social workers can be trained there to better meet their needs for dealing with clients and wanting to understand clients better, that would be a good thing,” Thomas said. “I think it’s a whole different ball game when it comes to providing therapy,” Morrison said, adding that general counselors could take the place of qualified therapists and clinicians, and intervene in diagnostics, crisis interventions, and more. said no. Instead, they will work under the supervision of a qualified clinician, listening to and providing support to struggling clients. “Stanislaus County and all those who are pumping into the Lay Counselor Academy are seriously considering three-, four-, and five-month waiting lists to get those who are waiting with hope. “It doesn’t do us any good to spend time with them and see someone who can help them,” Morrison said. Lay counselors are also trained to provide a wide range of care and resources to their clients. Morrison said the new group will begin training in July.
Stanislaus County is facing an increasing demand for mental health resources, but a shortage of mental health clinicians to meet all of them is a challenge.
After making an appointment, people often wait weeks or even months just to see a doctor, mental health experts say, but in especially crisis situations, help is provided immediately. It may be important to
Experts say the rise in phone calls in recent years is partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also due to rising alcohol and drug abuse. problem? There are not enough experts in this field to respond quickly to all questions.
Now the county is trying a different approach to addressing the shortage. About 50 caseworkers and outreach workers from the county’s behavioral health and recovery services will begin training at the Lay Counselor Academy to become lay mental health counselors.
In a nutshell, it is a training program that puts people without a degree or license into the mental health counseling profession.
This includes 65 hours of specialized training including lessons in motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy strategies, supportive counseling, and deep listening.
Modesto psychologist Elizabeth Morrison co-founded the academy less than a year ago.
“A general counselor is someone who does not have a degree or license in mental health, but who has the skills and additional training to provide mental health care,” Morrison said.
Morrison said he recognized the need for more mental health staff and resources nationwide, which prompted the idea of finding workarounds.
Her own family was no exception, waiting a long time for resources.
“I have two teenagers and a child, and I had my own mental health take a turn for the worse during the pandemic. He’s been on the waiting list for seven weeks to see someone. But by the time the pandemic hit, I didn’t want to see anyone anymore,” Morrison said.
Applicants for training are carefully selected based on their skills and experience.
But Morrison said the program can also serve as a good experience for fresh out-of-university students to gain the skills and practices they need to establish themselves in the field.
But the presence of such unlicensed workers on site raises questions for some.
Darlene Thomas of the National Mental Health Alliance in Modesto is one of many who have responded to calls for mental health assistance in the county.
Thomas said many of the calls are coming on behalf of family members who may not necessarily be aware that their loved ones need help.
“If case managers and social workers can be trained there to better meet their needs for dealing with clients and wanting to understand clients better, that would be a good thing,” Thomas said. “I think it’s a whole different sport when it comes to doing therapy.”
Morrison said general counselors would not replace licensed therapists or clinicians or intervene in diagnostics or crisis interventions. Instead, they will work under the supervision of a qualified clinician to listen to and provide support to struggling clients.
“Stanislaus County and all those who are pumping into the Lay Counselor Academy are seriously considering three-, four-, and five-month waiting lists to get those who are waiting with hope. “It doesn’t do us any good to spend time with them and see someone who can help them,” Morrison said.
Lay counselors are also trained to provide a wide range of care and resources to their clients.
Morrison said the new group will begin training in July.
