Role of Consultation and Advocacy

Unit 4: The Role of Consultation and Advocacy

Tamber Simpson

COUN5004 Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors

Dr. Wood

10/11/15

The Role of Consultation and Advocacy

Counselors are encouraged to understand and engage in consultation and advocacy as part of their professional work. The process of assisting clients to acquire a clear and objective view of their unique pattern of traits and abilities is likely to continue to be one of the most important role of mental health counselors (Owen, 2011). Some mental health counselors help people who have normal cognitive processes cope with difficult life events, for example, physical illness, death of loved ones, and relationship problems or divorce. Others help people manage serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder. Counselors need to know when to refer clients or patients for additional resources and how to identify when abuse may be happening or when there is a risk of suicide or other violence.

Definition and Application of Consultation and Advocacy

 An advocate is someone who acts on behalf of someone else, or who empowers someone to become a self-advocate.  Advocates can act on behalf of individual clients. They can also advocate for issues within an organization, and sometimes for issues within the public arena. Consultant take on the role of a professional who evaluates, diagnose, and provide recommendations to the individual seeking help. A consultation is a method of collaboration between a professional persons, and the individual who beseeches the professional’s assistance in regard to present of past problems which the individual cannot deal with alone.

Mental Health Counselors assess, diagnose, and provide treatment plans. They also support, defend, and supplicate on behalf of their client (Moe, Perera-Diltz, Sepulveda, 2010). Clinical professionals act as both consultants and advocates.

Specification of Consultation and Advocacy with Specialization

Mental health counselors aid clients/patients, and families in dealing with problematic emotions, mental health issues and distress (Ponterotto & Suzuki , 2007). Consultation and advocacy are similar in the instance of providing support and arguing for a cause. Counselors deal with individuals of different cultures, backgrounds, and issues (Ponterotto & Suzuki , 2007). Counselors can convince others of the mental capacity of their client. This can go for a number of individuals such as medical doctors, judges, etc.

Benefits and Justification of Advocacy

In a court room, a counselor can be put on the stand to justify mental instability in the defendant. This can make the jury understand the client’s behavior. Also, a counselor can justify the behavior of some children who might act out in the school setting or home in order to provide treatment for them. Some parents look to counselors for consultation to see if future behavior will emerge or prevent them from happening which may include alcoholism (Chen-Hayes, 2012).

Application of Consultation & Advocacy

Medication should not be the first means of treatment. Consulting the client’s primary doctor about medical history is a must. The counselor should keep the client’s prospective in mind for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. If medication is needed, it will be gradually prescribed in order for a lack of dependence on the drug.

Assessment of Barriers to Services

        Lack of insurance or health care can be a barrier for the individual to receive their medication. Also failure for the counselor to prescribe any form of medication might defer the client for continuing with counseling. This could increase their depression further or make them dependent on the medication to solve their problems. Studies have proven that there is high rate of prevalence of psychotropic medications and inappropriate drug use among older homebound adults (Golden, 1999).