Shadowing Essays - Mental Health, Mental Disorder, Psychotherapy

Linda Richardson , LAC Ms. Richardson has been employed at Family Inc for two years. Her title is CRC/LAC. She was formerly a Social Worker. A horrendous accident left her disabled and despite a grim forecast by doctors Letha decided to further her education. She uses her own impairment as encouragement to her clients. Family was founded in 1995. It was formerly known as Southside mental health system and was operated by the state of Arkansas until 1997. During this transformation, the company became the non-profit organization that it is known as today. Mid-South Health Systems provides a variety of mental health services including outpatient, inpatient, community, and children and adolescent psychiatric and educational programs. Mid-South, through networking with 14 various community health centers serves all 75 counties in Arkansas. It is also the only non-profit health organization servicing Northeastern Arkansas. Mid-South consists of several professional employees including doctors, nurses, counselors, therapists, and pharmacists. Mid-South accepts Medicare, Medicaid, AR Kids First, private insurance, and sliding scale payments for private paying clients. Mission As a rehabilitation therapist through Family Systems, Ms. Richardson pledges to empower clients, to manage their lives more effectively, and to enhance daily functioning of those in need of care. Her personal mission directly correlates with the corporate mission statement. Family strives to adequately serve the community with a variety of mental health options and is determined to advocate recovery, honest and fair guidelines to the entire team. Clientele Ms. Richardson deals with a variety of clients. In general, her clientele consists of SMI (severely mentally Ill) and non-SMI persons. SMI clients generally experience psychosis. They may have an extended loss of a sense of reality. In turn they are unable to appropriately respond to their general environment. They may be affected by depression, personality disorder or a bipolar disorder. Services Provided As an employee of Family Ms. Richardson may participate in individual or group counseling. Family also offers CIS services, psychiatric evaluations, medication checks, and rehab day services. Primary Role As a CRC/LAC, Linda Richardson acts as a counselor/therapist. She strives to be an advocate to her clients by supporting and encouraging them in a variety of settings. Treatment is focused around physical, psychological, or emotional support. Her primary objective is to help the client function normally. Approaches Ms. Richardson states that the methods she uses are generally reality based. She attempts to orientate or re-orientate the client to his or her actual surroundings. They must learn to focus on real life events and not hallucinations or personal misconceptions. Ms. Richardson also utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a psychotherapeutic approach. It generally involves talking. In addition to these methods, a person-centered technique is also used employed. Challenges & Benefits Ms. Richardson declares that the most challenging aspect of her position is assisting clients to overcome the stigma of mental health. Another stimulating task is encouraging the client to continue with treatment until primary goal has been achieved. She states that the primary benefit of being a health care provider, more specifically CRC/LAC, is being a helper to those in need.