4 questions | Applied Sciences homework help

1. Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, revised May 2003.

Mental and Behavioral help It is easy to overlook the value of mental health until problems surface. Yet from early childhood until death, mental health is the springboard of thinking and communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. These are the ingredients of each indi- vidual’s successful contribution to community and society U.S. SUrgeon general’S report on Mental HealtH1 The field of mental health has until recently shown surprisingly little interest in doing much about the problem of questionable science and pseudoscience that has long been festering in our own backyards. Scott o. lilienfeld, pH.d2 Chapter Six “How can I relax when I know this couch would look so much better in the opposite corner of the room? Part Two Health-Care Approaches90 Although excellent help is available for mental and behavioral problems, obtaining suitable treatment can be difficult. There is a wide ar- ray of practitioners, many of whom are incompetent. In addition, for economic reasons, many segments of our population cannot get adequate care.3 This chapter outlines the various types of practi- tioners, their treatment methods, and guidelines for distinguishing between proper and improper treatment. It also describes questionable self-help methods marketed to the public. Organizations that can provide additional information are included in the Appendix. Who Should Seek help? Professional help is appropriate when a mental, emo- tional, or behavioral problem significantly interferes with someone’s ability to function, or when symptoms exceed an individual’s tolerance. The common problems for which help is advisable include: depreSSion: persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, low self-esteem, frequent insomnia, loss of interest in activities, loss of appetite, weight loss, suicidal feelings anxiety: intense anxiety that interferes with ability to function, phobias, panic attacks, psychosomatic disorders rigidity: obsessive thoughts or actions, self-defeating behavior iMpUlSivity: intense flightiness, periodic violent behavior, alcohol abuse and other addictive behavior iMpaired Sociability: excessive shyness, socially inappropriate behavior, strong feelings of discomfort in social situations, abnormal dependency, generalized distrust of people coping difficUlty: marital conflicts, parenting difficulties, school adjustment, prolonged grief reactions, excessive job stress repeated failUre: an overall “batting average” in life that remains well below a person’s ability Unreality: depersonalization (e.g., feelings that one’s body is changing in size), delusions (rigidly held false beliefs), hallucinations (e.g., hearing voices) SUbStance abUSe: alcohol or drug abuse iMpaired Mental fUnction: impairment of thought processing, judgment, memory, or other cognitive function Mental health practitionerS Many types of practitioners profess to treat mental, emo- tional, and personal problems. The training, professional standards, and legal status of the different types vary considerably. This section briefly discusses many of the recognized credentials. The Credential Watch Web site (www.credentialwatch.org), which two of this book’s authors maintain, provides additional details. Psychiatrists are physicians (M.D.s or D.O.s) who have completed at least 3 years of specialized training in psychiatry after graduation from a medical or osteo- pathic school. Child psychiatrists have a minimum of 4 years of psychiatric training, including 2 years in adult psychiatry and 2 in child psychiatry. Geriatric psychia- trists have extra training in dealing with problems in the elderly. Certification in these specialties is available from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Psychiatric training programs focus more on drug treat- ment than on psychologic therapies. Psychologists have undergone training in the study of human behavior. Students of psychology study the mental, emotional, biologic, and social basis for human behavior, as well as theories that account for individual differences and abnormal behavior. They are also in- structed in research methodology, statistics, psychologic testing, and a variety of skills applicable to their spe- cialty if they intend to practice. The major recognized specialties are counseling, clinical psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology.

• Professional help is appropriate when an emotional problem significantly interferes with someone’s ability to func- tion or when symptoms exceed an individual’s tolerance.
• Selecting a suitable therapist should be done with great care.
• Personality testing is unlikely to be a cost-effective component of a treatment process.
• Very few “self-help” products claimed to improve mental functioning have been scientifically tested; it is safe to assume that the vast majority do not work.
• Individuals undergoing psychotherapy should be alert for boundary violations or other signs of mismanagement.

keep theSe pointS in Mind aS You StudY thiS chapter Key Concepts Chapter Six Mental and Behavioral Help 91 Psychologists commonly work in private individual or group practices, community mental health centers, mental hospitals, general hospitals, schools, rehabilita- tion centers, and residential facilities for emotionally disturbed children. Payment for treatment by a psycholo- gist is deductible as a medical expense for federal income tax purposes and is covered by many insurance plans. In most states, licensing or certification for indepen- dent practice as a psychologist requires: (a) a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) from an accredited training program, (b) additional years of supervised clinical expe- rience, and (c) passage of an examination. The National Register for Health Services Providers in Psychology, published by the Council for the National Register, lists licensed psychologists whose doctoral degrees and supervised experience meet the Register’s standards. A few states allow persons with master’s level training to work as associates or assistants under the supervision of licensed or certified professionals. In many states, psychologic associations are seeking passage of laws that would enable psychologists who undergo additional training to prescribe psychotropic medications.4 Those who do so typically refer to them- selves as medical psychologists. Psychiatric organiza- tions and some psychologists oppose this on grounds that a full medical education is necessary to understand the intricacies of prescribing powerful drugs. New Mexico, Louisiana, and all branches of the U.S. uniformed services currently authorize medical psychologists to prescribe medications. Psychoanalysts are practitioners who have under- gone personal psychoanalysis and have completed sev- eral additional years of part-time training in the theories and specialized techniques of psychoanalysis. Most are psychiatrists or psychologists, but some are trained in social work or another nonmedical discipline. However, because the psychoanalyst designation is not regulated by law, anyone can use the title. Social workers practice in private offices as well as under the auspices of public, voluntary, and proprietary agencies and institutions. They are licensed or otherwise regulated in all states. The National Association of So- cial Workers (NASW) states that clinical social workers provide more than half of the counseling and therapy services in the United States. Certification in clinical social work or another specialty is available from the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). This requires (a) a master’s or doctoral degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, (b) 2 years or 3000 hours of postgraduate experience under the supervision of a master’s level social worker, and (c) passage of a written examination. The NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers lists those who meet the requirements for Qualified Clinical Social Worker (QCSW) or Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW). Both of these require 2 years of supervised clinical work plus either licensure, certification based on an examination, or ACSW membership. The DCSW credential requires an additional 3 years of professional experience plus completion of a clinical assessment examination. NASW also offers certifications related to health care; school settings; substance abuse; case work; and work with children, youth, and families.5 Certified clinical mental health counselors work in agencies, schools, colleges, and independent practice. They must have a master’s or doctoral degree in coun- seling or a related discipline plus 2 years of clinical ex- perience after receiving the master’s degree. They must also pass a written examination and adhere to a code of ethics. All states license or register clinical mental health counselors, with the most common designations being Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). The National Board for Certified Counselors offers the National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), and Master Addictions Counselor (MAC).6 Specialists in psychiatric nursing are registered nurses (R.N.s) who usually hold a master’s degree from a program that lasts 11/2 to 2 years, but the term “psychi- atric nurse” may also be applied to any nurse who has worked in a psychiatric setting. The American Nurses Association certifies psychiatric nurses on two levels. Certification as a psychiatric and mental health nurse requires a bachelor’s degree in nursing, 2 years (with a minimum of 1600 hours) of experience in a mental health setting, current clinical practice, and passage of an examination. Clinical specialist certification requires a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing (or equivalent training), 500 hours of supervised clinical experience, and passage of an examination. The Directory of Spe- cialists in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing provides names of clinical specialists in psychiatric nursing. Some psychiatric nurses lead therapy groups or serve as co- therapists in mental hospitals and clinics. Master’s-level psychiatric nurses may function as psychotherapists in community mental health centers. Some have set up private practices, providing both individual and family therapy. Part Two Health-Care Approaches92 Marriage and family therapists are licensed or cer- tified in nearly every state. Clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) requires appropriate master’s- or doctoral- level training plus 2 years of clinical graduate experience with couples and families under the supervision of an AAMFT-approved supervisor. Training programs in the United States and Canada are accredited by AAMFT’s Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. Sex therapists specialize in the treatment of sexual problems that can be helped by simple techniques and increased communication between sexual partners. They may or may not be able to deal with underlying emo- tional problems that require additional psychotherapy. Certification is available from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AA- SECT), an interdisciplinary interest group. Certification as a sex therapist requires: (a) a master’s or doctoral degree plus 2 to 3 years (1000 hours/year) of clinical experience, (b) licensure or certification in an appropri- ate professional discipline, (c) 90 hours of specialized education, (d) 90 hours of sex-therapist training, (e) 500 hours of supervised therapy, and (f) 150 hours of supervision by an AASECT-certified supervisor. A few graduate programs that incorporate sex-therapy training provide an alternative route to eligibility. Certification as a sex counselor has similar requirements but can be obtained with a bachelor’s degree. AASECT publishes a register of those it has certified. Because sex therapy is neither defined nor regulated by law, anyone can adopt the title of “sex therapist” or “sex counselor.” For this reason it is important to check the credentials and reputation of a prospective therapist. Those practicing at university-affiliated clinics can be presumed competent. Information about other therapists may be obtained from your family physician, the local medical society, or a local family service agency. Substance abuse counselors offer evaluation, coun- seling, case management, and various other services to individuals who abuse alcohol or other drugs. Some counselors have entered the field without a college education. However, associate-, bachelor-, or master- degree programs are required for many jobs. To become a National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC), can- didates must hold current state certification or licensure as an alcoholism and/or drug abuse counselor, have 6000 hours or 3 years of full-time supervised experience, and pass a written examination administered by the As- sociation for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). The credentials required for substance abuse counselors vary from state to state. There are many other types of mental health prac- titioners whose activities are not defined by law or regulated by licensure. Included in this category are caseworkers, social-work aides, clergy, art therapists, music therapists, dance therapists, school counselors, crisis-intervention personnel, and a wide variety of self- proclaimed therapists. Some have appropriate training, but others do not. Compatibility between patient and therapist is more important in psychologic treatment than it is in the treatment of physical problems. There are several reasons why finding a suitable therapist for a mental or emotional problem may be more difficult than finding one for a physical problem or for general medical care: