Each counselor has been licensed by the State of Texas to practice independently, and has special training/certifications in certain areas. Each counselor can independently bill insurance companies for services rendered. Training is ongoing throughout the year to maintain individual licensure and credentialing requirements.
Specialties //
EAP Employee Assistance Program Counseling
"The purpose of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is to improve employee performance and productivity and reduce the rate of employee absence or lateness by making certain services available to employees whose ability to perform their job is adversely affected by personal problems such as family or marital stress, substance abuse, or medical or emotional disorders.
An EAP is a counseling and referral program, offered by the employer, to assist employees in resolving problems which may be adversely affecting the employees' work performance."
As the sessions progress, the counselor ties the problems/ issues to job performance and productivity at the job site.
Resources to further explain:
http://www.deeroaks.com/pages.asp?id=4
http://www.valueoptions.com/company/Employer.htm
http://www.eapassn.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS DEBRIEFING
What is critical incident stress?
Workers responding to emergency events and or disasters will see and experience events that will strain their ability to function. These events, which include having to witness or experience tragedy, death, serious injuries and threatening situations are called "Critical Incidents." The physical and psychological well-being of those experiencing this stress, as well as their future ability to function through a prolonged response, will depend upon how they manage this stress. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder differs from critical incident stress by lasting longer than four weeks after the event triggering the emotional, mental or physical response. Most instances of critical incident stress last between two days and four weeks.
I'ore information:
http://www.aaets.org/article54.htm
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/critical.html
Welless Presentations and On-site Employee Education
Many of the Employee Assistance Programs request counselors to go on-site to speak about topics that will help improve productivity, attendance, health, and overall morale at work. These presentation topics can include:
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Stress Management and Breathing Techniques
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Conflict Resolution
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Positive Discipline
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Workplace Bullying
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Resonable Suspicion (of alcohol or drug use)
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Anger Management
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Vicarous Trauma
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Team-Building
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Healthy Living and Wellness
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Non-Verbal Comunication
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How to Deal with Difficult People
Substance Abuse/Alcohol Assessment and Counseling
All of the licensed professionals have had training in chemical dependency. Many of them take take continuing education courses to specialze in this area, and to qualify to do assessments for Employee Assistance Programs.
More information:
Psycho-educational Groups and Workshops
What is a Psycho-educational Group?
One definition is that it is a specific type of group therapy that focuses on educating clients about their disorders and ways of coping. Many psycho-educational groups consist of members that all share the same diagnosis. In this case, the education tends to focus on coping with that specific disorder.
In other groups, the educational focus is on practical life skills, or self-esteem, or cping with being divorced. These are examples.
Psycho-educational groups may be taught by mental health experts, peer counselors who share a similar diagnosis, or members of the community. There are specific formats for certain types of psycho-educational groups, but many follow a more free-style format.
Marriage and Family Counseling/Couples Counseling
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are relationship specialists who treat persons involved in interpersonal relationships. They are trained to assess, diagnose and treat individuals, couples, families and groups to achieve more adequate, satisfying and productive marriage, family and social adjustment. The practice also includes premarital counseling, child counseling, divorce or separation counseling and other relationship counseling.
Clinical Supervision
Supervision is used in counselling, psychotherapy, and other disciplines as well as many other professions engaged in working with people. It consists of the practitioner meeting regularly with another professional, not necessarily more senior, but normally with training in the skills of supervision, to discuss casework and other professional issues in a structured way. This is often known as clinical or counselling supervision or consultation. The purpose is to assist the practitioner to learn from his or her experience and progress in expertise, as well as to ensure good service to the client or patient.
More information on this:
http://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=62&navoid=9432
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling can be 3 to 5 sessions, which is standard for the Employee Asistance Progams, or it can be many more sessions, depending on the treatment plan. The treatment plan goals should be observable and measurable, with an outcome.
Some examples of topics in individual counseling that are designed to develop treatment plan objectives:
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coping with retirement
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processing a break-up
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co-dependency
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building self-esteem
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learning how to balance priorities
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anger management
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stress management
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coping with irrational fears, worries
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coping with grief/loss
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adjustment to situational circumstances
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development of communication skills
Counseling Military Members and their Families
San Antonio is the home for almost 50,000 military retirees and has 4 military installations:
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Ft. Sam Houston
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Lackland AFB
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Brooks City Base
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Randolph AFB
More information:
http://ct.counseling.org/2013/08/effective-treatment-of-military-clients/
http://www.militarycityusa.com/installations.htm