Psychopharmacology Counselor

Improved Essays
Psychopharmacology and the Mental Health Counselor Most counselors are not trained in Psychopharmacology. A mental health counselor must have common knowledge and understanding of the impacts of Psychopharmacology and the expectations of the client. Professional counselors must develop an awareness of how drugs influence client’s behaviors. The relationship between Psychopharmacology and counseling is one that addresses the whole client and is viewed as a holistic approach to intervention in client care (Kaut, 2007).
Legal Issues Confusion in the role that the counselor plays in the psychopharmacologic process could result in legal issues. Buelow and Buelow (2000) stated, “The legal ramification of not referring a client for psychopharmacueticals
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Counselors who put ones beliefs about Psychopharmacology ahead of the client’s need results in an ethical implication for the counselor (King & Anderson, 2004). Further training in pharmacology would fulfill the counselor’s obligation to maximize client support. Counselors must always be developing a self-awareness of their beliefs and values pertaining to specific situations. Counselors must be benevolent and always keep the best interest of the client in mind, and remove all conditions that would prevent one from doing so (Linde & Erford, …show more content…
One of our roles as a counselor is an educator. As an educator we are to provide relevant information to family members and clients regarding information of medication usage. Information from accurate websites would be of benefit, the client or family member would be able to collect the information themselves. If the counselor has internet access they can print the information out for the client and their family members and discuss it in detail and answer any question that they may have regarding the medications and why the need is

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