Message from the President

The American Mental Health Counselors Association has developed a peer mentoring network and states that their purpose is "to bring student and pre-licensed members together with licensed professional counselors to help them navigate their professional development as counselors" (AMHCA, 2006). As president of OMHCA I am dedicated to helping newly licensed mental health counselors develop effective professional relationships with other counselors working in Ohio. By effective I mean peer relationships that provide resources for the individual's career development and emotional support to cope with the strains of working within mental health. This is pertinent because professional ambitions require a personal commitment to the self and other counselors. This process begins in training programs, is essential in the early years of practice, and allows more experienced professionals an opportunity to influence the future of the profession. AMHCA has developed a handbook on mentoring which states "effective mentoring relationships encompass mutual trust, respect, commitment, and collegiality".

So what does this mean for Ohio? In November at the AOCC, during the OMHCA division session, Renee Kolecki (past president), Angela Miniard (board member) and I presented on the differences between a peer mentor and a clinical supervisor. In addition to providing information on the differences, similarities, and ethical considerations, we also provided an opportunity for participants to network with others who work and/or reside in their region. While leading the discussion for one region, I noticed a very seasoned therapist, more than 20 years in the field, talking with a new professional, less than 2 years in the field, about special populations that were in need of services and the lack of professionals in their area willing to work with this population. The new professional appeared eager to begin servicing the population and inquired about how to become an authorized provider for agencies working with this population. Witnessing their exchange affirmed my belief in the power of peer networks and the role OMHCA can serve in helping new professionals acquire mentors. At the conclusion of the regional group discussions participants were encouraged to exchange e-mail addresses and to stay in contact to continue sharing their experiences within the region and possibly developing a mentoring relationship.

Supervision is not peer mentoring and peer mentoring is not supervision! Counselors working in the state of Ohio are required to work under the supervision of an LPCC for at least 3,000 hours in order to acquire their independent license, however, after supervision has concluded many of those relationships dissolve and are not replaced by mentoring relationships with other experienced professionals. Although supervision is crucial to professional development, there are limitations and power dynamics within a supervisory dyad which limit the type of support that can be provided. For example, peer mentors can provide psychosocial support including but not limited to role modeling, counseling, confirmation, career strategizing, and friendship, all of which contribute to personal and professional growth (Kram & Isabella, 1985). Historically mentoring relationships have been characterized as a one-way helping relationship and may mirror dynamics within supervision. As counselors, too often we are unwilling to admit our experiences with anger, loss, or anxiety within supervisory relationship; whereas professional peer relationships have been found to permit more openness to such discussions due to a feeling of equality/mutuality within the dyad.

So What is a Peer Mentor? Kram and Isabella (1985) developed a continuum of relationships that identifies several different types of peer relationships (i.e., information peer, collegial peer, and special peer) and differentiates them from the typical mentoring relationship. In their model, the type of relationship is defined by the level of commitment, intensity in the relationship, issues discussed, and needs that are satisfied as a result of the relationship.

The collegial peer or special peer were found to improve psychosocial functioning when they are intimate, long standing, involve self-disclosure, and emphasize trust . Although research on peer mentoring has primarily focused on those working within the same organization, such findings can be generalized to those working in the same profession (i.e., professional mental health counselors) as long as their context (i.e., state of professional practice) creates similar boundaries and ethical requirements. As mentoring relationships develop context plays a key role in the dynamic or topics discussed within the relationship. All relationships, personal and professional, transition through stages and can become stagnant or dissatisfying. Throughout a professionalÕs career they should attempt to find peer mentors that are able to provide relevant support and mentors should recognize the fluidity of mentoring by reflecting on the benefits of the relationship. These benefits are not limited to the mentee, the mentor also gains psychological support and satisfaction by contributing to the continued growth and development of the field and challenging their technical knowledge as they assist new professionals. Most importantly, those engaged in peer mentoring must be genuinely interested in sharing their perspectives and open to transforming professional relationships into personal relationships with clear boundaries and expectations.

Where Do You start? Although peer relationships take years to develop, OMHCA can assist with the process and help new professionals identify information peers who could evolve into collegial or special peers through engagement with the association's peer-to-peer network. Resources such as Facebook, the OMHCA website, division meetings at AOCC, and service activities can help facilitate the development of an effective peer-to-peer network in Ohio. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or would like to find a mentor, please visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Mental-Health-Counselors-Association/113438712007642 or send an e-mail to bowenn@ohio.edu. If you would like to find a mentor on your own, start by brainstorming a list of professionals that you have interacted with and would describe as supportive. If you are unable to identify anyone, contact a colleague or former professor that can make a recommendation.

Again, as President of OMHCA I am taking initiative to formalize a Peer-to-Peer Networking Program in Ohio to provide support to new counselors and encourage seasoned counselors to contribute to the profession they have committed their lives to.

American Mental Health Counselors Association. (2006). AMHCA mentor handbook. Retrieved from http://www.amhca.org/assets/content/MentorHandbook.pdf

Kram, K. E., & Isabella, L. A. (1985). Mentoring alternatives : The role of peer relationships in career development. The Academy of Management Journal, 28, 110-132.

Sincerely,

Nikol Bowen, PC, PhD

2010-2011 OMHCA President

In This Issue

1. Letter from President
   
   
2. AOCC 2010 Recap
   
   
3. The Power of 'And'
   
   
4. Thoughts on the Mental Health Hold Bill
   
   
5. Membership application

AOCC 2010 Recap

Angela Miniard, M.Ed., PC

OMHCA Board Member

It is always an unnatural feeling for me to wake up at 4:00am and drive 2.5 hrs from Cleveland to Columbus Thursday morning to reach the AOCC meeting. But every year when I arrive, I am met by the more natural feelings of familiarity and camaraderie. The AOCC at Hilton has a rhythm all its own, which fluctuates year to year, but seems to include some hallmarks, such as the buzz of energy in the air between sessions, friends and colleagues saying “hi” and sharing updates, the traffic jams in the hallway as people stop to shop, and the occasional delay trying to find a parking spot. One can always walk down the hallway, escape the buzz, and take a deep breath in the relaxation retreat provided by OASERVIC’s wellness room. The evening reception and poster session/doctoral showcase had a Caribbean flavor with appetizers, Calypso music, a conga line, limbo contest, and Tim making sure every guest had their tropical lei or necklace charm. Thank you to all of our participants at the poster session and showcase, as we are inspired by your hard work, creativity, and vision for improving counseling in our state. Our division session this year was based on your feedback from last year’s session. The Board took your suggestions on the evaluation forms and chose a topic that several people asked to hear more about. We were able to focus on peer supervision and dedicate time for the audience to make connections in their region to help support each other. This year, as members of the OMHCA Board stood at the booth and talked with colleagues, we focused on gathering information from you about what type of outreach and education you want to see happening in your area, and how OMHCA can help provide those opportunities. I personally spoke with Vicki, Cheryl, Irene, Alecia, Lenny, and others about what their experiences in the counseling field are and what topics they would like to see offered for CEU courses. The Board would like to thank all our visitors to the booth, and hope you gained some useful information and connections to help support you throughout the year. We hope you will join us November 2-4, 2011- our booth will have a facelift and we want to have you back to share with us how we can best serve you.

The Power of 'And'

Dale Eilerman, M.Ed., PCC-S

The Power of 'And' By The word 'and' is short but powerful. It connects as well as includes. It adds rather than negates. The word 'and' provides energy in collaboration and contributes momentum toward synergy. This word enables people with differing perspectives to find common ground. It can supply motivation when opposing parties may be losing hope of achieving their goal. When used effectively the word 'and' can move a disagreement toward resolution. This tiny word is one of the most important communication terms we can use when doing counseling.

Many of us use the word 'but' when attempting to compare two differing points of view. For example, "I heard what you are saying, but I don't agree with you". This statement focuses on the disparity between the two people and is likely to engender division and defensiveness. The word 'but' is sometimes called the "eraser word", as it erases the phrase that came before it while focusing on the phrase that comes after it. This discounts the statement made by the first party in favor of that made by the second party. The result of responses that include the word 'but' are often unproductive.

The word 'and' is inclusive. It accepts that there may be some truth or validity in the first person's statement and then indicates that there are also other perspectives. This statement would go like this, "I understand what you are saying, and I don't agree with you". The change in one word, from use of the word 'but' to the word 'and', makes an important shift in the relationship by demonstrating an acceptance of the first person's statement while also indicating that there is a second point of view as well. It allows the person to be heard and understood, which is essential if efforts are being made to work together in resolving differences.

Use of the word 'and' allows for both support and confrontation in the course of counseling. Confrontation alone typically engenders resistance and rebuttal. An approach which starts with support will reduce defensiveness and open the door to exploration of alternatives. "I can tell that your beliefs are important to you from your perspective and I hope that you will be open to considering some additional ideas so that we can come up with the best possible plan."

This approach can be even more effective through use of pauses and reinforcement phrases such as "I hear you saying that doing things your way will work best, ...... I really do see how that makes sense for you based on the points you are making, ...... and I have another way of looking at this which is different from yours. Can I explain more about my point of view?" There is an art in the use of reflective listening where the word 'and' can demonstrate empathy while also communicating a differing choice.

Collaboration in managing differences is best achieved by focusing on both the issue/agenda and the relationship - the thoughts and the feelings. Communication that is accepting of the person and objective about the data will encourage creative and expansive thinking, leading to optimal outcomes. "I recognize that this plan is not what you initially desired and I want you to be satisfied. Now that we have had a chance to discuss the facts thoroughly, and examined the pros and cons of your ideas along with some new ones, I hope you can see the benefit in making some changes to your original plan. What are your feelings about this now?"

As you can see, the use of the word 'and' can enhance problem solving by demonstrating inclusion while also serving to keep discussion open and progressive. It can be a powerful term in managing differences, creating openness to new ideas and movement toward resolution of conflict. Be mindful of incorporating this word into your counseling practice. Doing so will be helpful to your clients and to you.

Dale Eilerman is the Director of Organizational Learning for Samariatan Behavioral Health in Dayton and also operates Conflict Solutions Ohio, LLC working with individuals and organizations to improve performance. He can be contacted at 937.219.4996, www.conflictsolutionsohio.com or dale@conflictsolutionsohio.com.

Thoughts on the Mental Health Hold Bill

Jodi Jones, Ph.D, PCC-S & Bob Wilson, Ph.D, PCC-S M.Ed., PCC-S

Thoughts on the Mental Health Hold Bill Jodi Jones, Ph.D, PCC-S & Bob Wilson, Ph.D, PCC-S On January 8th our nation suffered a national tragedy, when a lone gunman attempted to assassinate Arizona Representative Gabriella Giffords. Six innocent individuals attending Rep. Giffords’ assembly lost their lives that day. Several others were hospitalized with bullet wounds. Countless others may suffer the hidden wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder. While our nation mourns, questions arise concerning how this tragedy could have been prevented. Almost immediately after the tragedy, debate prompted on privileges of gun ownership and purchase restrictions. Discussions focused on university and police policies toward individuals with suspected severe mental illness. As mental health counselors in a clinical setting, our reflections on this tragedy may have a slightly different perspective. We may be concerned with our assessment skills in screening for homicidal ideation or our ability to respond appropriately to ensure the safety of our client and others. One may wonder whether the treatment of homicidal or suicidal clients could be enhanced by granting counselors mental health hold privileges. Currently the OCA/OMHCA mental health hold bill is in the process of being reviewed by the Ohio legislature. If granted mental health hold privileges, counselors could initiate a request for psychiatric hospitalization for their own clients rather than having to request someone else, for example a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a health officer, to conduct an evaluation and possibly sign the request for emergency hospitalization. An independently licensed counselor would be able to initiate the request under his or her own signature whenever the counselor determined the client to be a safety risk due to threatened physical harm to self or others. Granting counselors the privilege to refer their own clients for evaluation at the hospital would save time, save money, and perhaps encourage the client to be more cooperative with the referral process. The client’s level of anxiety and resistance to psychiatric hospitalization may also be lessened due to the therapeutic level of trust held for the familiar counselor. In closing, the events of January 8th may be remembered as a time of tragedy, immense sadness, and reflection. As citizens of our great nation, we mourn and ponder legislation and policy changes necessary to prevent such harm in the future. Perhaps granting mental health hold privileges to counselors may gain increased attention as a critical legislative issue in securing efficient and effective response when a client threatens harm to self or others.

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