Many children tend to have a wide range of learning disabilities. Such disabilities can pose a major challenge to parents, educationists, and teachers. Gilbert and Bilsker (2012) believe that “learning abilities differ from one child to another” (p. 12). That being the case, educationists should identify the best programs to support these learners. Many learning institutions have “embraced the power of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in order to provide quality education to learners with various disabilities” (Ha, Greenberg, & Seltzer, 2010, p. 407). Feehan, McCarthy, and White (2003) argue that “a typical Child Study Team (CTS) will include a learning disability consultant, a social worker, a language therapist, parents, teachers, and a psychologist” (p. 2).
Job Description: Mental Health Specialist/Psychologist
Job Description
Psychologists can work in different health, institutional, and organizational settings. Their skills and competences make it easier for them to provide appropriate care, support, and guidance to individuals with various psychological problems. A mental health practitioner will assess the cognitive and developmental abilities of the targeted learners. The professional will also “monitor and assess the emotional status of every learner” (Ha et al., 2010, p. 406). This assessment is critical towards understanding the major factors affecting the child’s academic outcomes and behavior (Ha et al., 2010).
The mental health worker can also offer counseling and guidance services to different learners. The job also includes mentoring students with specific learning disabilities. The professional can also provide appropriate instructions in order to produce the best outcomes. Mental health workers also use their competencies to address the behavioral, social, and emotional problems affecting different learners (Feehan et al., 2003). Such problems tend to affect the educational performances of many learners.
Educational Background and Degrees
Students should complete various courses in order to become compete mental health workers. This goal depends on their current level of education. For instance, nurses and physicians should undertake new studies in clinical psychiatry for two years (McDonald & Das, 2014). Psychotherapists can also pursue a Master’s Degree in Psychology in order to become competent mental health workers. Some schools hire mental health workers who lack formal education in psychology. Individuals who want to become clinical psychologists should “complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology or Psychology” (Ha et al., 2010, p. 409). This degree equips them with the best competencies and skills that can support their career needs. The practitioners are also expected to complete a Master’s Degree in Psychology. This degree will equip them with the best concepts.
Employment Type
The “employment type for many mental health specialists is contract-based” (McDonald & Das, 2014, p. 38). Many schools sign renewable contract with such professionals. This is the case because “the needs of different learners change from time to time” (Ha et al., 2010, p. 409). Psychologists are also expected to offer professional services. Such contracts are essential because they encourage different professionals to act in an ethical manner. Mental health workers can also get permanent employment opportunities (Feehan et al., 2003).
Job Opportunity
Mental health professionals can work in different settings. Many healthcare institutions do not have enough psychologists (Gilbert & Bilsker, 2012). This gap affects the nature and quality of healthcare services availed to different patients. Most of the psychologists operate their personal clinics and psychotherapy sessions. This is the case because their services are demanded by many people in different parts of the world. The current shortage of psychologists has forced many practitioners to complete new courses in order to provide psychiatric services.
Learning institutions have established CSTs in order to support the needs of different students with mental disabilities. This move shows clearly that mental health specialists can work in such schools. A new trend has emerged whereby organizations and institutions of higher learning employ psychologists to offer counseling services (McDonald & Das, 2014). The practice continues to support the emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of many people (Gilbert & Bilsker, 2012). Such measures are undertaken in order to improve the performance and profitability of such institutions. Psychologists and mental health practitioners have higher chances of getting new job opportunities.
Salary and Remunerations
The “salaries of mental health practitioners are comparable to those of different medical workers” (Gilbert & Bilsker, 2012, p. 28). Psychiatrists can get “over $150,000 in a year while clinical psychologists can get around 65,000 US dollars” (Ha et al., 2010, p. 410). The “average salary for a mental health counselor ranges from 40,000 to 50,000 US dollar per year” (Feehan et al., 2003, p. 7). Gilbert and Bilsker (2012) observe that such salaries will increase significantly within the next five years. This is the case because mental health and counseling services are needed by more people today.
Workmates
Psychologists working in a Child Study Team will have to collaborate with different professionals. This kind of collaboration is essential towards producing the best outcomes. The practitioners will have to work with Learning Disability Consultants (LDCs). These are qualified and registered teachers who have specialized in learning disabilities (Feehan et al., 2003). These individuals develop the most appropriate instructions depending on the learning needs of the targeted learner. Social workers will also work with different mental health practitioners. Such workers will foster the best relationship between the learner and his or her community.
The group will also include a speech therapist. The role of this therapist is to assess the child’s ability to communicate with teachers, parents, and classmates (Ha et al., 2010). It is also notable that psychologists working in a Child Study Team will have to interact with different parents, educational leaders, and teachers. The learning process is usually complex and should borrow evidence-based ideas from these individuals. This kind of collaboration will ensure every CST designs a powerful instructional program that can improve the performance of the targeted learners (Feehan et al., 2003).
Job Schedule
The job schedule of a mental health worker depends on a number of factors. For instance, the individual might be required to work fulltime in the targeted institution or school. The schedule will also be determined by the obligations, strategies, and roles of his or her CST (Ha et al., 2010). Some psychologists undertake a wide range of duties and roles. This means that such practitioners might be required to provide their psychological services to different patients (Gilbert & Bilsker, 2012). It is therefore agreeable that the schedule of many mental health workers will be flexible. This flexibility makes it easier for them to focus on the needs of more patients. They can also engage in private practice in order to achieve their career goals.
Pay Rise and Promotion
As mentioned earlier, psychologists will be getting better salaries in the future. The job market is promising because more people are in need of different psychological therapies and treatments. Practitioners who “support the changing needs of different learners can benefit from pay increments” (Ha et al., 2010, p. 408). Psychologists and mental health professionals working in hospitals are also entitled to new promotions. These developments explain why a career in psychology or mental health is admirable.
Performance Evaluations
Many mental health practitioners tend to sign contracts with different schools and medical institutions. This practice is common because such practitioners want to get the best outcomes and goals. Contracts are therefore subjected to performance evaluations. Mental workers should be able to transform the experiences, outcomes, and welfare of the targeted clients. Professionals who work in different schools will be required to support the changing needs of many students with learning disabilities (Ha et al., 2010).
They should also collaborate with every CST member in order to produce the best results. The ultimate goal of every Child Study Team is to ensure more learners are equipped with the best instructions and skills. Psychologists working in different educational settings will therefore be evaluated in order to make them more productive (Gilbert & Bilsker, 2012). Individuals who fail to support the targeted jobs might lose their contracts or jobs. Mental health specialists should therefore embrace the best workplace values and competencies.
Ethical Principles: Code of Conduct
Every professional is guided by specific codes of conduct and principles. Such principles make it easier for practitioners to support the expectations of different clients. Psychologists and mental health practitioners should also embrace the best ethical principles (McDonald & Das, 2014). Psychologists should “uphold the best standards of conduct, obligation, and responsibility” (Gilbert & Bilsker, 2012, p. 17). Psychologists must “use their skills to promote truthfulness, accuracy, and honesty” (Gilbert & Bilsker, 2012, p. 17). It is also necessary to safeguard and support the privacy of every targeted client (McDonald & Das, 2014). They should always respect the dignity, rights, and freedoms of their clients. Mental health workers in different schools should be ready to embrace these ethical principles in order to support the needs of every learner. These practices will ensure such professionals are ethical and successful.
Best Institutions and Colleges
Psychology and mental health have been included in many courses in the United States. A Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology makes it easier for many people to achieve their career goals. Many people in the country are therefore focusing on the benefits of psychology (McDonald & Das, 2014). As a result, more institutions have emerged thus affecting the integrity and appropriate of the psychology degree. Several colleges and universities are therefore known to offer the best programs in psychology. Kaplan University is one of the leading institutions in the country (McDonald & Das, 2014). The university offers a competitive Master’s Degree in Psychology. This degree can make it easier for a person to get a good job (McDonald & Das, 2014).
The other “leading institutions in the country include Stanford, Harvard and Radcliffe, Yale, Pennsylvania, and Columbia” (McDonald & Das, 2014, p. 126). These universities offer quality degree programs that can support the educational and career goals of many learners. There are also more universities that offer good programs. Some of these institutions include “John Hopkins University, University of Chicago, Indiana University, Carnegie Melon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Princeton University” (McDonald & Das, 2014, p. 129). This discussion encourages learners to identify the best colleges that can support their career goals. Many colleges and universities are providing similar programs in order to cater for the changing expectations of many learners (Ha et al., 2010). This development explains why more individuals should undertake such programs in order to address the current shortage of mental health practitioners.
Future Career Prospects
New job opportunities are expected “to emerge for psychologists within the next five years” (McDonald & Das, 2014, p. 82). This is the case new health problems and mental issues are emerging every day. The current economic performance is also creating new job opportunities in different sectors. The population is also increasing steadily (McDonald & Das, 2014). Many people also want to achieve their potentials in life. One of the best approaches is to have a competent counselor who can deliver the best ideas. This development shows clearly that more psychologists will be able to achieve the best outcomes in the future (McDonald & Das, 2014). However, the level of competition in the job market is expected to rise significantly within the next few years. This is true because many people are pursuing their doctoral degrees. Employers will have to consider such academic achievements whenever hiring new psychologists.
Reference List
Feehan, S., McCarthy, Y., & White, C. (2003). The Role of the Psychologist Working With School Age Children with an Intellectual Disability. Brothers of Charity, 1(1), 1-13.
Gilbert, M., & Bilsker, D. (2012). Psychological Health and Safety: An Action Guide foe Employers. CARMHA, 1(1), 1-50.
Ha, J., Greenberg, J., & Seltzer, M. (2010). Parenting a Child with a Disability: The Role of Social Support for African American Parents. The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 1(1), 405-411.
McDonald, M., & Das, S. (2014). What To Do With Your Psychology Degree. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.