In the state of Florida, there are many different levels and types of mental health professionals. As mentioned in our first ever blog titled,”What Type of Mental Health Professional do I Need?” we lined those levels and divisions out to help you find the person who could most effectively help you. In this particular blog we will focus on the Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, or RMHCI. An RMHCI is registered with the state to provide mental health services as an unlicensed professional. These individuals must work under a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who is also a Qualified Supervisor with the state. However, prior to getting registered as an intern, you must fulfill certain education requirements. It is required that to get registered an individual must first receive a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited university. A university that is vouched by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, or CACREP, is the best way to assure that your educational institution will meet the requirements for you to become licensed. Some states require that you attend a CACREP school in order to be licensed in the particular states. Others, as is true in Florida, offer you the option to complete certain courses and still be able to apply for licensure. Before you enter a Master’s program, be sure that they offer the courses you need for your particular state. In Florida you can find this information at the Department of Health Website at http://www.floridahealth.gov/ One definite requirement for all states is a school approved internship. This is an intensive period of hands on experience where you learn the ins and outs of becoming a therapist. Internships will be very different depending on the agency where you work. But you MUST see clients to received hours towards graduating. Once again, each state regulates how many hours you must complete during you internship. In Florida, the required minimum is 1,000 hours. Finishing this task can be daunting, however it is a great opportunity to briskly trim the surface of the mental health profession. After successful completion of a Master’s program, the RMHCI candidate must find a qualified supervisor and apply with the state. He or she must work under this supervisor for a minimum of 2 years and 2,000 hours. Fifteen hundred of those hours must be in direct client contact! This period can be very challenging for the RMHCI in that compensation may not be very high, but work load will. Depending on where you aquire employment will govern how much and when you work, as well as how quickly (or slowly) you complete your hours. The benefit to this two years however is great. One, you are able to learn from experience as well as a supervisor giving you a great deal of support. It is an opportunity for you to make some mistakes and learn from them (well, minus anything that would severely be a detriment to the client). This time is meant to provide protection for the client as well. The client’s well being is the most important thing to consider in counseling. They are better served and safer with someone who has an extensive amount of experience, or with someone who works under a supervisor that is well qualified as a support. RMHCIs in the state of Florida must also complete a few trainings on specific items such as confidentiality among others. Once these are complete, the intern can then take a state derived test to become licensed. If you pass the test, you will receive your credential as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. This title will open up new opportunities for the RMHCI and will allow you to work individually, and also accept insurance payments (once approved and accepted by insurance agencies). A great deal of education and work is required for pre-licensed professionals to become licensed. What is important to remember is that its not always just the goal that is important, but rather its the journey that will mold you and teach you how to be a great therapist. At Affordable Counseling of Brandon registered interns play a huge role. Co-founder and Clinical Director, Clarissa Crystal-Belle hand picks each intern that works for her. She is very instrumental in helping teach and support interns working with her clients. Clarissa makes sure that each client gets high quality services. Registered interns are available at reduced rates, however the effectiveness of counseling is the same as they are supervised by a very compassionate, experienced and knowledgable licensed professional. For more information on mental health counseling and related topics, check out our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com or visit our sister company at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com! #depression #registeredmentalhealthcounselorintern #marriagecounseling #LicensedMentalHealthCounselor #education #anxiety #Mentalhealth #therapist

Many people are aware of the physical benefits of exercise. Regular, daily exercise is can help with many physical health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and may reduce strain on the body placed by additional weight. But there are many other positive benefits of exercise as well. Looking at things from a very holistic perspective, exercise can help your mind, body and spirit in equally important ways. A recent study by Harvard Men’s Health Watch agrees with us on this one. Exercise can reduce stress, anxiety and even depression. Take a look at the link below… http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/benefits-of-exercisereduces-stress-anxiety-and-helps-fight-depression Although there is little time to fit in daily cardio, it may be something important on your priorities list. Often times we see little immediate payoff from working out, and sometimes we are just looking to lose weight. This type of thinking can lead to frustration and may even result in quitting sooner than later. We have to know that our bodies and minds are thanking us when we utilize them in the right ways. One thing you can do to track your mood improvement is to keep a journal. Journaling your daily mood over time may be helpful to see the long term benefits to exercies even if you aren’t seeing immediate physical results. Its a lifestyle change that you have to make habitual, but the payoff is so great in the end! For more information on mental health wellness, check out our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. Or visit our sister company at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com. #counseling #therapy #newyear #emotionalhealth #Mentalhealth #exercise

I think many of us have at some point tried to “do it all.” Whether it was working and being a parent, or putting together a dinner party while writing a proposal for the boss. Or even trying to fit your personal time in when things need to get done around the house. But many people find that success is not always feasible, to the extent in which we wish it to be. A recent article has lined out how this quest for multi-task perfection sometimes leads to behaviors and stress that are unwanted and unhealthy for our lives. Read what this mother had to say about her story, and how she found that her kids were suffering the most from her need to be perfect. Then, comment below. Let us know what you think about this parent’s situation. Can you relate to her? What area’s of your life are you concerned about? Could counseling be a viable option for you? Affordable Counseling wants to hear from you! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-macy-stafford/the-important-thing-about-yelling_b_4484027.html For more information on mental health counseling in the Tampa Bay area, visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com, or visit our sister company’s site at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com.

In case some of you didn’t know, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, provides many publications on mental health for professionals as well as for the general public. Although a great deal of the subject matter presented by SAMHSA has to do with substance abuse and/or dependence, there are many other publications provided that may be helpful to you. Here is the link to their website where you can browse mental health topics… http://www.samhsa.gov For more information on mental health counseling services for grief, depression, anxiety, substance issues, family dysfunction, separation and divorce, overwhelming life stress, and much more, visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. Or you can visit our parent company at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com.

For more information on this and other mental health topics visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com, or see our parent website at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com #counseling #Holiday #therapy #Health #overwhelmed #Christmas #Mentalhealth

Gift giving has become more of an art form in the recent years. People have the added stress of trying to find the most meaningful, most useful, coolest, most unique gifts for the ones that they love. Some find it fun, while others find it extremely stressful. Either way, gift giving has become, for some, a very competitive sport. But this type of thinking would assume that gift giving is all about the giver, not the receiver that the gift was intended for. So how do you avoid competing with the “Jones’s” of gift giving. Here are some tips that might help you keep gifts centered around the receiver. 1. The cost of the gift doesn’t necessarily identify the value of the gift- different people attach different meanings to gifts. While one person appreciates a nice picture book of memories, the next person might look forward to something he needs but may never purchase for himself. 2. Know your receiver- Just as mentioned in #1, people have different ideas of what gifts mean. Many people do like the stereotypical gifts such as diamonds for women, or watches for men. However, that can get monotonous and not to mention, expensive. Really listening to someone and learning who she is can give you a great idea of what types of gifts a person appreciates. 3. Try to be more objective- this is a big one. When giving gifts many people are looking for that positive reinforcement, the big hug and a huge thank you from the receiver. But, you are not always going to hit the nail on the head with every gift. Try to release some personal responsibility from gift giving, and know that your intent was good. If someone doesnt like the gift you provided, that’s not your doing. Everyone has a right to personal preference. We hope you find these tips helpful to reduce some stress associated with gift giving. For more tips on eliminating some of your personal stress, check out our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. Or, see our parent company at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com Happy Holidays! #FlowersandGifts #Shopping #depression #Gift #counseling #therapy #gifttips #anxiety #Christmas #Stress

Counseling is a helpful option when grieving from any type of loss. At Affordable Counseling we are available to help you and loved ones during times of acute stress resulting from grief and loss. Children and adults as well as civilians and the military need love, support, and guidance in order to process the losses in separation and divorce, fatal accidents, demise of a close friend, family member or significant other, loss of a job or home, or other sudden and unwelcomed turn of events. We will walk with you through your darkest hour, holding the light of faith and giving you hope, renewal, and strength. For more information about mental health services in the Tampa Bay area, visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. Also, see our parent company’s website at http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com. #affordablecounseling #divorce #death #counseling #Grief #GriefLossandBereavement #Christmasandholidayseason #familytherapy #Mentalhealth

Have you ever heard that suicide rates are the highest during the holiday season? This is a common idea that we hear about every year. But is it really true? When you think logically it sounds likely that people feel depressed during the holidays because of family issues, stress, and overwhelming anxiety and therefore would make a decision to take their own lives. But the truth is that many studies show this concept of suicide rates excelling over the holidays is actually a myth. While suicide does occur within the holiday season, evidence does not show significant rises in the act during this period. This does not mean that suicide does not occur at this time, nor does it excuse anyone from seeing and addressing some of the warning signs. The following articles present information about this myth, but also provide links to suicide facts such as prevalence rates, warning signs, as well as additional information. http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/holiday.html http://www.bidmc.org/YourHealth/TherapeuticCenters/Depression.aspx?ChunkID=156980 Even if this concept is a myth, suicide is not something to take lightly. If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal many resources are available to you. In Florida you can call 2-1-1, or call the national suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Educate yourself on the warning signs so that you can also be a resource for someone in despair. For more information on mental health counseling in the Tampa Bay area, visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. You can also visit our parent company’s website at http://www.starpointcounselingbrandon.com, or http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com. We have two locations to better serve you! #Florida #counseling #therapy #Health #Christmasandholidayseason #Suicide #Mentalhealth

At Affordable Counseling Center of Brandon we like to aim for positive goals and to help you feel more fulfilled in your daily life experiences. For this reason, Thanksgiving is a holiday that we can really appreciate. Happy Thanksgiving from Affordable Counseling Center! #counseling #counselor #tampa #thanksgiving

Affordble Counseling Center would like to welcome Carrie Schroeder, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, to the team. Carrie graduated in 2011 from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fl. She is under the supervision of Clinical Director Clarissa Crystal-Belle. Carrie is now taking appointments at our Tampa and Brandon locations! Carrie is just one of the incredible therapists that work at Affordable Counseling Center. For more information on our dynamic staff, visit our website at www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. Also, you can visit our parent company website at www.starpointcounselingbrandon.com or www.starpointcounselingtampa.com #Pensacola #PensacolaFlorida #UniversityofWestFlorida #Health #tampa #Mentalhealthcounselor #Mentalhealth #TampaFlorida

Sleep is a definite factor assessed during counseling sessions. Inconsistent sleeping patterns could be a sign of certain mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, or could be contributing to inconsistencies in mood. Getting a sufficient amount of sleep is important for psychological well being. For more information about how sleep may be negatively affecting your mood visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com. #depression #counseling #brandon #sleep #counselor #SleepDisorders #tampa #anxiety #Sleepdeprivation #Mentalhealth #NationalSleepFoundation

To all of those who serve, and those who have served, and their families we would like to say Happy Veterans Day!! We are grateful that you are fighting for our freedom. Affordable Counseling of Brandon offers services to current and past service members. Here is a little information from our website about how we may be able to help you! We work to make our veterans’ homecoming as rewarding as possible. We will help you identify and find relief from signs and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depression (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAS), etc., and provide the services necessary to assure the adjustment to civilian life. We work to reverse the dissociation and desensitization that was, in war, a source of strength, which otherwise at home may contribute to a sense of detachment, estrangement, and/or an inability to give, express, or receive love. For more information, visit our website at http://www.affordablecounselingbrandon.com #depression #counseling #couplescounseling #marriagecounseling #therapy #Veterans #PTSD #counselor #anxiety #warheroes #familytherapy