Reference no: EM133196033

Discussion Board: Holistic Approaches to Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Module 4)

CP 6605

Foundations of Mental Health Counseling 

Discussion Board #2 (Module 4)

Holistic Approaches to Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Gladding & Newsome (2018) assert the importance of the biopsychosocial (BPS) model in a holistic approach to clinical mental health counseling.  Authors reference the creator of the BPS model, George Engel, stating that it "represents a worldview that includes patients' and clients' subjective experiences as well as biomedical data.  Part of this worldview focuses on the wellness of the individual, framing wellness as foundational to the profession of counseling.  The interaction and intersection of emotionally charged experiences, the physical constitution of the individual, non-normative life events, and biologically based mental illness is perhaps where the power of counseling experiences reside.  This idea is expanded upon and supported by authors and speakers such as Tanigoshi, Kontos, & Remley (2008), Carrola, Corbin-Burdick (2015), and Nadine Burke Harris (2015).   

Based on the articles and other supplemental materials provided in Module 4, as well as the text readings (Chapter 6), discuss your views on the biopsychosocial model and holistic approaches to mental health counseling.  How do you understand the relationship between brain science and wellness factors?  How does taking a holistic approach to client care enhance or detract from the effectiveness of mental health counseling interventions and processes?  In the case of biologically based mental illnesses, does wellness matter? 

 A note about posting:

Postings should provide personal reactions or responses to the questions or issues being posed.  In order to fulfill this requirement, postings must be substantive and reflective.  For example, posting a response such as "I agree" or "Good point" is fine, but is not substantive enough to fulfill the requirement of the discussion.  Post #1 should provide the students response the question or issue being posed.  Posts #2 and #3 should be a response to or an extension of an existing post.  Responses to existing posts must be delivered in a professional manner and be respectful of differing views and opinions regarding the topic at hand.  Within these parameters, these types of responses may affirm or refute the ideas being posited on the forum.  In the spirit of scholarship within a community of learners, postings should extend and expand the thoughts and ideas present in the existing discourse.  The discussion forum will be monitored and moderated by the instructor.  Students are encouraged to remain engaged and involved in the discussion beyond the required three posts.