How are humans service professionals similar to and different from other
professionals who work in the same agency?
First, the area of study for each individual employed within the agency. The agency
that I will be applying for my internship is High Country Behavioral Health Center.
It is a non-profit organization which has many agencies throughout Utah, Wyoming,
and Idaho. The hierarchy of the individuals who are employed there consist of the
agency director, the agency supervisor she is a (LCSW), and there are three (LPC)
counselors under her also, a certified addictions counselor. One difference that this
organization doesn't offer is the peer specialist program. There are also two
individuals who are office administrators and handle billing.
Second, the jobs of the professionals are based on education and expertise. There
are several individuals that hold a master's degree and a couple individuals with
doctoral level degree. I think that the positions that each individual holds
specifically have the needs of the client in mind. Honestly, I believe to uphold these
positions the agency has to be a well-oiled machine with many other organizations
in cooperation to help clients in need.
Lastly, the mission statement of High-Country Behavioural Health states "It is the
mission of High-Country Behavioural health to help residents of Lincoln, Sublette,
and Uinta Counties through provision of quality mental health, and substance
abuse services. These include treatment, emergencies, preventions, consultations,
and educational services." I believe that each one of these professionals create by
using the code of ethics and create services to accommodate the needs of their
clients. To bring overall the best support, health care/mental health care, and
educational practices to help the client through personal struggles, life difficulty,
and substance abuse to help the client achieve their best life.
How are they similar to and different from non-professional helpers (e.g.
volunteers) who work in the same agency?
Overall, to help the client reach their potential and to get a better understanding of
support. How an individual receives help stems from the professionals to the
mentors and the volunteers in the community and individuals in their treatment
plan. For example, in my experience I went through a process from the beginning of
rehabilitation and looking at that experience. I first entered a process that many
professions that were included in that. Professions such as, judges, lawyers,
probation officers, to counselors, to the individuals in office administration.
Throughout my own recovery process and healing. I became a mentor for others.
Showing evidence of recovery and hope for the next individual. I then decided to
further my education and went to peer specialist course/training and from there
applied to SNHU to gain more education and understanding with the education to
help others. In the process of many links all the professionals from the office
administrators, the peer mentors, the counselors, the social workers, the medical
doctors are all interconnected to help the client be the best versions of themselves
and better their lives.
What could you do to work collaboratively with both other professionals and non-
professionals in the agency?
I think that I can bring a different perspective from the client's point of view to a
peer/mentor point of view, and now furthering my education a professional point
of view. To help other professionals gain perspective that they may not understand.
To gain the perspective of the professionals leading to a view of how the process of
recovery works working together to help the client. To give insight to the clients
and hope that through these processes of different professionals alongside non-
professionals that recovery is possible. With the support and expertise of
professionals and peers/mentors, volunteers the client can achieve goals, gain
perspective, learn life skills, coping mechanisms, and have a fulfilled life.
