Professional Counseling Disclosure Statement

Lindsay Pearl Mims, M.Ed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Phone: (912) 882-6448 Fax: (912) 882-6804 E-mail: lindsay_mims@yahoo.com

Qualifications I attended the Georgia Southern University for my undergraduate degree and in December of 2010 I received a BA in Psychology with a minor in Child and Family Development. In December of 2013 I will receive a Master of Counselor Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling also from Georgia Southern University which I began coursework for in May of 2011. I have already passed the NCE and after completion of my Masters will be NCC certified and eligible to apply for LAPC licensure. I have also been a member of the American Counselors Association since May of 2010 and plan to continue my membership throughout my counseling career. Theoretical Orientation I work from a combination of several theoretical view points, the primary ones of which are Cognitive Behavioral and Rogerian or Person-Centered. Personally I believe that the way a person acts, reacts, or presents themselves to others isnt just by chance, but rather is based on what that person has been through in their lives personally, and how they have learned to act and cope with those life events. I often use a Person-Centered approach during a session with a client. I have come to learn that people tend to open up more and feel more comfortable when they are approached with genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy which are the three key principles on which Carl Rogers bases his approach to therapy. Counseling Philosophy The ACA defines counseling as a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. When people come to counseling it is often in hopes of reestablishing their version of a normal or equilibrium and have chosen to come to counseling because they have not been successful in finding that equilibrium thus far. People should always be made aware that they have certain rights as clients. These rights include the right to confidentiality, the right to ask questions and participate in establishing the treatment plans and goals for counseling, and the right to know the counselors qualifications and credentials. Clients also have the right to request a referral and/or a copy of the ACA Code of Ethics, the right to request a copy of their records, and the right to terminate counseling at any point. Clients also take on certain responsibilities when entering into a counseling relationship. These include the responsibility to set and keep appointments, to pay any and all fees agreed upon prior to counseling, to participate in the planning of treatment goals, to follow through with goals, and to evaluate the goals at the end. The purpose of counseling is to help clients learn or find their way to helping themselves solve their own problems. Because topics brought up in counseling can be of such an intimate and vulnerable nature it is important to maintain proper boundaries in the relationship between counselor and client, this means the relationship will stay professional with no dual relationships of any kind.

Counseling Background The types of clients I have worked with are of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The youngest client I have ever worked with is 8 years old. I have also worked with high school aged, college students, and military personnel. We offer a wide variety of services depending on the clients needs and/or presenting problems. Personally, I tend to work from a person-centered and cognitive behavioral perspective, but am always willing to adapt to what works best for the client. There are some limitations to my scope of practice, the biggest one of which would be that until a time at which I am fully licensed I am not legally able to bill insurance for any clinical time, so this limits the population with which I can work. Another limitation is the fact that I am very new to this field and therefore do not have the extensive knowledge that comes with years of working in the counseling profession. Ethical Statement & Values Disclosure When it comes to ethics there are certain areas in which the moral and/or ethical standards I already try to live my life by coincide with the ethical standards I am to abide by in my profession. I am a strong believe in equality among all people and enjoy working with people from all walks of life. I also try my best to benefit those around me, and have learned the added benefit of creating boundaries, both professionally and personally. Confidentiality All of our communication becomes part of the clinical record, which is accessible to you upon request at any time. I will treat all of the information provided to me with respect and I will keep confidential anything you say as part of our counseling relationship, with the following exceptions: (a) you direct me in writing to disclose information to someone else, (b) it is determined you are a danger to yourself or others (including child or elder abuse), or (c) I am ordered by a court to disclose information. Complaints Although clients are encouraged to discuss any concerns or issues with me, you may file a complaint against me with the organization below should you feel I am in violation of any of these codes of ethics. I abide by the ACA Code of Ethics (http://www.counseling.org/Resources/CodeOfEthics/TP/Home/CT2.aspx).