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I wasn't sure where to put this thread but I thought this forum was the best choice. I am in my final semester of graduate school and I am currently taking a course entitled, Substance Abuse Treatment and Diagnosis (90% of the students are working towards an MS in Clinical Psychology).
Anyway, in this course, the professor (an MS in clinical psychology currently working as a substance abuse counselor) teaches us the basic pharmacology of various common legal and illegal substances. She goes over common side effects, medical indications, withdrawal symptoms, etc.
Now there is this role-playing activity she has us do where one student acts as a client (typically someone addicted to one substance or another) and the other student acts as the counselor.
In some of these activities, the "client" asks the "counselor" about a medication his/her psychiatrist prescribed. The "counselor" is then instructed/encouraged to go over some potential dangers of taking the drug (i.e. addiction potential), explain how the drug works in "plain, understandable terms," and answer any questions the "client" might have about the drug.
Now when we first did this exercise and i heard the "client" ask a drug question, I raised my hand and asked the professor if the question was more appropriate for the pharmacist or the "client's" physician. I then went on to ask if it was even legal for counselors to give medication advice to psychiatric patients.
She said it was fine and something she does all the time ("some client don't feel comfortable with the psychiatrist"). Someone else asked: What if I don't know the answer? She said, "Look it up... I keep a book of common psych drugs right in my office in case a client asks a question I dont know."
My question for you: is it appropriate for a counselor (someone with a masters degree in clinical psychology or counseling or a related discipline) to give such guidance to patients under psychiatric care? If yes, what are the limits?
Anyway, in this course, the professor (an MS in clinical psychology currently working as a substance abuse counselor) teaches us the basic pharmacology of various common legal and illegal substances. She goes over common side effects, medical indications, withdrawal symptoms, etc.
Now there is this role-playing activity she has us do where one student acts as a client (typically someone addicted to one substance or another) and the other student acts as the counselor.
In some of these activities, the "client" asks the "counselor" about a medication his/her psychiatrist prescribed. The "counselor" is then instructed/encouraged to go over some potential dangers of taking the drug (i.e. addiction potential), explain how the drug works in "plain, understandable terms," and answer any questions the "client" might have about the drug.
Now when we first did this exercise and i heard the "client" ask a drug question, I raised my hand and asked the professor if the question was more appropriate for the pharmacist or the "client's" physician. I then went on to ask if it was even legal for counselors to give medication advice to psychiatric patients.
She said it was fine and something she does all the time ("some client don't feel comfortable with the psychiatrist"). Someone else asked: What if I don't know the answer? She said, "Look it up... I keep a book of common psych drugs right in my office in case a client asks a question I dont know."
My question for you: is it appropriate for a counselor (someone with a masters degree in clinical psychology or counseling or a related discipline) to give such guidance to patients under psychiatric care? If yes, what are the limits?
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