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Preparation of Medicare‐Enrolled Mental Health Counselors: Descriptions of Training Experiences and Predictors of Attitudes and Competencies.

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Title: Preparation of Medicare‐Enrolled Mental Health Counselors: Descriptions of Training Experiences and Predictors of Attitudes and Competencies.
Authors: Westcott, Jordan B. (AUTHOR), Wang, Zeming (AUTHOR), Stanley, L. Eliza (AUTHOR), Fullen, Matthew C. (AUTHOR), Isaac, Alexis J. (AUTHOR), Moncada, Anna (AUTHOR)
Source: Counselor Education & Supervision. Jun2026, Vol. 65 Issue 2, p129-140. 12p.
Subjects: Preparedness, Education of counselors, Attitudes toward disabilities, Mental health counselors, Mental health counseling
Abstract: Counselors are newly eligible to enroll as providers in the Medicare program as of January 1, 2024, yet little is known about their preparedness to work with Medicare beneficiaries and related training experiences. This gap in the literature inhibits our understanding of historical and current counselor education practice, thereby preventing us from identifying strengths and weaknesses in counselor training practices and preparation among current Medicare‐enrolled mental health counselors (MEMHCs). Participants were recruited from a publicly available database of MEMHCs in conjunction with contact information from state licensure boards. This study examined training experiences of 333 MEMHCs who enrolled during the first year of Medicare eligibility. Using hierarchical multiple regression, we also explored whether graduating from a CACREP‐accredited program, time since graduation, and perceived preparedness to work with older adults or people with disabilities at the time of graduation predicted gerontological counseling competency and attitudes toward practice with people with disabilities. Time since graduation predicted gerontological counseling competency and perceived preparedness at the time of graduation predicted gerontological counseling competency with a moderate effect size (f2 = 0.171). Only perceived preparedness at the time of graduation predicted attitudes toward practice with people with disabilities with a small effect size (f2 = 0.107). Our results suggest that perceived preparedness at the time of graduation may be especially salient in MEMHCs' perceived competencies and attitudes toward practice later in their careers. Counselor education programs may therefore need to more intentionally integrate these topics into their curricula. However, more information is needed about current practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Counselor Education & Supervision is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Preparation of Medicare‐Enrolled Mental Health Counselors: Descriptions of Training Experiences and Predictors of Attitudes and Competencies.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Counselor+Education+%26+Supervision%22">Counselor Education & Supervision</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 65 Issue 2, p129-140. 12p.
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  Data: Counselors are newly eligible to enroll as providers in the Medicare program as of January 1, 2024, yet little is known about their preparedness to work with Medicare beneficiaries and related training experiences. This gap in the literature inhibits our understanding of historical and current counselor education practice, thereby preventing us from identifying strengths and weaknesses in counselor training practices and preparation among current Medicare‐enrolled mental health counselors (MEMHCs). Participants were recruited from a publicly available database of MEMHCs in conjunction with contact information from state licensure boards. This study examined training experiences of 333 MEMHCs who enrolled during the first year of Medicare eligibility. Using hierarchical multiple regression, we also explored whether graduating from a CACREP‐accredited program, time since graduation, and perceived preparedness to work with older adults or people with disabilities at the time of graduation predicted gerontological counseling competency and attitudes toward practice with people with disabilities. Time since graduation predicted gerontological counseling competency and perceived preparedness at the time of graduation predicted gerontological counseling competency with a moderate effect size (f2 = 0.171). Only perceived preparedness at the time of graduation predicted attitudes toward practice with people with disabilities with a small effect size (f2 = 0.107). Our results suggest that perceived preparedness at the time of graduation may be especially salient in MEMHCs' perceived competencies and attitudes toward practice later in their careers. Counselor education programs may therefore need to more intentionally integrate these topics into their curricula. However, more information is needed about current practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Counselor Education & Supervision is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – SubjectFull: Attitudes toward disabilities
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              Text: Jun2026
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