Mental Health Technician
Windward Community College offers the Mental Health Technician Certificate of Competence in a series of three online courses that can be completed in one semester.
What is a mental health technician?
Mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to a person’s overall well-being. Mental health technicians care for patients with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities. Acting under a health practitioner’s order, technicians monitor a patient’s physical and emotional health; observe and sometimes interact, teach, counsel, or support the patient; restrain patients when needed; and assist patients with their daily tasks such as bathing and cleaning.
The Mental Health Technician Certificate of Competence at Windward Community College provides introductory training for those entering the field of mental health services or as an enhancement for those currently working within the mental health or behavioral health field.
Trained mental health technicians are in demand locally for jobs at Hawai‘i State Hospital, Hina Mauka, elder care homes, and through referrals from Windward Health Center, Department of Education, and health care organizations.
Required Courses
Students complete 9 credits (3 classes) through 8-week online asynchronous classes and finish in one semester.
First Eight Weeks
An introductory course with emphasis on principles of human behavior. Topics covered include motivation, learning, perception, emotion, development, personality, states of consciousness, group processes, problem solving and thinking, and methods of inquiry.
An introductory course with emphasis on principles of human behavior. Topics covered include motivation, learning, perception, emotion, development, personality, states of consciousness, group processes, problem solving and thinking, and methods of inquiry.
Second Eight Weeks
Explores the reasons for conflict and the different approaches for seeking resolution for conflict. Studies personal and societal value systems, the psychology of how people respond to conflict, the impact of culture on conflict styles, communication skills useful in dealing with conflict, and alternative resolution strategies. Practices mediation skills as a third party intervention method.
Concepts and principles used in clinical practice: dynamics, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal behavior. Compares and contrasts the different patterns of abnormal behavior. Examines the differences in theoretical models for understanding maladaptive behavior.
*required (PSY 100 and PSY 253)
**elective (one course)
Other courses are available with optional schedules.
To get started contact Ha‘aheo Pagan to assist with the application process and class registration.
Ha‘aheo Pagan
Career and Transfer Counselor
paganj@hawaii.edu
808-235-7460
