Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Funding: Forging the Future of the Counseling Profession

Abstract I have used the reflective self-study methodology to understand the challenges in implementing the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant and how lessons learned from this experience can be applied to counseling practice and teaching. The main goal of BHWET funding is to train and educate behavioral health workers such as counselors in integrated healthcare in primary care (IPC) settings. Self-study research is predominantly used in teacher education practices (Samaras, 2011) and this methodology has the potential to be extrapolated to counselor education and practice especially for developing new pedagogy or program. After engaging in reflective self-study methodology and critically evaluating artifacts, three themes have emerged: professional development for faculty and curriculum development for students, training and fieldwork experiences for supervisors, and advocacy for billing and reimbursement practices. I have also provided a history of BHWET funding along with the strategies for workforce development among the counseling profession.