Licensed Professional Counselor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Licensed Professional Counselor ("LPC") is a licensure for mental health professionals. Mental health professionals can be split into four broad categories:
[edit] Categories of
- Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a professional who has attended medical school and received a M.D. During his training a psychiatrist will receive medical training as well as specialized training in mental health issues. A psychiatrist specializes in the biological origins of mental health, and is the only mental health professional (with the exception of a psychologist licensed in Arizona) that may prescribe psychoactive medications. Although psychiatrists tend to focus on chemical origins of mental health, many also provide counseling to their patients in addition to prescribing medications.
- Psychologist
A second mental health professional is the psychologist. A psychologist must have received a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology. Psychologists specialize in assessments. Psychologists are trained in diagnosis using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders IV edition, Text Revision (DSMIV-TR). There are many tests that only psychologists are allowed to administer, such as the notable Rorschach Ink Blot Test, and many other projective tests (that is, tests in which the client is shown pictures or other such stimuli that are in content neutral, whereby clients project the contents of their unconscious onto the stimuli). Psychologists also provide counseling in addition to their testing expertise.
- Social Workers
A third type of mental health professional is the social worker. Social workers tend to specialize in providing their clients with practical resources. Whereas a psychologist may focus upon self-esteem issues, personal responsibility, or use other approaches to counseling, a social worker focuses on advocacy, empowerment, and linking their clients to community resources, such as food banks, housing assistance, and other basic needs. Social workers are also often employed by the Department of Children and Families or Child Protective Services and may intervene in situations where children, the elderly, or the disabled are subject to neglect or abuse. Social workers must have at least a bachelor's degree and more often a master's degree with licensure to advance in their practice.
- Professional Counselors
The fourth kind of mental health professional is the professional counselor. Professional counselors specialize in cultivating a therapeutic relationship that allows clients to explore personal matters, and observe changes in feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Professional counselors must have a master's degree in counseling or a related educational field. To be licensed, a counselor must accrue at least 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience (and possibly more depending on state regulations) after earning their masters degree.
[edit] Requirements for Professional Counselors
LPC licensure is recognized in 48 states.[1], and the requirements vary from state to state. Included below is a summary of requirements found in the state of Texas LPC board as an example.[2]
(1) A master's degree or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field.
(2) Academic course work in each of the following areas: normal human growth and development; abnormal human behavior; appraisal or assessment techniques; counseling theories; counseling methods or techniques (individual and group); research; lifestyle and career development; social, cultural and family issues; and professional orientation.
(3) As part of the graduate program, a supervised practicum experience that is primarily counseling in nature. The practicum should be at least 300 clock-hours with at least 100 clock-hours of direct client contact. Academic credit for the practicum must appear on the applicant's transcript.
(4) After completion of the graduate degree and before application, an applicant must take and pass the National Counselor Exam and the Texas Jurisprudence Exam. After receiving a temporary LPC license from the board, the applicant may begin the supervised post-graduate counseling experience (internship). 3000 clock-hours with at least 1,500 being direct client contact of internship under the supervision of a board-approved supervisor is required. The 3000 clock-hours may not be completed in a time period of less than 18 months.
