Licensed Professional Counselor

I researched the Texas state laws and the Oregon state laws for the licensing of professional counselors. The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors requires a graduate level degree, supervised practicum experience, passing score for the National Counselor Exam and the Texas Jurisprudence Exam, and an internship. Texas offers two levels of credentialing which are the Licensed Professional Counselor Intern (LPC-I) and the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). As a LPC-I, the person is allowed to practice as a counselor while gaining the experience and intern hours needed to be a Licensed Professional Counselor (Counseling licensure in Texas, 2015).

To become a professional licensed counselor (LPC) in West Virginia, one must complete the specific requirements from the state. You must graduate from an accredited master’s program. The coursework requirement is a 60-hour master’s degree in counseling or another related field. Within the 60 hours there are 14 content areas in which you need 3 graduate semester hours of coursework in each (includes a practicum and internship), the remaining hours will be clinically related electives. After receiving your master’s degree, you may apply for licensure. After applying for licensure, the credentialing committee will review your application materials. They will determine if you have met the coursework requirements. Once you are approved for licensure, you are eligible to receive approval to take the National Counselor Exam.

The national level licensure indicate that a counselor has passed the national exam, but cannot practice in the state. The state board will indicate the different type of licensures at the state level and as following: (LPC) Licensed Professional Counselor, (LMHC) Licensed Medical Health Counselor, (LCPC) Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and (LPCC) Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. The correct licensure is provided form the state when a counselor call. As established and regardless of their specific titles that each individual recognize them as all are considered professional licensed counselor.

To become a Licensed Professional Counselor, an individual must meet numerous requirements set forth by the State in which he or she will be practicing. Each State is responsible for determining and enacting the requirements established for licensure. Therefore, the requirements may differ from state to state. In this paper, I will compare and contrast the requirements for the states of Missouri and Texas according to the information obtained from the National Board for Certified Counselors website directory.

As Mr. Cedant’s mentor and past colleague, I offer the highest recommendation for his acceptance into the Master of Arts Counselor Education (Mental Health Counseling Track), at the University of Central Florida. As a first generation college student, Mr. Cedant exemplifies determination and commitment. His ability to remain committed to his goals and responsibilities is admirable and a great indication that he will surpass the requirements, preparations, and expectations of this program. If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in 2015, about 43.8 million adults in the United States experience some type of mental illness each year, or approximately 1 in 5 adults. “There is a growing need for exceptional mental health service providers in the U.S. to help this vulnerable population. Fortunately, that’s where Licensed Professional Counselors come in.” (Our Lady of the Lake University, 2017) “Licensed professional counselors (also called “licensed clinical professional counselors” or “licensed mental health counselors”) provide mental health and substance abuse care to millions of Americans.” (American Counseling Association, 2011, pg. 1)

Robert F. Kennedy, brother of president John F. Kennedy, is quoted saying, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Throughout my life certain events whether they be high or lows, triumphs or failures, have shaped my desire to earn a Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in pursuit of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor.

They have found that it is very important to gain people’s trust. Also for the counselors to know the types of barriers their clients might face and to give them information to get over those barriers. The counselors also have to take in to account that the education or training the client already has to the possible job. Make sure that the family and community resources can be incorporated to achieve the

Counseling became a huge part of my life about seven years ago when I found myself in a personal and difficult situation. During this, I had to decide if I was going to let it continue to get the best of me or get the help I needed via counseling. Being in counseling changed my life and empowered me to be the professional woman I am today. Some skills and attributes effective counselors should possess are: empathy, acceptance, excellent communication skills, multicultural competency, and rapport building skills, self-awareness, and problem solving skills. My philosophy of counseling is that in life we all have circumstances that cannot always be controlled, but individuals can control how they respond to those circumstances. Also, I believe

William J. Clinton once said, “If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.” Adversity is a misfortune to happen to someone. It can take place anywhere or to anybody. My experiences with adversity have leaded me to better myself, my friends, and my family. Adversity taught me to not give up on obstacles that lie in front of me. I have experienced times as if I was the carrot, egg, or coffee bean; each has leaded me to who I am now as a person rather than before.

First, when I become a certified professional counselor, the goal is to follow all guidelines, code of ethics, and implement the appropriate treatment/protocols working with clients. Therefore, judgment, attack of ones’ character, or personal view of a client’s disorder or addiction is not a concern for the position taken. However, as the world evolves how long will this serious problem continue, with our youth and older generation? In any case, I truly believe things will change such as protocols, scientific studies, techniques, and most important technology, which change DSM protocols, treatment plans, and treatment settings, to address society population of substance abuser and mental disorders. Either way, if the government, foreign countries,

Every day they kicked dirt in my face, and every day I came home filthy and broken. It seemed that I would never find happiness again, and I wondered to myself how could I get out of this funk? I became listless and began to dread each weekday I had to volunteer, and I began to ask myself: “Is this what I have to look forward to for the next fifty years of work?”

Having the opportunity of being an educational teacher gives insight and clarity to future opportunities. The job of being a teacher is endless, and come with long hours, and most of all love. It is only natural that the pursuit of a next career follows the passion of working with students. It is a teachers’ wish to have that extra time outside of a lesson plan to help a student. Unfortunately, time is squeezed in as the bell is ringing and hopefully a few words are uttered that are encouraging and show a teacher cares. Thus, a short-term goal that is substantial to assist all types of students is becoming a professional education counselor. The long-term goal that is foreseen after years of experience is being a psychologist. Of course time is needed to cultivate skills that are necessary

I have a lot of students with behavioral issues, who also have a ton of responsibilities which plays a role on their decisions. Because I am in a school, I am unable to provide long days and hours of counseling. I am requested to provide quick solutions to students who face issues within their lifestyles. I find solution-focused and reality therapy most effective for the population that I work with daily. I was feeling so empowered because now I was able to be a better college counselor. I was beginning to understand the correlation between the thoughts and behaviors of my students.

Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology awarded by Edith Cowan University, I have high aspirations to further my current knowledge and gain a higher level of counselling insights prior reaching age 30. My willingness to learn and seek higher grounds of knowledge and research, coupled with the interactions and experiences I have gained through volunteering for events and work experiences sum up for my strong level of commitment. I believe very strongly in the uniqueness and great potentials of each individual,