Things You Should Know about Professional Counselors
They have earned a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling
They participate in ongoing education, training & certification to meet the needs of clients
They emphasize multicultural competence & respect for diverse worldviews. They participate in outreach and advocacy efforts on behalf of individuals with diverse views.
They focus on wellness & client empowerment – a proactive approach to mental health.
They focus on the therapeutic relationship and forces that influence or drive behavior.
They are passionate, diverse & committed to helping people from all walks of life & all depths of despair to survive & thrive in today’s world.
They encourage people to be genuine & to work to find their own authentic self, even if the authentic self is somewhat different from dominant cultural norms.
They assist with issues caused by typical life stressors such as grief, loss, relationship problems, & developmental challenges throughout the lifespan
They have specific training & expertise in preventing, diagnosing & treating mental disorders, & in the practice of counseling
Counselor Licensure & Certification:
The following are licenses and certifications that counselors can earn. Prior to meeting with a counselor, it’s important to understand the counselor’s education, training, licensure, and certification. In general, the greater the number of licenses and certifications a counselor has earned, the more skilled and competent the counselor should be.
- LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor): Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) are master’s-degreed mental health service providers, trained to work with individuals, families, and groups in treating mental, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders.
State licensure requirements for professional counselors typically include:
- possession of a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling from a national or regionally-accredited institution of higher education, including an internship and coursework on human behavior and development, effective counseling strategies, ethical practice, and other core knowledge areas
- completion of a minimum of 3,400 or more hours of post-master’s degree supervised clinical experience, and periodic completion of continuing education credits/hours after obtaining licensure
- passage of the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and/or National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Exam (NCMHCE)
- adherence to a strict Code of Ethics and recognized standards of practice, as regulated by the state’s counselor licensure board
- NCC:The NCC certification is a voluntary certification that goes beyond the legal requirements for licensure. Earning the NCC means a counselor has met high standards for education and experience and passed a rigorous national exam. NCCs have shown their dedication to their profession and to providing the best services possible.
- CCMHC, MAC, NCSC:These additional certifications are voluntary specialty certifications, indicating that a counselor has met demanding national standards; including mastery & skill in the area of specialty. Counselors must earn the NCC certification before they are eligible to earn a specialty certification. The specialty certifications are:
CCMHC =Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, MAC =Master Addictions Counselor & NCSC = National Certified School Counselor.
At Crossroads Family Counseling Center, LLC, we have two counselors on our team:
Kris Marowski, M.ED, LPC, NCC, CCMHC, RPT-S and Dave Edwards, M.A.
To celebrate Counseling Awareness Month, Kris and Dave are presenting in and attending trainings, educating clients & others about how to train their brain through counseling, and participating in advocacy efforts, promotional activities and social media campaigns
To celebrate Counseling Awareness Month, the American Counseling Association is providing the following resources:
- April is Counseling Awareness Month Resources
- 25 Reasons to Have a Counselor in Your Life
- 16 Ways to Make the Most of Counseling
- American Counseling Corner Blog
Weekly Posts on Social Media on the following Special Topics Throughout the Month of April:
- Week 1, April 1-9: Stress management
- Week 2, April 10-16: Relationships
- Week 3, April 17-23: Anxiety
- Week 4, April 24-30: Depression
https://www.facebook.com/American.Counseling.Association
Written by:
Kris Marowski is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. She has worked with children and families for over 10 years, providing play therapy, individual counseling, and family counseling. Kris is also an Adjunct Instructor for the School of Professional Counseling at Lindsey Wilson College. She is also an Approved Provider for the Association for Play Therapy and offers play therapy trainings for mental health professionals.