Hello,
I am following up on your question. My first career before becoming an
academic psychology librarian was in counseling psychology. Many
states license at the Master's level and may have a 'Licensed
Professional Counselor' designation, while other states use somewhat
different terms for similar classifications. A PsyD can take 3 years,
while a clinical PhD usually takes longer. Psychoanalysts are not
traditionally licensed, though have codes of ethics and standards.
Here are some resources:
-------------------------------------------------------------
A Guide to Psychology and its Practice
Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and Professional Licensing
Counseling?and Counseling Psychology
http://www.guidetopsychology.com/cln_cns.htm#counsel
[See website for further links and information]
"Counseling has traditionally been associated with the field of
education (M.S. or M.S.E. or Ed.D.), although some counselors may have
bachelor?s or master?s degrees in psychology. In addition, many
psychology programs offer degrees, most usually the Ph.D., in
counseling psychology, a branch of psychology specifically concerned
with the practice of counseling.
Even though counseling programs usually teach the various theories of
psychotherapy, training and supervision in the practice of
psychotherapy usually is not part of the education for counseling;
accordingly, personal psychotherapy is usually not an academic
requirement. In general, whereas psychotherapy tends to involve a
complex change in basic character and often works with unconscious
conflicts, counseling tends to be more limited and more concerned with
the immediate situation. Still, many counselors disagree among
themselves about the distinction between counseling and psychotherapy;
some training programs in counseling psychology, for example, may put
a large emphasis on psychotherapy.
A person with a doctoral degree in counseling may become licensed as a
Psychologist; a person with a master?s degree in counseling may, in
some states, become licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
(See below, under Licensure.):
http://www.guidetopsychology.com/cln_cns.htm#licensure
Licensure
"In the US, all states have licensing laws as a way to guarantee to
the consumer a minimal standard of education and training that must be
met by practitioners who sell their services to the public in
independent practice. These laws vary from state to state, so see
below in Additional Resources for links (categorized by type of
practice) to the various regulating boards:
[ http://www.guidetopsychology.com/cln_cns.htm#Additional ]
[I list the most relevant of these below]
(above paragraph continued)
Many states (not California) in the US allow individuals to practice
counseling with a license.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). To receive a license as an LPC,
an individual generally needs a master?s or doctoral degree in
counseling or a counseling-related field from an accredited college or
university.
Social Worker. A person who has a master?s degree in social work (MSW)
can, in most states, become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
and practice as a psychotherapist. In California, LCSWs are licensed
by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. (Also, in California, an
Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) can perform psychotherapy while
working under the supervision of an LCSW in order to accrue supervised
experience before becoming licensed.)
According to California regulations, ?LCSWs are authorized to employ
psychotherapeutic techniques, among other services, with individuals,
couples, families, and groups to improve the clients? quality of
life.? (What does quality of life mean? In practice, it can be
stretched to mean anything. So be careful.)
...
Marriage and Family Therapist. There are states, such as California,
in which a person who has received a master?s degree in clinical
psychology may be licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist
(MFT)?and most MFTs usually call themselves psychotherapists as well.
In California, MFTs are licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
(Also, in California, an MFT Intern can perform psychotherapy while
working under the supervision of an MFT in order to accrue supervised
experience before becoming licensed.)
According to California regulations, ?MFTs are authorized to employ
psychotherapeutic techniques with individuals, couples, families, and
groups to improve the clients? interpersonal functions.?
...
Psychologist. The title Psychologist (in the US) is usually protected
by state law; that is, a person with a degree in psychology can?t be
called a ?psychologist? unless licensed as a psychologist by a state.
In California, psychologists are licensed by the Board of Psychology.
Yet when states license psychologists they generally don?t care if the
person has a degree in clinical psychology or counseling psychology or
education. So in most states a person with a psychologist license can
legally do clinical work or counseling work, regardless of training or
type of degree. In California the degree must be a doctorate, but in
some states a person with a masters degree can be licensed as a
psychologist.
...
Additional Resources [Listed on above website - see site for further
links and information]
http://www.guidetopsychology.com/cln_cns.htm#Additional
National Board of Certified Counselors
http://www.nbcc.org/
General Information
http://www.nbcc.org/geninfo
[links]
-Accreditation Information
-Statistics on NCCs
-Benefits of Becoming a National Certified Counselor
-Definition of Counselors
-State Licensure Chart
http://www.nbcc.org/extras/pdfs/exam/licensurechart.pdf
American Association of State Counseling Boards
http://www.aascb.org/
Licensure and Portability
http://www.aascb.org/licensure
LPC Chart by State
http://www.aascb.org/lpcchart
National Credentials Registry
http://www.aascb.org/ncr2
Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT):
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy provides
information and resources for marriage and family therapy.
http://www.aamft.org/
California Board of Behavioral Sciences oversees licensing of MFTs
and LCSWs in California.
http://www.bbs.ca.gov/
Directory of State MFT Licensing Boards provides the regulated titles
and addresses of state boards regulating marriage and family
therapists.
http://www.aamft.org/resources/Online_Directories/boardcontacts.htm
The American Psychoanalytic Association
represents all member psychoanalysts.
http://apsa.org/
Educational Standards
http://apsa.org/ctf/pubinfo/standards/Standards.pdf
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards
Roster for US and Canada. Find your state?s Board of Psychology to
learn its requirements for licensure as a psychologist.
http://www.asppb.org/about/boardContactStatic.aspx
---------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Each of these pages include:
-Nature of the Work
-Working Conditions
-Employment
-Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
-Job Outlook
-Earnings
-Related Occupations
-Sources of Additional Information
Psychologists
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm
Counselors
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm
--------------------------------------------------------
I hope this is helpful. Best wishes for your career. Let us know if we
can be of further assistance. jdb-ga |
Clarification of Answer by
jdb-ga
on
08 Jan 2006 01:26 PST
Hello,
I am following up a bit further on your question. One of the websites
I sent and excerpted gives a summary of the differences between the
LCP and MSW, and here I include a fuller excerpt. Much of the
difference has to do with the type of practice, and the definitions
each state has set for "counseling" versus "psychotherapy". In my
professional observation, the MSW and LCSW may be more widely
accepted, with more national recognition and standardization, may be
given broader scope of practice, and may more frequently be able to
receive insurance reimbursement. The MSW is the degreed credential,
while the LCSW is the both degreed and licensed credential that an MSW
graduate has after attaining licensure. For more specific and thorough
information, you will want to see the individual state licensing board
websites for whether that state recognizes the LPC, and the
requirements for each respective license. The LCSW may be more widely
accepted and useful, though require more training and examination. I
also include a Psychology Today webpage on Credentials.
http://www.guidetopsychology.com/cln_cns.htm#licensure
"...Many states (not California) in the US allow individuals to
practice **counseling** with a license. [Asterix mine]
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). To receive a license as an LPC,
an individual generally needs a master?s or doctoral degree in
counseling or a counseling-related field from an accredited college or
university.
...
Then, there are many different licenses under which individuals may
practice **psychotherapy**. [Asterix mine]
Social Worker. A person who has a master?s degree in social work (MSW)
can, in most states, become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
and practice as a psychotherapist. In California, LCSWs are licensed
by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. (Also, in California, an
Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) can perform psychotherapy while
working under the supervision of an LCSW in order to accrue supervised
experience before becoming licensed.)
According to California regulations -
http://www.bbs.ca.gov/lic-req3.htm - ?LCSWs are authorized to employ
psychotherapeutic techniques, among other services, with individuals,
couples, families, and groups to improve the clients? quality of
life.? (What does quality of life mean? In practice, it can be
stretched to mean anything. So be careful.)
Psychology Today: Credentials
http://www.psychologytoday.com/pto/credentials.html
M.S.W.
Master of social work. A social worker works with an individual in the
context of the wider community. He or she helps those dealing with
domestic violence, child abuse, drug abuse or foster-care issues,
among smany others. Social workers often practice therapy on their own
or in settings such as schools, clinics, or government agencies. The
MSW typically requires two to four years of study. (National
Association of Social Workers)
...
Professional Licenses
L.C.S.W. (Also the L.M.S.W., A.C.S.W., L.C.S., L.I.C.S.W., C.S.W.)
The licensed clinical social worker has a graduate academic degree,
has completed supervised clinical work experience and has passed a
national- or state-certified licensing exam. This advanced
practitioner holds a license that allows him or her to receive
health-care insurance reimbursements. (National Association of Social
Workers)
L.M.F.T. (Also the M.F.C.C.)
The licensed marriage and family therapist has a graduate academic
degree (a 2- to 3-year master's degree or a 3- to 5-year doctoral
degree), clinical work experience and has passed a state-certified
licensing exam. Most states offer this license. (American Association
of Marriage and Family Therapists)
L.P.C. (or L.M.H.C., D.A.C., M.F.C.C.)
Licensed professional counselor or licensed mental health counselor. A
licensing qualification is granted to those who have a graduate
academic degree, clinical work experience and have passed a
state-certified licensing examination. (American Counseling
Association)
See also on this webpage: Additional Credentials You May Find in the
Therapy Directory
I hope this is helpful. jdb-ga
|
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