Benchmark Paper 1
Benchmark Professional Identity and Credentialing Paper
Kati Bland
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Benchmark Paper 2
Abstract
The article "Evaluating Independently Licensed Counselors' Articulation of Professional Identity
Using Structural Coding" addresses the critical issue of educational standards within counselor
licensure laws. As the counseling profession evolves, there is a growing need to ensure that
licensed counselors are adequately prepared to meet the complex and diverse needs of clients.
This article explores the importance of educational requirements as a foundational component of
licensure laws. The authors delve into the various factors that influence the development and
implementation of educational standards, including accreditation, curriculum development, and
ongoing assessment of counselor training programs. By advocating for rigorous educational
standards, the article underscores the vital role of counselor education in equipping professionals
with the competencies necessary to provide effective and ethical counseling services. The article
highlights the potential impact of educational standards on client well-being, the counseling
profession's credibility, and the overall quality of mental health care. Through this analysis, the
article offers insights and recommendations for stakeholders in the counseling field, including
counselor educators, licensing boards, and policymakers. The authors emphasize the need for
collaboration and ongoing dialogue to establish and uphold educational standards that align with
the evolving demands and expectations of the counseling profession.
Keywords: Counseling, identity, etc.
Benchmark Paper 3
Professional Identity and Credentialing
The Importance of Professional Identity
Professional identity is of paramount importance in the field of counseling. The article
refers to professional identity as the unique sense of self and role that a counselor develops as
one integrates personal characteristics, values, and skills with professional responsibilities
(Lawson, et al., 2017). There are several reasons why professional identity is crucial in
counseling. First and foremost, professional identity is about helping counselors project
confidence, competence, and authenticity (Simmons, et al., 2020). When clients sense that the
counselor has a well-defined professional identity, then there is a higher probability for the client
to trust and connect with the counselor. That trusting relationship between the counselor and the
client is vital for the success of the therapeutic process. Furthermore, a clear professional identity
is a cornerstone of ethical practice. Counselors must understand the required roles and
responsibilities, professional boundaries, and commitment to ethical principles. This awareness
guides a counselor’s decision-making, ensuring that the best interest of the client is being acted
upon (Simmons, et al., 2020). Lastly, a strong professional identity encourages ongoing self-
reflection and self-improvement. Counselors that have a clear understanding of professional
identity are more likely to engage in continuing education and seek supervision or consultation
when faced with challenging cases (Lawson, et al., 2017). Having confidence in one’s
capabilities instills a sense of trust on behalf of the client.
The Necessary Components for Professional Identity
Professional identity in counseling is multifaceted and involves several key components,
including ethical and spiritual integration. To start, a strong educational foundation in counseling,
including a relevant degree, coursework, and supervised training, is fundamental to professional
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identity (Simmons, et al., 2020). Counselors must acquire the knowledge and skills required to
provide effective and ethical counseling services. Licensure and credentialing are also important
components of professional identity. Both acquiring state licensure and credentialing
demonstrate a commitment to ethical standards, continuing education, and adherence to legal and
ethical guidelines (Lawson, et al., 2017). Moreover, ethical principles are the bedrock of a
counselor's professional identity. Counselors must internalize and uphold ethical guidelines,
ensuring client well-being, confidentiality, informed consent, and boundary maintenance.
Without establishing a respect for the ethical and legal guidelines, the counselor is likely to cause
more harm to the client and fail to promote healthy well-being (Simmons, et al., 2020).
Integration of spirituality into one's professional identity can be an essential aspect of counseling.
Some clients may seek counseling that aligns with specific spiritual or religious beliefs.
Counselors must be open to discussing and integrating these beliefs when relevant to the client's
needs. A counselor must engage in values clarification processes that help understand ethical and
spiritual beliefs and how these intersect with one’s own professional identity (Lawson, et al.,
2017). This introspection ensures that counselors can navigate ethical and spiritual issues
effectively.
The Challenges to Professional Identity
A counselor's spiritual beliefs can both enrich and complicate the process of developing a
professional identity. While spiritual beliefs can be a source of personal strength and meaning,
there is a space for challenges to arise in the context of a professional counseling identity. The
most obvious stumbling block occurs when a counselor's spiritual beliefs conflict with the values
and beliefs of the client. When such conflicts arise, there is much difficulty for counselors to
provide objective and non-judgmental support, potentially compromising the therapeutic
Benchmark Paper 5
relationship. There also tends to be unconscious bias based on spiritual beliefs which can affect a
counselor's perception and interactions with clients (Simmons, et al., 2020). This bias may lead
to misunderstandings and hinder the counselor's ability to provide empathetic and culturally
sensitive care. Professional counselors are expected to maintain neutrality and avoid imposing
personal beliefs on clients. This component of developing professional identity can be
particularly challenging when a counselor's spiritual beliefs strongly influence their worldview.
Having a firm foundation in one’s beliefs and taking great care not to impose said beliefs onto
the client is one of the greater risks of professional development.
Professional Identity Development
My motivation to become a licensed professional counselor stems from my desire to help
individuals overcome mental obstacles which keep them from achieving personal goals, gaining
emotional stability, and finding success. The experience I have had undergoing one-on-one
counseling and the personal growth I have accomplished has inspired me to pursue a future
career as a mental health counselor. My passion lies in learning more about myself and where I
can continue to grow both personally and professionally. To establish my identity, my goals are
to take advantage of every learning opportunity that can increase my knowledge of the field,
begin implementing the ACA code of ethical standards to ensure that my practice does not bring
harm to future clients, and engage in introspective exercises to help better understand my beliefs,
biases, and prejudices. One of the challenges I may have when developing my professional
counseling identity is keeping from imposing my spiritual beliefs onto my clients. Christian
beliefs dictate how I conduct every aspect of my life, which is built on the foundational
principles found throughout Scripture; therefore, my counseling style will naturally integrate
real-life applications that I have learned from both personal experience and studying the Bible.
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Two methods to combat obstructing the spiritual boundaries between my client and I would be to
practice self-awareness and self-control. Self-awareness requires that I become conscious of
times when I overstep a client’s boundaries and actively impose my beliefs onto them. Once I
have mastered self-awareness, I can begin to exercise self-control. Self-control requires that I
intentionally choose to keep a neutral stance on the client’s beliefs for the sake of the client-
counselor relationship.
Benchmark Paper 7
References
Lawson, G., Trepal, H. C., Lee, R. W., & Kress, V. (2017). Advocating for Educational Standards
in Counselor Licensure Laws. Counselor Education and Supervision, 56(3), 162–176.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ceas.12070
Simmons, R., Lilley, S., & Kuhnley, A.K. (Eds.). (2020). Introduction to counseling: Integration
of faith, professional identity, and clinical practice.
Benchmark Paper 8
State and website: Virginia
Virginia Board of Counseling - Application Handbooks
What are the academic training
requirements:
(include the number of hours in
program; specific course
content/titles, and number of
hours in practicum/internship)
Complete 60 graduate semester hours or 90 graduate quarter
hours that must include three (3) semester hours or four (4)
quarter hours in the following 13 core content areas:
Professional counseling identity, function and ethics, theories
of counseling & psychotherapy, counseling & psychotherapy
techniques, human growth & development, group counseling
and psychotherapy, theories and techniques, career counseling
and development theories and techniques, appraisal,
evaluation & diagnostic procedures, abnormal behavior and
psychopathology, multicultural counseling, theories and
techniques, research, diagnosis and treatment of addictive
disorders, marriage and family systems theory, and a
supervised internship of at least 600 hours to include 240
hours of face-to-face direct client contact.
What are requirements for post-master’s
supervised clinical experience:
(i.e., number of client contact hours, or
MFT, number of relational
hours); number of total hours;
number of supervision hours;
specific requirements of
supervisor)
Once you meet the education requirements as outlined above,
you must apply for and be licensed as a Resident in
Counseling prior to counting hours toward LPC licensure.
Supervised residency experience is required to occur in all
settings obtained in Virginia. A licensee who provides
supervision for a Licensed Resident in Counseling must: 1.
Document two years of post-licensure clinical experience; 2.
Have received professional training in supervision, consisting
of three (3) credit hours or four (4) quarter hours in graduate-
level coursework in supervision or at least 20 hours of
continuing education in supervision offered by a provider
approved under 18VAC115-20-106; and 3. Must hold an
active, unrestricted license as a professional counselor (LPC)
or marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the jurisdiction
where the supervision is being provided. At least 100 of the
200 hours of supervision must be with an LPC. A 3,400-hour
supervised residency in counseling practice is require: 2,000
hours of face-to-face client contact, a minimum of 200 hours
of supervisory sessions, and a maximum of 4 hours of
supervision per 40 hours of work experience. You must
complete your residency in no less than 21 months and no
more than four years.
What examination(s) are required: To become licensed as an LPC by the Board you must pass
the National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Examination
(NCMHCE).
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State and website: Virginia
Virginia Board of Counseling - Application Handbooks
What is licensure title:
(e.g., LPC, LCPC, LMHC, LMFT, etc. –
please write out the full title as
well as initials):
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Is license tiered and if so, what are titles
and requirements (e.g., LPC,
LPC-S):
The license is not tiered.
What is the scope of practice (i.e., what
can and cannot be done by a
licensed professional):
A licensed professional counselor CAN:
1) Provide direct therapy to clients without supervision.
A licensed professional counselor CANNOT:
1) Prescribe medication.
Identify two counseling organizations you
wish to join.
1) Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC).
2) Association for Adult Development and Aging
(AADA).
Turnitin Report
Benchmark Paper 10
Overall, there was an 18% similarity found on the Turitin report. 3% of the report was
specific to Liberty University. The percentage entailed using similar APA formatting of the title
page during previously submitted works. The remaining 15% of the report referred to a handful
of phrased statements that have been used on previous works ranging between 2017 and 2023.
Some of these similar phrases include, “provide effective and ethical,” “licensed professional
counselors,” and “relationship between the counselor and client.”
The results indicate that there has not been any direct plagiarizing from previous works;
however, my writing style appears to translate through similar phrasing over the years. My
reaction to the report is that there are no significant red flags that have me believe that there has
been any violation of writing standards per the course.
