As I venture aboard a new chapter in my career and vocational journey, it is essential for me to
acquire a thorough concept of the course I have elect as my future career. I have deliberately
chosen to pursue a career in mental health counseling because I passionately believe that being a
counselor is not just a job, but rather a calling that aligns with my innate talents and personal
identity. Given that counseling will be my chosen profession, it is imperative to ensure that it is
widely recognized and offers ample job opportunities regardless of my geographical location.
While I am aware of the challenges that the counseling profession still faces in terms of
achieving national unity and portability, I am also motivated to actively contribute to the
profession and help overcome these obstacles. According to Robyn Simmons, professional
identity plays a pivotal role in fostering a sense of belonging, loyalty, competence, and providing
a framework for the profession and its community (Simmons et al., 2020, p.49). Therefore, I am
grateful to have entered this profession at a stage where noteworthy progress has already been
made. Although the educational and training requirements to become a professional counselor
are well defined, they may vary slightly from one state to another. While this may pose some
inconvenience in terms of licensure portability, it is not insurmountable. I possess all the
foundational resources necessary to cultivate my professional identity as a counselor. As
someone who has personally benefited from counseling myself, I hold a deep appreciation and
respect for the counseling profession. The program’s rigorous and specific educational
requirements have played a significant role in shaping my perception of the profession. Each
facet of these requirements contributes to the formation of my professional identity as a
counselor. It is crucial to the formation of my professional identity as a counselor. It is crucial to
familiarize oneself with the profession’s history and ethics and acquire the necessary skills to
practice it proficiently. The issue of licensure portability poses a significant concern for me as I
strive to establish myself as a licensed professional counselor. My passion for this career path is
rooted in a genuine desire to assist others by utilizing my unique abilities. I have always been
intrigued by the complexities of the human mind and passionately believe that our thoughts and
beliefs play a crucial role in our overall well-being. However, as I embark on this new journey
that will sustain me financially, it is imperative that I have the flexibility to practice my
profession in any location. Having resided in the same state for the past 16 years, the uncertainty
of the future intensifies my apprehension regarding licensure portability. Despite these
challenges, I remain hopeful that the ongoing advocacy efforts by professionals, educators, and
counseling associations will eventually address that issue. While I acknowledge that a definitive
solution may be elusive, I am prepared to invest time, energy, and financial resources to navigate
the complexities of licensure portability without hindering my ability to practice as a counselor
in the event of relocation. Becoming a professional counselor has always been a driving force for
me. From an early age, I developed a keen interest in studying human behavior and social
psychology. Despite facing discouragement from others, I have grown wiser and more self-
award over time. This is the path where I can utilize the gifts and talents entrusted to me by God.
It is my responsibility to be a good steward of these abilities and utilize them for God’s glory,
both in my services and to others and in my future career. I derive immense satisfaction from
making a meaningful impact on people’s lives, particularly in a one-on-one or small group
setting. Building relationships and assisting individuals in finding balance, understanding,
perspective, and healing is my true calling. I view the role of a counselor as a divine gift from the
Holy Spirit, allowing us to reflect the likeness and image of God, who is the ultimate healer. One
of the primary obstacles I am encountering that could hinder my progress is my level of
commitment. Balancing various family responsibilities from dawn till dusk, along with a part-
time job and assisting with my grandchildren, leaves me with limited time to focus on studying
and completing my coursework. To address this challenge, I have sought assistance from my
family members and my children. I have rearranged my work schedule to include evening shifts
on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, allowing me more time to dedicate to studying during the
day and on my days off. Additionally, I have allocated specific time every morning for studying,
considering I am enrolled in two classes simultaneously. I am grateful for the unwavering
support of my children and family, as their assistance is crucial in enabling me to pursue my
educational and career aspirations while managing other familial obligations. Virginia’s
Counseling Handbooks can be found on the official website of the Department of Health
Professions at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling_handbooks.htm.The academic training
requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia are outlined in the
LPC Licensure Proceed Handbook provided by the Virginia Board of Counseling. To qualify,
individuals must have a degree from a program either CACREP (Council for Accreditation of
Counseling and Related Educational Programs) (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and
Related Educational Programs) or CORE. Accredited, or a graduate degree from a counseling
program offered by a college or university. To be eligible for the practicum or internship, you
must attend a university that is accredited by a regional accrediting agency and meets the
following criteria: 1. The university must offer academic study specifically designed to prepare
counselors. 2. The university must have a faculty of licensed LPCs responsible for training
counselors, and there must be a group of students enrolled in the program. 3. The university must
have clear authority and primary responsibility for the core and specialty areas of counseling. In
addition, the regulations state that one must complete 60 graduate semester hours or 90 graduate
quarter hours. Within these hours, one must have at least three semester hours or four quarter
hours in each of the following 13 core content areas: The professional identity, role, and ethical
considerations of counseling, Theories of counseling and psychotherapy. Counseling and
psychotherapy techniques, Theories and techniques encompassing group counseling and
psychotherapy, along with career counseling and development, play a crucial role in psychology.
These branches of knowledge offer valuable tools and approaches for practitioners in mental
health and vocational guidance. Human growth and development, Career counseling and
development theories and techniques, Appraisal, evaluation, and diagnostic procedures,
Abnormal behavior and psychopathology, Multicultural counseling theories and techniques,
Research, the identification and management of addictive disorders, Marriage, and family
systems theory Supervised internship or at least 600 hours (about 3 and a half weeks). Including
240 hours (about 1 and a half weeks) face-to-face direct client contact. This includes the number
of clients’ contact hours, the number of relational hours for MFT, the total number of hours, the
number of supervision hours, and any specific requirements set by the supervisor. According to
the LPC Licensure Proceed Handbook by the Virginia Board of Counseling, the requirements for
supervised clinical experience after obtaining a master's degree include completing 3,400 hours
(about 4 and a half months) of residency in counseling practice. Address various clinical
problems, utilize different theoretical approaches. The areas of focus during this experience
include assessment and diagnosis using psychotherapy techniques, appraisal, evaluation, and
diagnostic procedures, treatment planning and implementation, case management and record
keeping, professional counselor identity and function, as well as professional ethics and
standards of practice. Out of the 3,400 hours (about 4 and a half months), at least 2,000 must be
face-to-face client contact. Additionally, if a graduate internship exceeds 600 hours (about 3 and
a half weeks) up to 300 hours (about 2 weeks) can be counted towards the total residency
requirements, provided that the internship was completed after earning 30 graduate semester
hours. Furthermore, at least 200 hours (about 1 week 1 and a half days) of supervisory session
are required, with each lasting between 1 to 4 hours. During the residency period, it is required to
obtain 100 hours (about 4 days) of board approved supervision with a Licensed Professional
Counselor out of the total 200 required hours. It is possible to count to 20 hours of supervision
received during the supervised internship towards the 200 hours (about 1 week 1 and a half days)
if it was provided by an LPC. Both individual and group supervision hours are considered
equivalent, but only half of the required hours can be obtained through group supervision. The
residency must be completed within 21 months (about 2 years) to four years. To provide
supervision for a Licensed Resident Counselor, the supervisor must fulfill certain requirements.
These include documenting two years of post-licensure clinical experience, receiving
professional training in supervision (either through graduate level coursework or continuing
education), and holding an active, unrestricted license as a professional counselor (LPC).To
become licensed, one is required to successfully pass the National Clinical Mental Health
Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).The full title and initials of the licensure title. Accredited
mental health therapist (AMHT) would be Single license. Licensed professional counselor
(LPC). In accordance with the regulations set forth by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the
Virginia Board of Counseling, professionals in the field of counseling must adhere to certain
standards. Licensed or registered individuals must conduct their practice in a way that prioritizes
the public’s well-being. 1. Before delivering services to a client, it is crucial to have a thorough
informed consent discussion and secure communication privileges from the relevant
professional. 2. Mental health professionals should only use educational degrees or titles
obtained from an accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or
Credentials from national certifying agencies that are counseling focused. 3. All advertising of
professional services must be done in a truthful and precise manner, avoiding any false
misleading, or deceptive information. 4. It is prohibited to engage in conversion therapy with
individuals under the age of 18. Two counseling associations I would like to become a member
of are: The American Counseling Association (ACA) and The American Association for
Christian Counselors (AACC).
References
CACREP. (2023, January 17) Section 2: Professional Counseling Identity.
https://www.cacrep.org/section-2-professional-counseling-identity/
Lawson, G., Trepal, H. C., Lee, R. W., & Kress, V. (2017). Advocating for Educational
Standards in Counselor Licensure Laws. Counselor Education & Supervision, 162-176.
Liberty University State Licensure Requirements. (2023, January 18).
https://www.liberty.edu/statelicensure/cmhc-ma-d/va/
McKinney, R., West, E., Fye, M., Bradley, R., & Storlie, C. A. (2018). Chi Sigma Iota Chapter
Faculty Advisors' Experiences of Professional Counselor Identity. Journal of Counselor
Leadership and Advocacy, 56-70.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2023). Dictionary. https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/identity
Simmons, R., Stacey, L., & Kuhnley, A. (2020). Introduction to counseling integration of faith,
professional identity, and clinical practice. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company
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