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IDENTITY AND CREDENTIALS
Benchmark Professional Identity and Credentials Paper
Allison V. Hobaugh
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Abstract
The establishment of professional identity is a cornerstone of building a strong career in
counseling. Academic criteria and membership in organizations for advocacy as well as
knowledge of up-to-date trends in counseling help set the counselor in training up for the
development of a strong professional identity. This paper will seek to clarify essential elements,
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address possible challenges and the significance of this combination for the development of a
professional identity. Discussions of elements from Chi Sigma Iota in relation to professional
identity will be addressed. The development of a strategy, to include personal goals and
motivations, will be covered in this essay as well. Lastly, this essay will show the necessary steps
to gain full licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) for the state of North
Carolina.
Keywords: professional development, identity, counselor, professional identity
Benchmark Professional Identity and Credentials Paper
There are many facets that make up the whole of the counselor. Most importantly, a
strong foundation in the personal beliefs of the counselor. What one believes in and how he/she
approaches the counseling field forms the bulk of their identity. Remley and Herlihy (2007), as
cited by McKinney, West, Fye, Bradley and Storlie (2018) identified some essential elements for
a counselor professional identity. A working knowledge of the history of the counselor
profession and membership in professional counseling organizations helps to develop pride in
counseling (McKinney, et al., 2018). If a counselor does not have a strong professional identity,
they could lack the confidence to be effective in the profession of counseling.
The Necessary Components for Professional Identity
By understanding the history and foundations of counseling, a counselor in training has a
strong foundation in learning what methods work best for them and their goal in the counseling
profession. For example, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) would be a good model to use with
addictions counseling. This is because the tenants of this theory are based on changing
unwanted behavior through positive therapy. Knowledge and competency in the area of
counseling can bring an insecure apprentice counselor to the level of a seasoned counselor.
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As stated by Simmons et al., “developing a unified professional identity allows for a sense
of belonging, enhances allegiance, fosters competency, and provides a schematic framework for
the profession and professional community” (2024). Obtaining membership in the various
organizations the counseling profession has to offer has a positive effect of building a
professional identity for both veteran counselors, counselors in training and newly graduated
counselors. Burns and Cruishanks quoted Sweeney by stating that a counselor’s professional
identity is related to how the counselor profession’s philosophy and values impact the counselor
(Sweeney , 2001 as cited by Burns and Cruishanks, 2017). Counselors who aim to set themselves
apart from others in the profession should seriously consider membership in an organization
that aligns with their beliefs and advocacy philosophies (Simmons et al., 2024).
Combining the elements of competency in the counseling field (i.e. history of profession)
your own self image as a professional counselor can impact total job satisfaction.
Ethical Spiritual/Religious Integration as a Component of Professional Counseling Identity
As cited by Burns and Cruikshanks, Ronnestad and Skovholt (2003) found that in order to
develop a strong sense of professional identity, one must assimilate the personal self with the
professional self (Burns and Cruikshanks, 2017). This stresses the importance of knowing your
personal beliefs to not impose those same beliefs in your professional role as a counselor.
Section A.4.a of the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics states to avoid causing
harm to their clients, trainees and research participants (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014). This leads
into
Section A.4.b about avoiding imposing personal beliefs on clients. These two statements of the
Code of Ethics go hand in hand: imposing one’s own beliefs on the client’s present circumstance
can cause undue harm.
It is important to note that any discussion of religious beliefs should be client led to avoid
imposing your own beliefs during the counseling session. As a counselor, you can do things such
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as praying before and after sessions for your client. If you feel prayer could be helpful during a
session, it is best to ask the client if he/she is comfortable with it.
Galatians 6:2 states “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of
Christ” (NIV, 2015). This scripture is the mantra I carry through my training and education as a
counselor with Christian beliefs.
The Challenges to Professional Identity
Every profession is not without some challenges. The most notable challenge in the
profession of counseling is the lack of uniformity. There are 50 states and each states has
different requirements for obtaining licensure as a counselor. This includes testing, educational
requirements and continuing education credits. Not all states have reciprocal licensure and that
can lead to difficulties in moving state to state.
Counselors should always be self-aware in the day-to-day workings of being a
professional counselor. It is important for them to recognize when a counselor should seek
counseling for themselves. If personal conflicts are ignored, the effectiveness of being a
counselor is decreased.
Professional Identity Development Plan
I chose the field of counseling to help people. All my reasons for choosing this profession
are deeply personal. One of the biggest motivators for me was my own struggles with anxiety
and depression. Recently my daughter has also been exhibiting signs of anxiety and depression.
I want to learn different ways to help her understand what she is going through at this stage of
her adolescence. I am also interested in becoming a substance abuse counselor. My brother-in-
law is a recovering crack/cocaine addict. I’m interested in showing the correlation between
untreated depression and PTSD to beginning a drug addiction later in life.
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To help build my own professional identity, I plan to join groups that advocate for the
populations that I am most interested in reaching. The National Association for Addiction
Professionals is one that will help me join advocacy efforts for this marginalized population. Chi
Sigma Iota and the American Counseling Association are two others that I would like to explore
membership with.
State Credential Plan
State: North Carolina
Website for State’s Counseling Board: https://www.ncblcmhc.org
Academic Requirements: Number of total
hours in Master’s program.
Semester hours 60
Academic Requirements: Specific course
content requirements (e.g., human growth
and development, ethics, multicultural, etc).
Academic Requirements: Supervised clinical
Experience
(i.e.,fieldwork/practicum/internship): What
are the total hours needed?
100 hours practicum and 600 hours
internship
0Does your state require additional
coursework/hours than what is required to
complete the LUO CMHC program? If so,
what is needed?
No other courses needed
POST MASTER’S Requirements: What are the
total hours needed before applying for
independent licensure?
3,000 hours of supervised professional
counseling experience (2,000 of which must
be direct client contact) 100 hours of
supervision (75 of which is individual
supervision)
POST MASTER’S Requirements: What
licensure exam(s) are required?
Within six months of completing the
requirements must take and pass North
Carolina Jurisprudence exam at all three
levels (Licensed Clinical Mental Health
Counselor-Associate, LCMHC and LCMHC-
Supervisor)
In addition, submit scores from either the
NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC
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References:
American Counseling Association, Code of Ethics, 2014
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, 5(1), 56–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326716X.2017.1422995
Burns, S., & Cruikshanks, D. R. (2017). Evaluating Independently Licensed Counselors'
Articulation of Professional Identity Using Structural Coding. Professional Counselor, 7(2), 185-
207. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/
scholarly-journals/evaluating-independently-licensed-counselors/docview/2013523411/se-2
New International Version Bible. (2015). Biblegateway.com
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