While I feel for those individuals who graduated with a master’s in Psychology and then recognized that they were ineligible for the LPC, I also believe that it is the job of the Board of Counseling to ensure the welfare of clients, and to evaluate the preparedness of professional counselors.

I am well aware as a counseling student that I will not ever be a psychologist. I chose my degree based on the skill set I wanted to learn, and the licensure options eligible to me upon graduation. I also feel defensive of the LPC title, because I believe that Psychology and Counseling are distinct professions with differing philosophies. The Board of Counseling in Virginia ruled that it cannot ethically sanction those trained in the discipline of Professional Psychology to practice as Professional Counselors. Similarly, the Board of Psychology cannot ethically sanction those trained in the discipline of Professional Counseling to practice as Professional Psychologists.

There is no lack of opportunity in Virginia for those who wish to obtain their LPC to receive the adequate education to do so. Virginia has 12 CACREP accredited Counseling master’s programs, and an additional 6 programs that are not CACREP accredited.

I hope to eventually achieve my LPC, and I want the integrity of that license to remain in tact. It would be a disservice to clients seeking the services of an LPC if those without the appropriate training were eligible for this license.  It would also be a disservice to current counseling students who are working so hard for their degrees in a unique and distinct discipline to have that license compromised.