School psychologt with LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor)

[schoolpsych84]

I am currently in a school psychology program and my university is offering additional classes for me to take to get a LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) in addition to my school psychology degree. Any advisement about the benefits of this field (LPCC) is advised!

Also, since it may be hard for me to find a job as a school psychologist, will having a LPCC increase my chances of getting a job?

Thank you!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[G Costanza]

I am currently in a school psychology program and my university is offering additional classes for me to take to get a LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) in addition to my school psychology degree. Any advisement about the benefits of this field (LPCC) is advised!

Also, since it may be hard for me to find a job as a school psychologist, will having a LPCC increase my chances of getting a job?

Thank you!

Yes! I'm guessing that you would not be able to practice as a counselor outside of a school with a school counseling degree. If you do the extra work for an LPCC, if you ever decide to leave the school system, you will have a license to practice in the community. The only downside is that you will likely need supervision from an experienced LLCC until you have enough hours. If that isnt free through your school, it can get expensive. IMHO- go for the extra licensure. If gives you more freedom in the long run.

 

[schoolpsych84]

Thanks for your feedback G Costanza! Are you are currently a LPCC? I've heard that supervision hours from a MFT can also count toward your LPCC.

You mentioned working in the community. Would that be in private practice only or can I work in rehab facilities?

 

[G Costanza]

Thanks for your feedback G Costanza! Are you are currently a LPCC? I've heard that supervision hours from a MFT can also count toward your LPCC.

You mentioned working in the community. Would that be in private practice only or can I work in rehab facilities?

I am an LLPC and LLMFT which is the same license you are talking about but in Michigan.

The supervision hours for your MFT and LPCC will depend on the requirements for your state. In MI, LLPC superivors must be certified as supervisors but LLMFT supervisors only need to have an LMFT with "experience". If you can find an LPCC that also is an MFT, you can count your sup hours towards both licensures.

I'm not sure about the rehab. Your state may limit the scope of practice for an LPCC. I would look up the state law or ask a reputable LPCC. I think it would be wise to get the extra licensure if it's not too much of a pain. If you skip it now, you'll have to go back to school to get it later and likely have to do another internship. If you do them together, you can probably count a single internship towards both licenses.

 

[schoolpsych84]

After taking into consideration your suggestions and doing additional research, I think I will go for the LPCC. Thank you for your advisement. I will also begin looking for LPCCs as potential supervisors and maybe even sit down for coffee to get to know the field a little more. =)

 

[stigmata]

School psychology and school counseling are vastly different fields. Are you completing a proper degree in school psych? If so it should not be hard to find a job as a school psychologist. The LPC certification would allow you to do counseling outside of the school setting, but not do psychology, school or otherwise.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

The vast majority of school psych positions are assessment focused. Schools typically can outsource counseling to other professionals, though outsourcing assessment work is even more expensive, so they would want to have that handled by "in-house" by their SPs. As stigmata noted, there are large differences between school counseling, counseling, and traditional psychotherapy. School Psychology is a great area to work, though you can't just tack on certifications/some additional training and expect to be competent in semi-related areas.

 

[G Costanza]

The vast majority of school psych positions are assessment focused. Schools typically can outsource counseling to other professionals, though outsourcing assessment work is even more expensive, so they would want to have that handled by "in-house" by their SPs. As stigmata noted, there are large differences between school counseling, counseling, and traditional psychotherapy. School Psychology is a great area to work, though you can't just tack on certifications/some additional training and expect to be competent in semi-related areas.

I would think the extra classes and meeting the state requirements for licensure would be a fine first step towards becoming competent in that area. Maybe I'm confused but are you suggesting it isn't?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I would think the extra classes and meeting the state requirements for licensure would be a fine first step towards becoming competent in that area. Maybe I'm confused but are you suggesting it isn't?

Agreed. I just have concern about the scope of practice. There is little crossover in training from school psychology to a counseling or psychotherapy based training. For instance, counseling and psychotherapy can be quite different, though I'm not sure the differences are well appreciated...which leads to scope of practice issues.

 

[warrior097]

I am currently a school psychologist with an LPCC. Since I didn't attend a NASP approved program, a pathway to obtain Level 2 Independent School Psychologist licensure in the State of New Mexico was to acquire the LPCC. I definitely think having an LPCC broadens your scope of practice which includes working with adults in a hospital or clinic setting. With an LPCC, I don't think you can do intelligence and processing testing as you can with a school psychologist licence. In my experience, you get the respect of having an LPCC when consulting with other mental health professionals.

 

[Schooled]

When I was getting my MSW and interning at a residential treatment center, there was a LSSP (NCSP everywhere else) with a LPC license that worked as a counselor in the summer. I never got the sense that anyone treated him any differently than the LCSWs and LPCs that filled the same role. Also, I never got the feeling that he was less competent as a counselor or that anyone else felt he was less competent.

So, like others have mentioned, it gives you more options. Get it to get more options later. Although, I don't necessarily think it makes you MORE competitive for jobs. For example, your LPCC may not really give you a leg up in applying for assessment type jobs in schools, especially against a doctoral level SP that is trained to do counseling and assessment as well as consultation. Similarly, the NCSP might not give you a leg up in a mental health setting because (at least in my experience) it is either not common to do extensive testing or the phd clinical/counseling/school psychologist does it.

 

[jmhschaffer]

I suggest getting the extra credential. In NYS, the scope of school psychology practice was changed a few years ago, and many school psychs found themselves out of work with a credential now valid only when working directly through a school district (as opposed to contract agencies). Getting a job in a school district is tough, as there are few positions and people tend to keep them once their foot is in the door.

In order to find work, many school psychologists had to go back for additional graduate coursework or complete degrees in Mental Health Counseling to get an LMHC credential (our equivalent to LPC). Now NYS is focused on increasing its Medicaid reimbursements for school services, and there is concern as to whether LMHC's will be forced out because they are not reimbursable by Medicaid.

In NYS right now, school psych is a pretty bad degree to have. I heard from one grad, anecdotally, that 1 student in her class of 50 at one of the top schools was able to find work 1 year after graduation. I'm not sure about your state, but do what you can to protect yourself and get the additional license if you can afford it.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

 

[sabaijae]

The School Psychology program I'll soon be joining offers the option to also become an LPA (Licensed Psych Associate) in TX. I dont think the LPA is the same as LPCC... I'm just curious as to what exactly an LPA can do?

Also, if you become certified in, say, CBT, would you be lawfully allowed to practice this treatment in a private/LPA practice?