I need a short paper completed for my Master's Class

Running head: PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND CREDENTIALS 0

Professional Preparation and Credentials

Alberta Riptoe

Introduction to Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling

COUN-6201F-6

Instructor Dr. Katherine Coule

September 11, 2016

People who operate in the healthcare industry, such as marriage, couple, and family counseling professionals, are typically guided by a scope of practice that describes the methods, practices, functions, and actions that a healthcare professional is legally permitted to carry out in line with the terms and conditions of their practicing license (AAMFT, 2014). Within the domains of counseling, such as addition, anger management, forensic, mental health, or wellness fields, the requirements outlined in the scope of practice typically relate to the role the practicing individual plays in relation to the society, ecosystem or self.

The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC) is a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA) that was first chartered in 1989. The members of this organization consist of professional counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists in the fields of mental health, marriage, and family relationships. The purpose of the organization is to facilitate the professional development of the people who work in counseling or closely related areas through the provision of training, education, and networking opportunities. Through being part of the IAMFC, practitioners can access the latest research and knowledge in the field of counseling and keep abreast of major developments and achievements. This allows counseling professionals to ensure they provide services that are of a consistently high quality and that they serve their clients to the best of their ability (International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, 2015). The IAMFC places a particular emphasis on the importance of adopting a multicultural approach to counseling that supports members of a family to recognize their worth and uniqueness as a collective unit.

Counselors are required to undergo a strict process of education and training before they can work legally as a counselor. People who progress to become counselors will usually be educated to a very high standard and will typically have a master’s or doctoral qualification. Alternatively, they may have completed clinical training on a post-graduate program of study. They will also be required to practice under direction for a minimum of two years before they can progress to work independently. Those who practice in the marriage and family counseling (MCF) domain will also receive very specific training in family systems and the psychotherapies that can be effective when dealing with domestic relationships. Once they have completed the training to the required standard, they will be formally licensed to administer counseling and therapy for emotional and mental disorders that arise within the context of marriage, romantic relationships, family structures, and couples. According to the AAMFT (2014), marriage and family therapy plays a central role within the mental health profession alongside other areas of specialism such as social work, psychology, and psychiatry.

Once fully qualified, I intend to practice in the state of Texas. A standard set of licensure requirements is in place in this state. To legally practice as a marriage and family counselor, I will be required to sit the exam for licensure for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas. However, before doing so, I will need to demonstrate my eligibility to take the exam through the National Certified Counselor (NCC), a voluntary national certification that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). This certification is awarded to counselors who are able to demonstrate they meet the standards of the counseling profession. Although these standards may differ from profession to profession, the basic requirements that I will need to fulfill will be as follows:

The minimum of a master’s degree in counseling or an advanced level of education in counseling that was completed at a regionally accredited institution
At least 3,000 hours of counseling experience and 100 hours of supervision, both of which were completed within two years of the completion of the educational qualification outlined in point one. This requirement may be waived for graduates who have completed a Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) qualification.
A minimum pass score on the NCE (National Counseling Examination).

To successfully apply for the exam for licensure for LPC, I will also need to demonstrate that I have completed a master’s degree that involved major study in the field of counseling that spanned a minimum of 48 semesters or 72 quarter-hour credits of higher study in ten specific areas: areas:

Assessment in Counseling
Career Counseling and Lifestyle Development
Counseling Field Experience
Group Counseling Theories and Processes
Helping Relationships in Counseling
Human Growth and Development Theories in Counseling
Professional Orientation to Counseling
Research and Program Evaluation
Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling (National Board for Certified Counselors, 2016)

I will also need to apply for a specific license that will allow me to specialize in marriage, couple and family practice so that I can join the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. There are two licensing options available for this board: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate. The LMFT is the license that is awarded to graduates who are relatively new to the field, while the independent license is for those practitioners who have fulfilled the supervised practice requirements and have sufficient experience to practice independently (MFT-License.com, 2013). In addition to the requirements of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, I will also need to meet the additional rules and requirements outlined in the Texas Administrative Code Title 22, Part 35, Chapter 801, Licensure and Regulation of Marriage and Family Therapists (Texas Administrative Code, 2013).

As well as gaining the basic licensure and certification, I can also seek additional certification that will allow me to practice in specialist areas. One example of a certification that may help my professional development and ability to practice in the domain of marriage, couple, and family counseling is that of sex offender treatment provider. This is a secondary license that can be obtained in Texas in addition to a primary license. As secondary expertise, this license will allow me to enhance my skills as a family and marriage counselor and give me a broader and more in-depth perspective of some of the issues that can impact families and personal relationships. It will also provide me with the skills I need to provide additional services, such as organizing and facilitating the group and individual counseling sessions that are required under court orders. As the clients that I encounter within this capacity will be diverse, I expect this role will significantly enhance the breadth of my experience (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015).

I anticipate that the biggest challenge I will encounter on my path to becoming a fully trained and licensed counselor will be myself. Texas is full of opportunities for suitably qualified individuals to complete post-master clinical experience. In addition, because I currently work in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, I have access to many licensed counselors and supervisors and can, therefore, complete the requirements of my licensure within my job. I believe that the two obstacles that I will need to overcome to fulfill my dream are as follows:

As I am a mature student, it has been many years since I studied in a formal educational setting. To achieve my current goals, I will need to refine my academic skills and speed up my process of learning.
I have test anxiety, and this may represent a significant challenge that prevents me from passing the licensure’s exams. I will work hard to overcome this personal handicap, which I consider to be the greatest barrier to obtaining the licensure. On the positive side, I have advanced experience and am confident that combining this with the licensure will allow me to provide the clients I serve with a positive experience.

References

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. (2014). About AAMFT. Retrieved from http://www.aamft.org/iMIS15/AAMFT/Content/about_aamft/Qualifications.aspx

International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors 2015 Http://www.iamfconline.org/International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. (2015). Http://www.iamfconline.org/. Retrieved September 11, 2016, from http://www.iamfconline.org/ 20160911183557902449489

MFT-Licensecom 2013 Marriage and Family Therapist Requirements in TexasMFT-License.com. (2013). Marriage and Family Therapist Requirements in Texas. Retrieved September 11, 2016, from http://www.mft-license.com/states/texas-mft-license.html#context/api/listings/prefilter 20160911182951577019214

National Board for Certified Counselors 2016 National Certified Counselor (NCC)National Board for Certified Counselors. (2016). National Certified Counselor (NCC). Retrieved September 11, 2016, from http://nbcc.org/Certification/NationalCertCounselor 201609111839161134898901

Texas Administrative Code 2013 LICENSURE AND REGULATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTSTexas Administrative Code. (2013, March). LICENSURE AND REGULATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS. Retrieved September 11, 2016, from http://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=4&ti=22&pt=35&ch=801 201609111825121239206910

Texas Department of State Health Services 2015 Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family TherapistsTexas Department of State Health Services. (2015, April). Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. Retrieved September 11, 2016, from http://www.dshs.texas.gov/mft/default.shtm 20160911182010802687883