Professional Identity and Credential Requirements
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Author Note
Clint A. Wilson
I have no known conflicts of interest to disclose
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Clint Wilson. Email: cawilson25@liberty.edu
Abstract
The counselor’s professional identity is complex and dynamic, born out of one blending of theoretical knowledge, ethical behavior, and personal values. This paper reflects on some core ingredients that provide the basis of the professional identity of a counselor: self-awareness, ongoing education, and the value of his or her contribution toward enabling clients to effect changes. It is worth learning about the philosophy of counseling because it focuses on normal development, prevention, advocacy, wellness, and empowerment. The formation and maintenance of the profession are other critical components engaging in professional counseling associations. Counselor Ethical Codes is also essential knowledge that a counselor can have since it helps to understand the many ethical codes guiding counseling.
Keywords: counselor, professional identity, ethical behavior, ongoing education, advocacy, empowerment, professional associations, networking, ethical codes, Biblical worldview, spiritual integration, challenges, identity development
Professional Identity and Credential Requirements
The professional identity of the counselor is complex and dynamic, born out of a singular melding of theoretical knowledge, ethical behavior, and personal values. Counselors work in a varied landscape of mental health and wellness, and their professional identities may vary with education level, treated population, and cultural background. The article reflects upon some of the core ingredients that provide the foundation for a counselor’s professional identity: self-awareness, ongoing education, and the value of their contribution toward enabling clients to effect changes in their lives. By the end of this discussion, it should have been established how much a sense of professional identity enhances the capability to carry out duties effectively and raises awareness of challenges associated with being a counselor.
The Importance of Professional Identity
The Necessary Components for Professional Identity
Understanding the Philosophy of Counseling:
The counseling profession is underpinned by a distinct set of values and philosophies that inform the practice of counselors. At its core, the profession is characterized by an emphasis on normal development, prevention, advocacy, wellness, and empowerment (Healey & Hays, 2012).
Counselors would view growth and development as essentially positive and expected, and it was a means whereby counselors framed the changes and challenges that their clients confronted in the course of life. Here, preventive services became very important. This is where counselors teach their clients about mental health, try to make them more resilient, and encourage healthy development throughout their lives in order to stop or delay the onset of symptoms or lessen their severity Furthermore, counseling entails advocacy, in which counselors advocate for their clients’ and their profession’s rights against oppressive systems. Counselors encourage the clients to maintain wellness by advising them on ways of adopting positive attitudes, formulating self-care plans, and developing strategies for balancing life . Because of that, the whole process of counseling is empowering on its own, for counselors foster in clients autonomy, advocacy, self-validation, and self-determination.
Engagement in Professional Counseling Associations:
Professional membership in counseling associations is a critical component in the development and maintenance of the profession. Professional associations, such as the American Counseling Association and the National Board for Certified Counselors, provide a foundational structure through which counselors connect via networking, professional growth, and political advocacy. Members of such organizations will keep professionals current on best practices, ethical standards, and emerging research that underpin their delivery of client care (Simmons et al., 2024).
With active memberships in these organizations comes an inexhaustible list of benefits for the counselors in terms of webinars, workshops, and conferences reserved just for members. Such a resource pool aids not only in skill development but also contributes significantly to the counselor’s professional identity and credibility. Besides, one finds community feeling engendered among practitioners in such associations, which keeps open the avenue for collaboration and sharing of novelty in counseling techniques. Membership in committees or special interest groups lets professionals be involved in the leadership and policies of the profession, making sure voices are heard in critical conversations about the future of counseling (Simmons et al., 2024).
Advocacy is another critical aspect of involvement with professional counseling associations. Counselors, through an association, may influence legislation and policy affecting their practices and populations. This is the very foundation of any collective action on systemic issues, such as access to mental health services and the advancement of cultural competence within the profession. Active engagement in professional counseling associations is not only urgent for practitioners at an individual level but crucial in the development of the counseling profession as a whole (Simmons et al., 2024).
Knowledge of Counselor Ethical Codes:
Understanding counselor ethical codes instills professionalism and integrity in the practice of counseling. Counselors can navigate complexities in relationships with clients and offer services that uphold dignity, rights, and welfare for the person they serve through ethical guidelines. The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, for example, gives comprehensive standards by which counselors practice their profession; they also give recommendations on critical issues such as confidentiality, professional competence, and the need for cultural sensitivity. To some extent, familiarity with these codes apart from promoting accountability helps counselors make informed decisions out of ethical practice thus improving the therapeutic alliance (Burns & Cruikshanks, 2017).
Furthermore, the code of ethics should help eliminate conflicts of interest and dual relationships for counselors that would impede their professional judgment. According to the National Board for Certified Counselors, guidelines provided by a code of ethics assist counselors in recognizing and dealing with circumstances where blurred boundaries in personal and professional associations may seep in, hence safeguarding the sanctity of the counselor-client relationship (NBCC, 2020). Counselors who follow ethical principles find all of these issues less cumbersome and ensure that their practices are centered on the client’s interests.
Knowledge of ethical considerations will also have a wider influence than the practitioner in fostering trust within the counseling community and with the general public. Ethical violations not only significantly harm clients but also weaken the confidence and reputation of the counseling profession. Welfel (2016) notes that commitment to ethical practice is centrally set within a professional identity and public perception because ethical practice reflects a counselor’s seriousness about adhering to the best standards of care. It is therefore of paramount importance that the counselor continue lifelong education and reflection around ethical codes so that his practice will keep pace with changes in societal views and mental health..
Ethical Spiritual/Religious Integration as a Component of Professional Counseling Identity
What integration really means is how psychological principles and techniques are integrated into a Biblical worldview in the practice of counseling. The model thus seeks to contextualize mental health practices within the Christian faith, addressing both spiritual and emotional needs in a way complementary to one another. Through this approach, counselors are sensitive to how much spiritual beliefs are part of a client’s life and seek to make them part of the overall counseling process (Simmons et al., 2024).
ACA Code A.4.b ensures a Biblical worldview inclusion into the integration in the practice of a counselor can be done, but only in an ethical manner, where the client’s autonomy is considered regarding faith and values (ACA 2014 Code of Ethics, n.d.).
The Challenges to Professional Identity
Each of these challenges contributes to a limitation in counselors’ professional mobility and serves as a barrier to developing a clear, recognized profession identity. This translates into confusion about what is really meant by the term “counselor,” undermining credibility and effectiveness in the provision of counseling services, which then may have a bearing on the care provided to clients. To promote a more unified, professionally recognized identity for counselors working in diverse contexts, we must address these types of challenges.
Professional Identity Development Plan
Motivations for Becoming a Professional Counselor
There are countless motivators that I could state when it comes to becoming professional counselor. Motivators such as the desire to help others, the desire for meaningful work, or an interest in human behavior. All of these motivators may partly true for me, the biggest two is based on my personal experiences in life. My struggles with addictions and depression. I also have a commitment to lifelong learning, so if I am being transparent the biggest motivator would be for more knowledge.
Steps to Establish Identity as a Professional Counselor
Establishing my professional identity can be achieved through various means, but my primary emphasis will be on cultivating a robust network and establishing a distinctive professional brand. Membership in esteemed professional organizations, such as the American Counseling Association (ACA), offers a fertile ground for networking. Furthermore, my affiliation with the Eta Theta Iota chapter of Phi Alpha Honor Society presents a valuable opportunity for connecting with like-minded professionals. Crafting a personal mission statement is the first step in developing my professional brand, one that embodies my unwavering dedication and passion for the field of addictions counseling. Having struggled with addiction during my teenage years and receiving invaluable guidance and support from a counselor inspired my resolve to specialize in addictions counseling.
Potential Challenges
The biggest barrier to achieving success involves my own self-care. This is repeated in supervision meetings, but each time I find myself doing more for others than myself. First, to begin the loosening of this barrier, I need to accept the realization of the importance of self-care and implement an attainable strategy to make this part of my daily routine. Through scheduling, I can, therefore, allocate some hours for self-care, hence making it a continuous process. Another struggle includes balancing work, family, spiritual, and school demands, which constitutes a significant risk to my well-being. In this case, this risk can be minimized through proper time management, which I can only do through a systematic method of task management and providing realistic timelines. Moreover, peer and family support can become an important lifeline to help balance such complexities.
State Credential Plan
| State: | Indiana |
| Website for State’s Counseling Board: | https://www.in.gov/pla/ |
| Academic Requirements: Number of total hours in Master’s program. | 60 |
| Academic Requirements: Specific course content requirements (e.g., human growth and development, ethics, multicultural, etc). | (A) Human growth and development. (B) Social and cultural foundations of counseling. (C) Helping relationship, including counseling theory and practice. (D) Group dynamics, processes, counseling, and consultation. (E) Lifestyle and career development. (F) Assessment and appraisal of individuals. (G) Research and program evaluation. (H) Professional orientation and ethics. (I) Foundations of mental health counseling. (J) Contextual dimensions of mental health counseling. (K) Knowledge and skills for the practice of mental health counseling and psychotherapy. (L) Clinical instruction. |
| Academic Requirements: Supervised clinical experience (i.e., fieldwork/practicum/internship): What are the total hours needed? | 1000 |
| Does your state require additional coursework/hours than what is required to complete the LUO CMHC program? If so, what is needed? | No |
| POST MASTER’S Requirements: What are the total hours needed before applying for independent licensure? | 3000 |
| POST MASTER’S Requirements: What licensure exam(s) are required? | NBCC Exam- NCMHCE |
Conclusion
References
ACA 2014 Code of Ethics. (n.d.).
Burns, S., & Cruikshanks, D. R. (2017). Evaluating Independently Licensed Counselors’ Articulation of Professional Identity Using Structural Coding. The Professional Counselor, 7(2), 185–207. https://doi.org/10.15241/sb.7.2.185
Healey, A. C., & Hays, D. G. (2012). A Discriminant Analysis of Gender and Counselor Professional Identity Development. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90(1), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-6676.2012.00008.x
Simmons, R. T., Lilley, S. C., & Kuhnley, A. (Eds.). (2024). Introduction to counseling: Integration of faith professional identity and clinical practice (second). Kendall Hunt.
Welfel, E. R. (2013). Ethics in counseling and psychotherapy: Standards, research, and emerging issues (5th ed). Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.