People face many issues on a daily basis. These issues, or problems, can be issues with the family, issues with mental health, issues with a professional career and direction, or many more. Some of these people will choose to find a counselor to help them through these issues. However, there are many counselors that claim to be professional counselors, yet do not hold the accreditation of being a licensed professional counselor.

If you choose to find a counselor to help you through your problems, whether it be for martial issues or mental health issues, be sure to find a licensed professional counselor. This distinction is a specific license given to mental health professionals, and separates professionally licensed counselors with counselors that practice without a professional license. To find a counselor that is a licensed professional counselor is to ensure that the counseling you receive is coming from a licensed professional, an individual who has met the requirements of the Licensed Professional Counselor Board.

The requirements of obtaining the license vary from state to state depending on the jurisdiction, but generally includes requirements of:

• A master’s or doctoral degree in a counseling field, or related field

• Completion of course work such as human growth development, human behavior, counseling theories, counseling methods, and social, family, or cultural issues.

• A graduate program that includes a practicum experience that is primarily counseling. The practicum is required to be at least 300 clock hours and at least 100 clock hours of client contact.

• The passing of the National Counselor Exam and a state jurisprudence exam.

• An internship with 3,000 clock hours and 1,500 direct client contact clock hours, usually completed in a period of time extending past 18 months.

So how can you find a counselor that is considered a licensed professional? Try these steps to find a counselor that fits your needs:

• Visit the American Counseling Association’s website and search for their directory to find a licensed professional counselor.

• You can contact your state’s counselor licensing board on the American Counseling Association’s website and ask for accredited counselors in your area and the field that you are seeking counseling in.

• Search on the Internet for counselors in your field of interest and within driving distance. Also remember to check for reviews of a particular counselor, and make sure that you confirm that the counselor is a licensed professional counselor.

• Others choose to find a counselor by asking their friends and family for recommendations. Doing so will allow you to get a personal opinion of the counselor from a source that you trust.

Finding a counselor is relatively simple. The key is finding a counselor that fits your specific needs, and is accessible for a counseling session when you are in need. Choosing a licensed professional counselor ensures that you are receiving counseling from a licensed professional specializing in the counseling of people just like yourself!