Careers in Professional Counseling

Over 90% of all the mental health counseling in the US, regardless of the professional discipline or title in use by the practitioner, is conducted by Master's-level counselors, licensed to practice in their state. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), in contrast to clergy or other "counselors," perform their duties while employed by various public agencies, businesses or industries, or in private practice. The LPC is the so-called "terminal degree" in the field, i.e., no higher level of education, or licensure, is required by the state to practice--and our LPC program is designed to train the best Master's-level therapists possible. Our faculty and clinical staff have designed the LPC program to teach therapists both the academic and scientific portion of their career preparation, but equally as important, the art of being a professional counselor.

Those seeking a doctorate usually do so in fields like Marriage & Family Therapy, or Counselor Education, from other institutions--we are proud to have served them so well in their basic clinical training--they may go on to fields in therapy or college teaching. But the vast majority of our LPC graduates will find themselves working with people who have problems: chemical dependency, mental illness, marital and family conflicts, career development, and others, with children, adolescents, and adults. While this artful profession is emotionally challenging, it is also wonderfully rewarding. If you take a class with me you will usually hear me remark, "We are privileged to work the clay of the human heart, there is no more demanding duty, nor higher reward."

The range of opportunity for LPCs is limited only by one's imagination! Come join us! -Dr. E.

December 2006 Graduation