|
|
Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC
Posted by April on 6/01/08
Jeff,
I actually completed the Hopkins program in May last year.
I would direct you to go the clincial route b/c this way you
are open to working in a school and/or a clinical setting
where if you do school you are NOT going to be easily
welcomed to take positions in a clinical setting; which you
may later want? I actually work in a school now and will go
on for my PhD in fall 2009. I would be happy to answer your
questions about hopkins program and/or the field. I just
licensed at the begining of may as LCPC. The NCE was a
breeze! Hopkins prepares you really well!
april april.ams@gmail.com
On 5/06/08, Jeff wrote:
> I am interested in becoming a counselor. I used to work
in
> a psychjiatric hospital and loved it. I enjoy being a
> teacher. I would be happy as either a therapist or an
> educator. I would like to do things in a way that
> qualifies me for both. I live in MD and do know what I
> need to become a school counselor and an LCPC (Licensed
> Clinical Professional Counselor). However, I don't know
> the job market that well.
>
> My original thought was a 48credit MA program in school
> counseling. Then, to get the additional 12 credits I'd
> need for my LCPC I'd take a 15 credit Clinical Counseling
> certificate at Hopkins. That way, I'd be qualified for
> school counseling (most school counseling jobs actually
pay
> better than mental health counseling jobs) AND for mental
> health work. I'd work as a school counselor during the
day
> and do mental health work part-time in the evening. Once
I
> had the experience to get my license I'd consider either
> staying with that combination, or getting a private
> practice started.
>
> However, my concern is that when I worked at the psych
> hospital they looked down on any degree with "school" in
> front of it. For instance, a school psychologist with a
> Ph.D. and their state license is a fully qualified
> psychologist who is qualified to work in any setting any
> other psychologist may work (school, counseling and
> clinical psychology are considered the three fields
> within "professional psychology"). However, the reaction
> to the hospital staff about any school psychologists
> working there was "this is a hospital, not a school".
>
> So, I am concerned that I may be at a disadvantage for non-
> school counseling jobs if the degree is in school
> counseling no matter what certificates and licenses I pick
> up later.
>
> I've started considering going for a clinical counseling
or
> mental health counseling degree and then take a CAGS/Ed.S.
> in school counseling to enable me to be qualified for
> either type of position. It may take a bit more
> coursework, but if it was the best way to get where I
> wanted to go, it may be worth it. However, I read that in
> many states there is already many more school counselors
> applying than there are positions. My concern is that
they
> may use the degree outside school counseling as a way to
> weed me out of the running just to pare things down a bit.
>
> So, has anyone out there used their school counseling
> degree and additional coursework to obtain therapist
> positions? Has the degree been a hinderance when applying
> for positions? Also, has anyone used a mental
> health/community/clinical counseling degree and additional
> coursework to obtain a school counseling position? Has
> that degree been a hinderance when applying for positions?
>
> I thank you in advance for your help.
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LCPC, 5/06/08, by Jeff.
- Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC, 5/06/08, by lacey.
- Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC, 5/07/08, by Musicmae.
- Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC, 5/07/08, by Jeff.
- Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC, 5/08/08, by Counselor.
- Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC, 6/01/08, by April .
- Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC, 6/04/08, by Jeff.
- Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC, 6/06/08, by liz.
- Re: Which direction to become BOTH a school counselor and LC, 6/06/08, by Susan.
|
1996 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy.
