CODE OF ETHICS IN COUNSELLINGAmerican Counselling Association (2005). Some of the key aspects under the different sections of the Code are shared below briefly.Section A: The Counselling RelationshipWelfare of clients:Counsellors encourage client growth and development in ways that foster the interest and welfare of clients and promote formation of healthy relationships.Informed Consent:Clients have the freedom to choose whether to enter into or remain in a counselling relationship and need adequate information about the counselling process and the counselor.Confidentiality:Clients have the right to confidentiality and to be provided with an explanationof its limitations.Non professional interactions:Non-professional relationships between counsellors and present and former clients should be avoided.Establishing Fees:In establishing fees for professional counselling services, counsellors considerthe financial status of clients and locality. In the event that the established fee structure is inappropriate for a client, counsellors assist clients in finding comparable services of acceptable cost.Section B: Confidentiality, Privileged Communication and PrivacyCounsellors recognize that trust is a cornerstone of the counselling relationship.Respecting client rights:Respect for the clients rights to privacy and confidentiality.Section C: Professional ResponsibilityKnowledge of standards:Counsellors have a responsibility to read, understand, and follow the ACA Code of Ethics and adhere to applicable laws and regulations.Professional competence:Counsellors practice only within the boundaries of their competence.Monitor Effectiveness:Counsellors continually monitor their effectiveness as professionals and take steps to improve when necessary. Counsellors in private practice take reasonable steps to seek peer supervision as needed to evaluate their efficacy as counsellors.Continuing education:Counsellors recognize the need for continuing education to acquire and maintain a reasonable level of awareness of current scientific and professional information in their fields of activity.Accurate advertising:When advertising or otherwise representing their services to the public, counsellors identify their credentials in an accurate manner that is not false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent.Non-discrimination:Counsellors do not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, culture,disability, ethnicity, race, religion/ spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status/ partnership, language preference, socioeconomic status or any basis.Section D: Relationships With Other ProfessionalsCounsellors develop positive working relationships and systems of communication with colleagues to enhance services to clients.Section E: Evaluation, Assessment, and InterpretationCounsellors use assessment instruments as one component of the counselling process, taking into account the clients personal and cultural context.Section F: Supervision, Training, and TeachingCounsellors aspire to foster meaningful and respectful professional relationships and to maintain appropriate boundaries with supervisees and students.Section G: Research and PublicationCounsellors who conduct research are encouraged to contribute to the knowledge base of the profession and promote a clearer understanding of the conditions that lead to a healthy and more just society.Section H: Resolving Ethical IssuesCounsellors behave in a legal, ethical, and moral manner in the conduct of their professional work.Training program for counselorsCertificate Courses on Counselling for those who wish to improve their counselling skills and learn more about counselling as a whole.1. Refresher training on counselling skills This could be for counsellors who have undergone the last training about a year ago. This will help the counsellor revisit all the essential skills of counselling and continue to motivate the counsellor to practice this on the field.2. Relationship skills workshop This focuses on the importance of couple counselling, teaches the counsellor necessary skills to build the relationship between the couple. Some topics include conflict resolution, assertiveness, constructive criticism, giving and receiving feedback etc3. Counselling Approaches for children Various ways in which counselling can be practiced with children. This deals with disclosure to children, how, when is the appropriate time, under what circumstances etc. An introduction to Art therapy, play therapy, drama therapy and storytelling as therapy for children.4. Group Counselling The Dos and Donts of Group Counselling, how to conduct a group counselling session. Stages of group and the role of the counsellor as facilitator in conducting group therapy. 5. Addiction Counselling The role of the counsellor in handling addictions, understanding the concept of addiction as an illness that needs to be treated. The emotional and physical dependency of substances that are abused. 6. Mental Health Issues Counsellors could be trained on the various mental health issues like depression, suicide, low self esteem, etc, Techniques like problem solving, breathing exercises, improving self esteem etc. Some assessment and intervention tools will go a long way in improving the counsellors ability to identify mental illness and to deal with these issues professionally.7. Disclosure and informing the partner about ones HIV status is the most difficult for every PLHA. The counsellor should be taught certain techniques in helping their clients to disclose their status as well as tell their partner/ spouse ones own status.8. Dealing with Stigma and Discrimination Helping clients deal with the stigma and discrimination on a day-to-day level. Identifying if the stigma is real or if it is self-stigma. 9. Adherence Counselling This workshop help the counsellor identify the various aspects that they need to discuss with the client before ART begins. It involves the counsellor employing certain skills in handling these sessions.10. Stress Management and team building Counsellors must learn the art of identifying stress and learn effective ways of relieving the same. Counsellors must also learn the importance of building teams. When counsellors see illness and death on a regular basis, it is possible for counsellors to face a burn out. This workshop help the counsellor avoid such a situation.11. Grief Counselling - Grief is a natural, healthy process that enables one to recover from terrible emotional wounds. Understanding the nature of grief can help one to better cope with loss. Grief that is left unresolved may trigger depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, or other serious problems.12. Counselling through Human development -This workshop will take one through the life-long process of human development. From this workshop one will be able to understand the counselling needs at different stages of human life and the challenges faced in each stage.13. Crisis interventions - Crisis intervention is a crucial stage in the healing process for victims. This workshop focus on how to help victims confront the reality of what happened, begin to deal with the crisis, and to beyond the pain and emotional trauma toward new strength and opportunities for growth and change.Educational RequirementsThe educational and licensing requirements vary depending upon the state in which you wish to practice and the specialty area you choose. In most cases, a minimum of a master's degree in counseling, psychology or social work is required to become a counselor. The type of degree you ultimately choose to pursue will also depend on the type of counseling you want to perform.Counseling programs are often located in a university's school of education, health science or psychology. Some of the possible areas of study that may be offered include: School counseling Student affairs counseling Career counseling Mental health counseling Community counseling Marriage and family counseling Substance abuse counselingIn order to gain licensure, most states require at least a master's degree. For some specialty areas, such as school counseling, states may require graduation from an accredited school counseling program and additional continuing education credits. For marriage and family counselors, many states require a master's degree and an additional two years of supervised clinical experience in order to be licensed.Licensing requirements can also vary depending upon the work setting. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that while counselors employed in a college career center may not need to be licensed, some states require career counselors employed in private practice to have a professional counseling license.In addition to earning state licensure, some counselors opt to become certified by a professional certification board. The National Board for Certified Counselors offers a National Certified Counselor credential as well as certifications in sub-specialty areas including addiction counseling, clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.If you are interested in becoming a counselor, start by doing some research on your State's educational and licensing requirements for different counseling specialty areas.RequirementsEducationMost counselors have a bachelors or masters degree, but an associates degree is a great place to begin a counseling career, particularly if a person wants to maintain flexibility in his specific counseling path. In general, an associates degree is required for addiction counseling, career counseling and life coaching. An associates degree also introduces a person to the wide variety of counseling career choices.After an associates degree, an individual interested in, for example, marriage and family counseling, personal growth counseling, psychotherapy, some types of addiction counseling or crisis counseling needs to obtain a bachelors degree or even a masters degree. Other counseling careers, such as psychoanalysis and some social work, require a PhD or other doctorate degree.A more direct path to counseling is to obtain a bachelors degree in counseling, psychology or social work, and then narrow down to a specialization through a masters degree program. If an individual knows which specialty he or she is most interested in, this is the fastest path. Most colleges and universities have counseling departments, and one of the best ways to understand the field is to speak to a college counselor about the options available.TrainingBeyond the classroom training, most counseling programs have a mentoring aspect as well. This constitutes a period of time when an experienced counselor oversees students in all aspects of counseling, ensuring that the students gain the necessary skills. Depending on the state, certification and licensure may require varying degrees of time in a mentorship program. Most state licensing boards have websites where more information on the specifics may be found.Licensing and/or CertificationPositions where an associates degree is sufficient generally do not require licensing. Some kind of certification may be required, depending on the state in which the counselor is employed. Without a doubt, however, obtaining certification greatly increases the chances of employment.The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)awards general certifications to counselors and are given after passing a national examination. The examination is typically a part of state licensing procedures. You can find more information about the examhere. The NBCC also awards specialty certifications in Mental Health (CCNHC), School Counseling (NCSC) and a certification as a Master Addictions Counselor (MAC).Necessary Skills and QualitiesCounselors are expected to maintain high ethical standards, keeping their clients personal information confidential. A successful counselor needs highly developed communication skills, both written and oral. Counselors also need to maintain professional boundaries, train in critical thinking skills, be detail oriented, and maintain accurate records. They need to show sympathy and empathy while at the same time maintaining professional balance and the ability to make critical, sometimes life-changing suggestions to their clients.Entering the Caring ProfessionsFor those who want to become professional counselors, there are many routes to the goal. From the modest training required for life coaching all the way throughdoctoral degrees for psychologists, society offers different educational programs and schools.Types of Counselors Modest investment counseling careers: life coach, career counselor,hypnotherapist, emergency first-respondent counselor. Medium investment counseling careers: marriage counselor, addiction counselor, school psychiatrist, institutional counselor, crisis counselor. High investment counseling careers: psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, social worker.Modest Counseling CareersThere are few counseling careers that dont require both licensing and extensive education; often an education up to and beyond the Ph.D. level. However, there are a number of forms of counseling that often require only limited training, degrees as low as an A.A., and some few may even lack a licensing requirement, depending on your regional laws.The majority of these positions are associated with non-intrusive forms of counseling, in which no medical expertise is needed, no probing into private lives is likely to occur, and the basic ability to provide practical coaching in life-skills is the primary necessity. Career counseling,life-coaching, some forms of emergency counseling such as would be used for short-term support, may fall within the range of low-investment counseling careers.Medium Investment Counseling CareersThis mid-range assortment of careers constitutes the primary services provided. A B.A. or B.S. is the minimum amount of education expected, with a M.A. and occasionally Ph.D. degrees being more common. Licensing is virtually mandatory. Professions in this group includemarriage and family counselor, addiction counselor, many forms of personal growth counseling, psychotherapist, and school psychologist.High Investment Careers in CounselingThe most advanced levels of counseling are often those either specializing in severe forms of mental illness, long-arc therapies, or work that is deeply rooted in academic work and research. This can include clinical psychiatry at the highest level of that field, psychology, medical psychiatrists, and more. Manysocial workersmay hold a Ph.D. in a counseling field. Post-doctoral work is not uncommon, and for researchers and academicians, such training may simply be a constant obligation.Finding Training ProgramsThere are many training programs and schools at all levels of counseling training. Depending on your goals, you may be able to obtain the training you need through a local community college, a college or university, or through an online training program, college, or university. With a steady demand for workers in the counseling professions, you can count on finding many willing to give you training.Be careful: many programs, especially those not associated with a state accredited college or university, may give you less value than you hoped. Before you enroll in a program, take the time to call state, county and federal licensing bureaus to determine the actual requirements to become a licensed professional in a particular field of counseling. Establish that the program youre considering does provide that set of training and that the work you do will be recognized by licensing boards.Making Use of Local InstitutionsOn the lowest levels of training, your local community college or state university are probably your very best resources. Even if you dont make use of programs they offer, their counseling services can provide you with superior information and guidance as you assemble the necessary training to become a counselor. If you do wish to attend a state-run community college, or university, the cost may be the lowest available for the highest value of training.Online TrainingFor many low and mid investment counseling careers, online schools and programs can also provide a great option, especially to students with difficult schedules or serious geographic restrictions. Be very careful, however; be sure to choose an accredited program, and be sure to establish with licensing boards that the program you choose does meet the requirements for license. Also, be aware that in many instances, licensing involves actualinternship, serving in the field as a trainee. Often, this final portion of your qualifying study cant be provided by an online program, and must be arranged locally.Resources for Training and Degree ProgramsIts useful to have guidance and information as you navigate the complex maze of counseling education and licensing. You can begin with information found in educational sites. Be sure to seek and make use of information from your local schools and licensing boards. By doing your footwork ahead of time, you can spare yourself tragic mistakes and costly detours.

How to Become a Counselor: Education and Training RequirementsFind out how to become a counselor. Research the education requirements and learn about the experience you need to advance your career in counseling.Requirements for Becoming a CounselorCounselors can work with children, adolescents and adults. They may work in clinics, mental health facilities, schools or in private practice. Typical work of a counselor may include offering support to families or couples facing difficulties or guiding adolescents and young adults who are making decisions about their education and career options.Several types of programs prepare individuals for the different kinds of counseling. All fields of counseling require practitioners to complete master's degrees and become licensed in the state in which they work.The following table presents the core requirements for becoming a licensed therapist, as stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):Common Requirements

Degree LevelMaster's degree

Degree FieldMarriage and family therapy, clinical social work, mental health counseling, school counseling

LicensureLicensure is required in every state.

ExperienceSupervised clinical practice is often required before a counselor can become fully licensed.

Key SkillsGood listening and communication skills, ability to develop relationships with many different types of people, organizational skills for keeping detailed client records

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's DegreeA prospective counselor will begin his or her education with a bachelor's degree. A student may choose a related major, such as psychology, education or social work, or he or she may choose an unrelated major. If choosing an unrelated major, the student will need to take some electives in psychology. Coursework in general psychology, abnormal psychology, psychology of adolescence, personality psychology and statistics may be useful for preparing for graduate school.Success Tip: Complete work or volunteer experience in a counseling setting.Students may choose to gain work experience as volunteers or interns in settings that will expose them to the counseling profession. Having hands-on experience and witnessing the daily demands of a counselor may better prepare students for graduate school. Completing such experience also demonstrates commitment to the profession and puts students in touch with professionals who may be able to write letters of recommendation for graduate school applications.Step 2: Earn a Master's DegreeEarning a license in any field of counseling requires a master's degree. The degree program that a student pursues will depend on his or her career objectives, the population he or she wants to work with and any theoretical leanings he or she may have. Each type of degree leads to a different professional title, and every type of program requires a period of fieldwork or clinical practice supervised by an approved counselor.Social work programs with a focus in counseling prepare students to become Licensed Clinical Social Workers, while programs for school counselors focus specifically on counseling in the school environment. Master of Arts in Counseling programs tend to have individual-centered theoretical leanings and prepare graduates to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). LMHCs can work with individuals or groups and may specialize in a certain population or mental health disorder. Programs that prepare students to become Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists focus on techniques for improving the relationships of family members and couples.Step 3: Apply for Provisional LicensureIn many states, graduates of master's programs must first complete a certain period of supervised clinical experience before they may become fully licensed. However, many states offer provisional licenses for graduates who meet all other requirements for licensure. A provisional license allows a counselor to conduct clinical work under the supervision of a qualified licensed counselor. A contract with an approved supervisor may be a requirement for gaining provisional licensure. Provisional licensure often expires after a certain time period. Upon expiration of the license, counselors usually must apply for full licensure.Step 4: Complete Work ExperienceSupervised work experience after graduation usually lasts for two years and requires 1,500-4,000 hours. Requirements vary depending on the profession and a state's requirements. Oftentimes, school counselors are not required to complete this step and can be awarded licensure immediately upon graduation from a master's degree program.Counselors completing work experience should check with their state's requirements for structuring and documenting the experience. There are often rules about how much time must be directly observed by the supervising counselor and what types of tasks a provisional counselor can count towards the hourly requirement. Failure to comply with the state's standards can cause a delay in obtaining full licensure.Step 5: Obtain State LicensureProfessionals using titles such as Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist, School Counselor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker must hold current state licensure. Initial licensure is usually obtained by submitting evidence of completing an approved graduate program, fulfilling work experience requirements and passing an appropriate examination.Passing a state or national examination is a common requirement for entering any of the counseling fields. Some states provide their own exams; however, many rely on industry regulative boards to provide exams, such as the Association of Social Work Boards Clinical Examination, the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination or the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards Exam.Step 6: Meet Continuing Education RequirementsStates require licensees to periodically renew their licenses. Renewal procedures may require paying a fee and completing continuing education units. States usually stipulate what types of courses are applicable for meeting the continuing education requirements.CredentialingCredentialing is an important component in the development of any profession. The types of professional credentials available to a rehabilitation counselor fall into four general categories: Accreditation Registration Licensure CertificationAccreditation: In the U.S., health care accreditation is normally associated with various types of programs, such as COREs accreditation of graduate-level RCE programs. However, there is an accreditation process for individuals available to rehabilitation counselors in Canada.Registration: This type of credential may be offered by either a professional organization or a state agency. In general, applicants must simply meet certain professional criteria. If they do, they are included in a database or registry that is maintained by the organization or the state.Licensure: While similar to registration, licensure has some important differences. For example, the criteria are more stringent and generally require the applicant to pass an exam. In addition, the license is granted by a government agency and may be a statutory requirement for practice in the state.Certification: This is the most potentially valuable credential for a professional counselor because it helps document the practitioners ability to serve the needs of his/her clients effectively. Equally important, the criteria for certification are based on uniform, national standards with regard to the minimum requirements for acceptable education an experience.Although certification is a voluntary process, rehabilitation counselors have come to recognize that the increasingly complex array of services and settings that comprise todays delivery system has greatly increased their need for a professional credential that is recognized and respected by clients, regulators, state and federal lawmakers, service purchasers, and other professionals in the health care field.While market demand is one reason to seek certification, accountability is an even more important factor in the growing number of certified practitioners in the rehabilitation counseling field. By achieving certification, a practitioner can assure the individuals being served (and the community at large) that acceptable standards for practice will be followed.Certification also helps to define the profession of rehabilitation counseling more clearly by forcing it to continually re-examine itself in order to identify appropriate service delivery goals. In an environment that changes as rapidly as health care, certification often serves as the only uniform standard by which professional rehabilitation counseling practitioners can be measured. Another important aspect of the process is that practitioners must take part in continuing education activities in order to maintain their certification status, thus ensuring that they will be constantly exposed to new information and approaches.As a credentialing process, licensure bears many similarities to certification. The primary difference is that statutory requirements have been established for practitioners in order to regulate their use of a particular professional job title and their scope of practice or both. An estimated 42 states currently have some type of professional license requirement. Although more restrictive in nature, a states licensing process for counselors often parallels that for certification in that practitioners are required to hold at least a masters degree in counseling, document a set number of hours of supervised work experience, and pass an exam in their area of expertise. The standards used by the states are often modeled after those of national professional organizations.In examining the licensure process from the point of view of the rehabilitation counseling profession, the ideal would be a requirement for a general practice license whereby the governing statutes would identify a basic core of services to be provided by a qualified practitioner. Advanced practice credentials could then be developed and administered by the professional organizations in the field, similar to the board certifications offered for various medical specialties.National Certified School Counselor (NCSC)NCSC ApplicationNCC/NCSC ApplicationThe National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) is a specialty credential which recognizes counselors who possess a minimum of a masters degree in counseling with coursework in school counseling and who have passed a challenging national application and examination process. NCSCs have a strong commitment to the school counseling profession and to providing high quality services to students, parents, teachers and communities. Currently there are nearly 2500 NCCs who hold the NCSC credential.The NCSC credential is a result of the joint efforts of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the National Board for Certified Counselors. The NCSC credential was first offered to qualified counselors in 1991.For those who wish to earn the NCSC, buthave not earned the NCC, there is acombined application available.TheNational Certified School Counselor Examination (NCSCE)is required for this certification.What are some of the advantages of becoming an NCSC? Identification as masters level counseling practitioners who work in school settings Recognition by other mental health professionals as experts on the mental health needs of todays school children and adolescents Demonstration of an ongoing commitment to high quality school counseling services through continuing education Salary increases in an increasing number of states and school systems across the countryWhat is national certification?National counselor certification from NBCC proves to the public and employers that the counselor has met the national standards set by the counseling profession. It is not a license to practice. In some states, holding a national certification can assist the counselor in obtaining a state license. National certification travels with the counselor no matter the state or country of residence. The basic national certification offered by NBCC is the NCC (National Certified Counselor). NBCC is the largest national counselor certification program in the world.What is a state license?A state license in counseling is literally permission from a particular state to practice counseling or to call oneself a licensed counselor. Some states have a single license and some have a two-tiered system. The names of state licenses vary from state to state. Some examples are LPC, LCPC, LPCC, LMHC, LPCMH, LCMHC, LPC-MH. Completion of an eligible Masters degree or higher in counseling. This achievement is documented with a sealed, official transcript showing degree conferral. 48 semester hours of graduate-level credit with 2 semester hours or greater in 8 content areas listed below and at least 6 semester hours of field experience. Human Growth and Development Theories in Counseling Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling Helping Relationships in Counseling Group Counseling Theories and Processes Career Counseling and Lifestyle Development Assessment in Counseling Research and Program Evaluation Professional Orientation to Counseling Counseling Field Experience Passing score on the National Counselor Exam (NCE). Documentation of post-graduate counseling experience and supervision: 3,000 hours with a minimum of 100 hours of counseling supervision--both over a 24-month post-masters period. Supervisors must hold a masters degree or higher in a mental health field. (Important Note: The post-masters experience and supervision requirements are waived for graduate students who have completed CACREP accredited tracks.) The education of school counselors (school counsellors) around the world varies based on the laws and cultures of countries and the historical influences of their educational and credentialing systems and professional identities related to who delivers academic, career, college readiness, and personal/social information, advising, curriculum, and counseling and related services.[2] In Canada, school counselors must be certified teachers with additional school counseling training. In China, there is no national certification or licensure system for school counselors. Korea requires school counselors in all middle and high schools.[75] In the Philippines, school counselors must be licensed with a master's degree in counseling.[76] Taiwan instituted school counselor licensure for public schools (2006) through advocacy from the[77] In the USA, a school counselor is a certified educator with a master's degree in school counseling (usually from a Counselor Education graduate program) with school counseling graduate training including qualifications and skills to address all students academic, career, college access and personal/social needs. About half of all Counselor Education programs that offer school counseling are accredited by the Council on the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and all are in the USA with one in Canada and one under review in Mexico as of 2010. CACREP maintains a current list of accredited programs and programs in the accreditation process on their website.[78]CACREP desires to accredit more international counseling university programs.[78] According to CACREP, an accredited school counseling program offers coursework in Professional Identity and Ethics, Human Development, Counseling Theories, Group Work, Career Counseling, Multicultural Counseling, Assessment, Research and Program Evaluation, and Clinical Courseworka 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship under supervision of a school counseling faculty member and a certified school counselor site supervisor (CACREP,[79]2001). When CACREP released the 2009 Standards, the accreditation process became performance-based including evidence of school counselor candidate learning outcomes. In addition, CACREP tightened the school counseling standards with specific evidence needed for how school counseling students receive education in foundations; counseling prevention and intervention; diversity and advocacy; assessment; research and evaluation; academic development; collaboration and consultation; and leadership in K-12 school counseling contexts.[80] Certification practices for school counselors vary around the world. School counselors in the USA may opt for national certification through two different boards. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) requires a two-to-three year process of performance based assessment, and demonstrate (in writing) content knowledge in human growth/development, diverse populations, school counseling programs, theories, data, and change and collaboration.[81]As of February, 2005, 30 states offer financial incentives for this certification. Also in the USA, The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) requires passing the National Certified School Counselor Examination (NCSC), including 40 multiple choice questions and seven simulated cases assessing school counselors' abilities to make critical decisions. Additionally, a master's degree and three years of supervised experience are required. NBPTS also requires three years of experience, however state certification is required (41 of 50 states require a master's degree). At least four states offer financial incentives for the NCSC certification