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Emphasis in
Leading to eligibility for LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor)
Program Information | Courses for LPC | Courses for LPCC
The Adler Graduate School prepares students to pursue the professional role of clinical mental health counselor. This is a nationally recognized field in the practice of mental health. Professional counselors typically hold a license as an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor (currently applicable in Minnesota and Wisconsin) and/or a license as an LPCC - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.
Clinical mental health counselors work in numerous settings that provide education and mental health services to individuals, couples, and families. In terms of coursework and professional preparation, clinical mental health counselors vary from marriage and family therapists in that the clinical mental health counselor's focus is more on individual growth and development. Though clinical mental health counselors work with couples and families, it is more typical that their professional practice is individually focused.
The Adler Graduate School's academic program emphasis in clinical mental health counseling is constructed around State of Minnesota criteria for licensure as a professional counselor. Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors are overseen by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, 2829 University Ave SE Suite 210, Minneapolis, MN 55414, phone (612) 617-2178. The LPC and LPCC are nationally recognized mental health licenses existing in nearly all 50 states. Some AGS students elect to pursue dual licensure, typically LMFT and LPC.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
This is the basic license in clinical mental health counseling. In Minnesota, LPC is generally not recognized as insurance reimbursable. However, practitioners holding LPC are able to practice independently and are recognized as mental health specialists. Many clinical mental health practitioners obtain LPC on their way to LPCC. The primary differences in working for LPCC as a continuation of LPC are additional coursework and practice hours under clinical supervision.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
The newly established Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Minnesota offers clinicians a distinguished and rigorous independent clinical mental health practice option. This license is available to master’s level practitioners.
At the Adler Graduate School, students may matriculate in a 60-credit hour master’s degree program that fully prepares them for the LPCC. Students obtain the Master of Arts degree in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy with an emphasis in clinical counseling.
The LPCC is for practitioners who want to work with individuals, couples, and families. It is designed as a master’s level, independent clinical license that takes the broad view of mental health concerns and treatment. In many ways, LPCC is the more “generalist” license for mental health practice in Minnesota.
Recent History of LPCC
On May 14, 2009, Governor Pawlenty signed into law the new Omnibus Health Bill (HF 1362, 4th Engrossment, 86th Legislative Session, 2009-2010). Included in the bill is a provision that adds the State’s newest clinical mental health license (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor or LPCC) to the list of recognized mental health professionals (Article 7, Subd. 18).
This now puts the LPCC license at parity with the other independent clinical mental health licenses in Minnesota (LMFT, LP, etc.). For professional counselors, the Governor’s signature on May 14 ushered in an extremely welcomed change.
Clinical mental health counselors can now be recognized by insurance companies, state agencies, and other groups as holding licensure status equivalent to LMFT, LP, etc. It will take some time for the new LPCC license to work its way into areas like managed care. However, professional counselors are now granted equivalent status.
This degree track fully prepares students to be LPCC-eligible including completion of all pre-degree internship requirements. It is a rigorous master’s degree program emphasizing areas of study above and beyond LMFT and LPC.
For more information contact:
Evelyn Haas
Director of Admissions & Student Services
612-861-7554 Ext. 103
ev@alfredadler.edu |
