This looks interesting... Do you know if their MA in Christian Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family Counseling fullfills licensing requirements? Rhonda
Hi Rhonda, The only way to determine this is to look at your state's requirements. You can find your state's requirements for MFT licensure here. Scroll down to the list of states. Blessings! Jimmy
Thanks, Jimmy! I'm wondering if one is held to the same regulations to practice as a 'Christian Counselor' as opposed to as a 'Licensed MF Therapist'. Do you think Christian Counseling is largely unregulated in the States? Rhonda
Six-six credits is certainly promising. If it doesn't it might come awfully close. In my state we need 60 credit masters degrees that include internships for licensure. (I'm a licensed sw).
Christian counseling is largely unregulated by most states. The last time I checked, only three states licensed pastoral counselors, Maine, North Carolina (I think.), and Tennessee.
I'll bet that varies from state to state also. I have a professor from my school in Ohio who has a private practice and calls herself a spiritual director rather than a counselor. (She has RA degrees: DMin, MDiv and BSN). She gave up her nurses license and believes she has more freedom as a spiritual director than if she called herself a Christian counselor- -at least in Ohio. I wonder if someone at the American Association of Christian Counselors would have a thought on the subject (800-526-8673) or perhaps their malpractice insurance company, HPSO (800-982-9491).
Jimmy/ Pat, Do you know of any cheap schools where one could get an MS in Christian Counseling from the US? I see that Bethany Bible College/ Seminary is accredited by TRACS but you need a Bachelor's in Christian Counseling to apply for the Master's level...I love the coursework though... Rhonda
The use of such words as "counseling" is restricted in most states to licensed practitioners (licensed psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, etc.). Usually, somewhere in the very statute which sets for such restrictions is some kind of mention of "Christian counselors" being exempted; but often the clause which contains said exemption sets forth what differentiates "counseling" from "Christian counseling" and will deliniate the places where "Christian counselors" may not go. Such statutory specificity amounts to regulation... even if it's only to say, in effect, that Christian counselors are exempt from the same requirements as social workers, MFTs and psychologists as long as they (the Christian counselors) confine what they do to areas not clearly within the realm of what licensed practitioners should be doing. As a practical matter, unless there's a chronic pattern of harm which can be shown to be the result of Christian counselors and whatever it is they do, most states are loathe to stick their noses into whatever goes on between a parishoner and clergy inside said clergy's office inside a church. In that setting, in most states, clergy can get away with a lot that might, strictly technically speaking, cross the line into what which only licensed practitioners should be doing. To read the transcript of an excellent story on this very subject -- and its potential dangers -- which appeared on PBS's "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly" not long ago, click here. In most states, if a "Christian counselor" hangs-out a shingle above a storefront, or opens a "counseling" office in a professional building, s/he will probably attract the attention of regulators in a way that s/he would not if doing said "counseling" in a church setting. Whether said regulators would, in such case, have a legal leg to stand on would depend on how the state's laws regarding such matters are crafted... ...and, also, perhaps the degree to which the Christian counselor in question is rubbing said regulators the wrong way just generally. States want to protect consumers from being misled and, worse, flat-out harmed. The case for "counseling" by people with anything less than serious academic psychology/counseling credentials and training is an easy one to make. Those who try to get in on the counseling game by entering through the "Christian counseling" door can be asking for trouble under certain circumstances in certain states. Other states take a strongly hands-off attitude because of the desire to stay the hell out of pastor's/priest's offices and the relationship between parishoners and clergy. It just depends on the state. No person should dip their toe into such waters until and unless s/he has carefully researched not only the state's laws, but also its practices. Whatever one does, one must do what is both legal and ethical... respecting not only the letter of the law, but also its spirit and unambiguous intent. It is usually easy to see what was the legislature's intended outcome even when the language of the law passed to effect it is poorly-written and, therefore, contains many loopholes and means by which crafty individuals may skate on the edge. Respecting the intent of the law even if it would be easy to slip through one of its holes is the ethical -- or at least the moral -- part. This way of seeing things, it seems to me, should come naturally to anyone claiming to be "Christian."
Rhonda, Bethany is not accredited by TRACS or any other organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Bethany does have an excellent program in Christian counseling. And, if you don't need a degree from an accredited school, I would recommend its counseling program. If you want a degree in counseling from an accredited school, you might want to look at some of the TRACS schools listed on their site. If you just want the training and no degree, look here. Liberty, accredited, has an excellent counseling program.
Realize also that in most states, anyone can call him/herself a "psychotherpist" and practice "psychotherapy" without a license of any kind.
Except, of course, in the states that have gotten wise to that little play on words, and have adjusted (or are adjusting) their statutes accordingly. More and more states are closing that little loophole every year. Hanging one's career hat on such as that would be a huge mistake, in my opinion. One would have better odds of not running afoul of the law by pursuing and/or sticking with the "Christian counseling" angle.
I think it is actually quite difficult to earn money directly as a "Christian counselor" without either clinical licensure or complicated church endorsement. Words like "counselor" or "psychotherapist" may or may not be protected by statue, but "practice" is defined fairly narrowly. If you are practicing counseling and soliciting the general public, you will need clinical licensure or a good lawyer. If you are a member of the clergy and charging money for individual sessions with your parishioners, your tax-exempt status and church endorsement will be looked at with great interest. The only exceptions that come to mind are things like Christian Science and Scientology, where church representatives may have individual sessions at cost to the recipient, but even here the payment is at least nominally to the church, not the individual practitioner. To get around this problem, most states will allow pastoral counselors to be licensed as general counselors if their academic curriculum meets standards similar to the general curriculum. Third party payors generally require general clinical licensure. "Spiritual directors" are essentially unregulated and can charge for their services, although as has been pointed out, they certainly need to be careful how they represent themselves (and also might need to pay income tax on their profits, get a business license or a home business license, etc as needed).
