Is the national christian counseling association legit? They claim to give you license if you already have a masters degree, and finish with there training. They claim that you will be licensed through them as an agent of the church. They affirm that it is not state licenseure. They say you can open your own counseling center after you complete your training (if you have at least a MA) and receive remuneration, and liability insurance. all replies appreciated D.
Their approach is legal, however, it is also problematic. They will license you as a Christian Counselor and in some states that allows you to perform Christian Counseling in a church environment. But it is not that simple. In Alabama Christian Counseling is allowed but there are certain guidelines that must be followed. You must either be an employee of the church or you must be employed by a non-profit corporation that has an arms-length board of directors. All monies received for counseling must be made payable to either the church or the corporation. I don't know of any state that will honor the license and allow you to set up shop independently as a counselor. If you want to go into counseling use the secular route and then apply Christian principles. That is my approach and it works well for me. Blessings.
They say that also. They state that you will be an agent of the church, instead of the state. They claim that if you are seeking state licensure that you can not offer to pray or quote scripture to a counselee unless they ask for it, is that true?
Utter Rot (not directed at you). At least not in my state. If you are an LPC they do not tell you what therapeutic methodology to use (to the best of my knowledge). With the exception of no nude therapy, etc. The American Association of Christian Counselors is a legitmate organization with a number of high profile Christian therapists on the board etc. Very large and respected organization. They are beginning to develop credentials for already licensed therapists. http://www.aacc.net There are a couple of good Christian distance learning Masters programs which can lead to licensure. Liberty U & Southern Christian University. Good luck! North
Can you spell b-u-l-l-s-h-i-t? NCCA is a fraud - big time. They cannot license counselors - only states can license. (Private organizations can certify but not license. The only type of non-state licensure that exists is for the minstry, not for counseling.) Keep in mind that almost all states have counseling licensure. Some have mandatory practice acts - you can not counsel unless you are licensed. Others have voluntary title acts - you can counsel professionally, but cannot use the abbreviation LPC. (Guess what NCCA uses to abbreviate, in their case, licensed pastoral counselors.) To act as a lay counselor you need not be licensed in any state (providing the scope of your actions is clear); but to open a counseling center or to get liability insurance, you must be licensed by the state. Needless to say, no state will accept NCCA's training (which is also a joke and used by several degree mills). Richard Arno of NCCA and I have batted heads many times on their legitimacy over the years. He maintains that his act is legitimate, I maintain that it's a joke (regardless of how sincere he may be, a factor which I am not in a position to judge). Avoid this one like the plague. I have spoken.
Re: Re: NCCA Howard states that NCCA is utter hogwash!!!! North states that NCCA is utter rot!!!!! Levicoff states that NCCA is a fraud!!!!!!! Wow, is something wrong with NCCA guys?
Re: Re: Re: NCCA Yeah, what’s wrong with it? Personally, I think it’s great that the nation’s colleges and universities have a voluntary association of devoted to the sound administration of intercollegiate athletics. Ooops… that’s the NCAA. Sorry, never mind.
NCCA and Arno STAY away from Arno and the NCCA! I took their courses more than 10 years' ago. The courses are, indeed, excellent. However, a serious breech of confidentiality was violated by Arno to someone concerning me. Additionally, I met Arno and the NCCA staff when they were in Kittanning, PA, and I found them, Arno especially, to appear slick and sleezy. They are not to be trusted, in my opinion. To avoid the religious counseling debate they have set up the National Conservative Christian Church which will ordain anyone who meets minimal criteria. This way one can engage in religious counseling under the auspices of NCCC. STAY AWAY!
Re: NCCA and Arno Jimmy, If this is true, what is your perception of Bethany's association with NCCA? Bethany offers NCCA courses as part of its counseling program, so is this a positive for NCCA or a negative for Bethany? Or does it speak volumes for both institutions?
Reply to Russell Dear Russell, You pose a very good and excellent question. I don't know how to answer it quite frankly. Others and I have written Bethany and expressed our concern about the NCCA connection only to be ignored. As a graduate of Bethany I can only posture that the quality of the NCCA courses impressed Bethany. Arno can come across very sincere but he has always stricken me as a very sleek, slick individual. He has that Clinton-Conditt appearance and those charismatic mannerisms that appeal and charm. In spite of all this I still highly recommend Bethany if it meets what one is looking for in the way of higher education and meets their specific needs. Jimmy
Re: Reply to Russell I believe someone posted on the old aed that Arno's doctorate was from Summit University. I am curious if he has any accredited degrees in psychology or counseling. North
Arno's doctorate I don't know but I seem to recall Arno has a degree from Carolina Christian University. I do know he served Methodist churches with an ordination from the Church of Gospel Ministry out of Chula Vista, CA, that no longer exists as the leader, Irving Tarbox, received his golden wings years's ago. Jimmy
Right up front, I’m way out of my league when the issue is Christian oriented psychotherapy or counseling. I have no familiarity w/ NCCA; moreover, I wouldn’t recognize Mr. Arno if I should trip over him. I wonder, though, is it remotely possible that the issue is informed consent? Allow me to explain. When the state issues a license providing an authority to practice, the clinician – be it a counselor, occupational therapist or neurosurgeon – is obliged to adhere to the doctrine of informed consent. The doctrine of informed consent has three component elements: voluntary participation, legally competent patient, and information disclosure. The first two should be self-evident. Information disclosure requires the clinician provide information about the disorder and the proposed treatment including treatment alternatives. The clinician has an obligation to disclose that prayer, scripture, covert sensitization, EMDR, ECT, psychosurgery, herbal enemas or whatever will be incorporated in the treatment plan. In other words, perhaps the question isn’t a proscription against prayer or scripture per se but the obligation to knowingly introduce this in the counselor’s informed consent disclosure and incorporate in the treatment plan.
