A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health conditions and emotional problems.
Licensed professional counselors shall be required to have completed a minimum of 20 hours of continuing competency for each annual licensure renewal. A minimum of two of these hours shall be in courses that emphasize the ethics, standards of practice, or laws governing behavioral science professions in Virginia.
ASSESSMENT: LPCs evaluate, test, and diagnose clients using a variety of psychological tools and techniques. Assessment allows individuals and families to plan for an appropriate level of care.
3,400 hours of supervised experience. 2,000 face-to-face hours of client contact. 200 hours of in-person supervision.
ASSESSMENT: LPCs evaluate, test, and diagnose clients using a variety of psychological tools and techniques. Assessment allows individuals and families to plan for an appropriate level of care.
Although it does vary by state, in most situations, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or equivalent (e.g., therapist) can give a mental health diagnosis.
Virginia Scope of Practice “COUNSELING TREATMENT INTERVENTION” means those cognitive, affective, behavioral and systemic counseling strategies, techniques and methods common to the behavioral sciences that are specifically implemented in the context of a therapeutic relationship.
Licensed Professional Counselor Information The Virginia professional counseling license requires a master's degree in counseling, 60 graduate credit hours, including 12 specified courses and a 600-hour internship.
For example, LPCs in Virginia are required to complete a master's degree with at least 60 credit hours, focusing on courses in counseling theory, human behavior, and ethics. They must also complete 3,400 hours of supervised post-graduate work experience.