Abstract
The counseling
profession is one that is focused on providing the best therapeutic care for a
client, while still maintaining the laws and ethics set forth by a variety of
governmental sources, including local and state entities. Navigating the
regulations and credentialing requirements can be challenging, as many of the
statutes are not written in a reader-friendly approach, and can change
frequently. Keeping up to date with the proposed changes as they pertain to
credentialing, certification, and licensing can help a counselor to stay
one-step ahead, and is the responsibility of the individual providing
therapeutic services. The governing bodies vary from state to state, and from
specialty to specialty, so keeping abreast of the requirements can make
transitions and conformation easier if one desires a change in practice.
Sources
for guidance
There are various sources available
for counselors and those wishing to enter into the counseling field to gain
information and guidance on the numerous laws and regulations that govern the
field, and knowing how to navigate the plethora of information is essential in
obtaining effective, useful, and most importantly, correct information. The
internet is a great source of material; however, the information is only as
reliable as the source, which can be daunting with the wealth of material
presented online. One of the more reliable resources at the disposal of
counselors in the state of Oregon is http://www.oregon.gov/oblpct/Pages/about_us.aspx,
which is a government web source that provides a portal in which to obtain
information regarding a variety of counseling needs. In addition to the state
laws, those in the counseling field are expected to follow the American
Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics (http://www.counseling.org/resources/codeofethics/TP/home/ct2.aspx),
which is a separate code that outlines the ethical guidelines that counselors
need to abide by in order to provide the best service possible, while keeping
the client safe from unintentional psychological harm.
Oregon
counseling laws
Oregon set forth guidance in the
form of counseling laws in 1989, which govern the practices of both qualified
mental health counselors and those working in the marriage and family
practices. The aim of these new regulations was to establish a uniformity of
certification practices in order to protect both the providers and the clients
from individuals posing as counselors who in actuality lack the essential
training involved in becoming a licensed and practicing member of the mental
health community. An update to the law governing practice was made in 1999,
which prohibited the practice of psychology without a license (http://www.oregon.gov/oblpct/Pages/about_us.aspx).
The regulations as they pertain to counselors fall within two categories,
statutes (or laws) and rules. Statutes can be changed by legislature, and
include reporting obligations and complaint procedures. Oregon Administrative
Rules (OARs) include internship requirements, licensing procedures, fees, and
continuing education requirements (http://www.oregon.gov/oblpct/Pages/web-lr.aspx).
Internship
requirements
Students pursuing a counseling
profession need to keep abreast of the internship requirements, as they may
differ from the course curriculum suggested by their particular institute. In
Oregon, the master’s program must be either COAMFTE, CORE, or as the Capella
University program, CACREP approved, must be at least two years in length, and
include 700 clock hours of supervised clinical experience, with 280 of those
hours entailing direct client contact hours (http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_800/oar_833/833_060.html).
In addition to the aforementioned degree program requirements, students are to
abide by the rules set forth in OAR 833-050, which includes 2400 hours of
supervised direct client contact in order to be eligible for licensure (http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_800/oar_833/833_050.html).
The requirements differ if one is pursuing marriage and family counseling, so
paying close attention to the individual requirements for your specialty is
imperative in order to prevent errors.
Continuing
education
In order to stay up to date with the
most current therapeutic techniques, approaches and rules, continuing education
is a requirement among licensed counselors practicing in the state of Oregon.
In the first year of licensed practice, counselors are required to report their
continuing education on “an even number of years,” which can be a little
confusing to navigate, as the required hours vary depending on when the
counselor obtained their license, hence making the governing website an
invaluable resource for counselors, new and seasoned alike (http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_800/oar_833/833_080.html).
In general, 40 hours of continued education is required per reporting period,
and must include six hours of training in ethics. However, the continuing
education requirement can be waived if made necessary by a medical condition,
with the procedure outlined in OAR 833-080-0021.
Ethics
Oregon has its own Code of Ethics
for counselors, found in OAR 833-100-0011, which addresses client welfare,
integrity, and competence (http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_800/oar_833/833_100.html),
and is meant to work in conjunction with the ACA Code of Ethics. The six hours
of required continuing education in the realm of ethics highlights the
important role ethics play in the counseling field. Ethic violations most
commonly include sexual misconduct or other dual relationships, inappropriate
influence, abandonment, and failure to maintain confidentiality (http://www.jzmc.org/trends-in-ethic-violations-and-sanctions-by-mental-health-boards.htm).
Conclusion
In order to provide the highest
quality of therapeutic services, counselors and those working in the mental
health field need to keep current on rules, regulations, and guidelines, both
on the Federal and State levels, as they pertain to their individual fields. By
abiding by the published information set forth by the individual states,
including continuing educational requirements, counselors are able to be
effective and appropriate, protecting themselves and their clients from harm.
It is essential for counselors to take it upon themselves to keep up to date on
any changes, as ignorance is not an appropriate, nor acceptable excuse for
being in violation.
**References Available Upon Request**
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