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Professional Counseling Fact Sheet—DE version
- Demographics
- Specialties of the Profession
- U.S., N.E., and DE Professional Associations
- Program Accreditation Boards
- Common Degree Abbreviations
- Professional Counseling Skills
- Specialty Certification Boards
- DE State Licensure Boards
Demographics
app. number of professional counselors practicing in the U.S.: 526,000 (largest mental health profession)
app. number of professional counselors practicing in the N.E.: 105,000 (largest mental health profession)
app. number of professional counselors practicing in DE: 1,400 (largest mental health profession)
some places of employment: schools and universities, hospitals, mental health agencies, the military, law enforcement and correctional institutions, private practice
related professions: social work, psychology, medicine (psychiatry), nursing (psychiatric nursing)
source: U.S. Dept. of Labor (2004)
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Specialties of the Profession
career counseling, geriatric counseling, marriage & family counseling, mental health counseling, rehab counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling
note: "specialty" is defined here as a practice area recognized through the accreditation and board certification processes
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U.S., N.E., and DE Professional Associations
American Counseling Association
www.counseling.org
1-800-347-6647 (outside U.S.: +1 (703) 823-9800)
aca@counseling.orgAmerican Counseling Association—North Atlantic Region
www.eca-counseling.com/acanar.htm
(203) 762-0603
wiltonite@aol.comDelaware Counseling Association (inactive)
www.pacounseling.org/dca.htm
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Program Accreditation Boards
Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
www.counseling.org/cacrep
1-800-347-6647 (outside U.S.: +1 (703) 823-9800)
cacrep@aol.comnote: accredits career, geriatric, marriage & family, mental health/community, and school counseling programs, plus doctoral-level professional counseling programs
Council on Rehabilitation Education
www.core-rehab.org
(847) 394-1785
dclink@wans.netnote: accredits rehab counseling programs
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Common Degree Abbreviations
M.A., M.S., M.Ed., Ph.D., Ed.D.
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Professional Counseling Skills
clinical skills (assessment [including diagnosing and psychological testing], counseling/psychotherapy, and consultation)
administrative skills (program development/management/evaluation, case management, etc.)
at doctoral level, clinical supervision and advanced research skills
note: based on CACREP accreditation standards (2001)
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Specialty Certification Boards
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
www.crccertification.com
(847) 394-2104
cchapman@foundrehab.orgnote: board-certifies rehab counselors
National Academy of Certified Family Therapists
www.natlacad.4t.com
(361) 949-7937
natlacad@netscape.netnote: board-certifies marriage & family counselors
National Board for Certified Counselors
www.nbcc.org
(336) 547-0607
NBCC@nbcc.orgnote: board-certifies mental health, school, and substance abuse counselors
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DE State Licensure Boards
DE Dept. of Administrative Services' state board of professional counseling
professionallicensing.state.de.us/boards/profcounselors/index.shtml
(302) 744-4534
karin.stone@state.de.usnote: licenses geriatric, marriage & family, mental health, and substance abuse counselors (career and rehab counselors are not licensed in DE)
DE Dept. of Education's state board of education
deeds.doe.state.de.us
(302) 739-4601
ebrown@doe.k12.de.usnote: licenses school counselors
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