Should Christian Psychology Become a Profession?
January 31st, 2010(by Philip G. Monroe. Associate professor of Counseling & Psychology at Biblical Seminary. Dr. Monroe is our blogger for the month of February and this is his first post. Dr. Monroe maintains his own blog at http://www.wisecounsel.wordpress.com/)
Right now, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, lawmakers are considering a bill that would place more restrictions on who can provide counsel. Currently, the state has a number of mental health credentials. Among those is the Licensed Professional Counselor credential for those with a requisite master’s degree and post graduate supervised practice. If passed, the new bill will not only protect the title of “Professional Counselor” but also the practice of professional counseling. Per the law, one may not “style” themselves as a counselor unless they are licensed as such.
Who does this effect? This will especially impact the many Christian counselors who are not licensed but practice a form of counseling (aka biblical counseling, Christian counseling, etc.). While these counselors do not provide diagnoses or bill insurances they do collect fees, keep progress notes, maintain confidentiality, and provide counsel for those struggling with issues such as anxiety, anger, depression, marital conflict and the like. So, the 64 million dollar question: Do these unlicensed Christian counselors “style” themselves as professional counselors? And who decides the line between the two? As an aside, the bill does contain an exemption for pastoral counselors. Pennsylvania does not yet define that title but in other locales that title is reserved for those ordained, trained in a pastoral counseling graduate program, and doing work in church-related institutions.
Here’s where the bill gets interesting. It describes what typifies a profession that might overlap with counseling but have a separate (and thus exempted) identity and practice. Here are some of the criteria they might use to discern a separate profession (note my bolded text to emphasize interesting details):
1. The group’s activity and focus must be based on an identifiable body of theoretical knowledge which, although it may include areas of common knowledge shared with social work, marriage and family therapy, and professional counseling, is demonstrably different, in the aggregate, from the body of theoretical knowledge underlying social work, marriage and family therapy, and professional counseling.
2. The group must regulate entrance into professional membership by means of standards of knowledge, training and proficiency generally accepted by the profession with which it identifies.
3. The group’s activity must be guided by generally accepted quality standards, ethical principles and requirements for an independent profession.
4. The group must exhibit the ordinary accoutrements of a profession, which may include professional journals, regional and national conferences, specific academic curricula and degrees, continuing education opportunities, regional and national certification and awards for outstanding practice within the profession.
Thus, the state will consider whether one is a qualified member of a profession (and in compliance with that profession’s standards) AND counseling only in the scope of this profession.
This leads me to ask two questions. Does Christian psychology fit the definition of a profession? Should we seek to form our own credentials?
Like all good academics, we like to pose questions and avoid answering them. However, I do have some thoughts. First, we do have a theoretical knowledge base that is unique in its scope even if embryonic in its application. Second, while we do not have our own standards of practice, our parent organization, The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), does. And other Christian counseling membership organizations do as well. However, our biggest problem is that we do not limit members to only those who meet an observed standard of practice. There are no proficiency exams to hinder some from entry (again the AACC is now working to change this for their organization). Finally, there are many who would resist the separation of Christian psychology or Christian counseling as a distinct profession on the grounds that it would either ghettoize Christian counselors or lead to innumerable ideological authorities (biblical counselors vs. Christian psychologists vs. Reformed counselors vs. Catholic therapists, etc.). It is my opinion that our Society is enriched because we do NOT see ourselves as a profession. Thus, we have philosophers, theologians, psychologists, pastors, biblical counselors and many more within our ranks. We are well suited to avoid groupthink, in my humble opinion.
What do you think? Should Christian counselors seek their own professional identity and licensing body? What are the pros and cons of doing so?
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:29 am
I think Christian counselors should seek some form of licensing body within our country in order to practice, though the requirements should be different from those of the LPC as it is very difficulty (and expensive) to meet those requirements. Maybe the license should require something more akin to having a certain number of years being supervised and having a degree in Christian counseling.
At the same time, it seems in some ways that by regulating one’s ability to practice counseling we are stepping on peoples rights…in order to protect the public. Licensing in general walks some very fine lines, especially when we are talking about what counselors can do in their private practices. (If I want to go to an unlicensed counselor that practices voodoo why shouldn’t I be able to if it is my choice?)
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:11 am
Mark, you hit on the key point that bodies like APA find tension: the line between human freedom (client freedom to choose the help they want) and protection of the public from the unscrupulous. Consider another venue. Should I be able to choose to have a credit card that charges 1,000% interest if I’m a second late in paying? The government gets involved because some practices are just immoral and dangerous. Same with counseling. Licensure is all about protecting the public. My licensing body is not concerned with protecting me one bit. They’ll throw me under the bus as soon as I appear to have harmed the public. But, then, isn’t licensure/ordination of pastors for the purpose of protecting the congregation from heresy and damage? We all know that ordained pastors can do great damage but we also know that not credentialing them would be an even worse problem. Right?
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Phil, I agree that licensing serves a very protective function for the public. By looking for an LPC for example, you know some basics of what you are getting and it does protect those who need it (I can remember looking for a counselor and being in the frame of mind in which I wanted help, not to evaluate a therapist’s capability, etc).
Again though, with regulation comes restriction of personal freedom. You wrote, “The government gets involved because some practices are just immoral and dangerous.” I agree with this statement, but I am also cautioned because I know that public values don’t always agree with Christian values, and if they conflict, I fear that Christian counselors may at some point in the future be restricted from practicing with freedom of conscience.
An older psychologist once told me that his practice typically attracts conservative Christians because he himself is conservative, but that if he, as an MFT had a client that wanted help pursuing a gay lifestyle, he would be required by his licensing board to assist. Now wherever you are on the issue, the board decided that it was unethical to practice as a MFT and not treat gay clients seeking to further explore their same sex attraction. I can’t vouch for what the MFT ethical agreement says, but if he is right, his freedom of conscience is restricted by his professional need to be licensed.
Just some thoughts….
February 5th, 2010 at 12:39 am
Although for the most part I am not in agreement with additional governmental regulations in most areas of our life, I do feel that a point can be made that a “Standard” could be set – to protect the client from dangerous and even criminal behavior. Although more laws are not going to get ride of that all together either.
Are we to step outside the umbrella of “a church” and practice as independent practitioners, seeing clients for any disorders that a Clinical Ph.D., or a LMHC/LCSW/LMFT might treat? If that is the case, then some safeguards must be in place to insure that the Therapist and/or Counselor has the knowledge and ability to treat them.
Here again is a paradox that must be answered; are we Counseling the client Biblically and not Psychologically, or are we using Psychology with Biblical Variables? How much does God come into the therapy – and do yourself even call it (or consider it) to be therapy?
My state, Washington, allows for “Life Coaches”, “Biblical or Religious Counseling” however we have to be extremely careful how or if we “bill for services” rather than except donations. And if you are found “treating a client outside your scope of practice” – You need to start praying!!
Why can’t we create or self impose our own requirements before we tell people it is o.k. to start “helping others” because once you are perceived as being a Therapist, there are times that I can not get the phone to stop ringing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I pray that is has not clouded the issue more – Here is a great place to end… Pray about it, what would God and/or Christ have us do – for the betterment of all, not just us as Counselors, but for the clients and the public???
“…ask…..seek….knock…”
Have a Blessed Week
February 19th, 2010 at 5:14 am
Phil: I am also in Washington. What area or region are you practicing?
~BJ
February 19th, 2010 at 6:21 am
BJ,
I’m in the Philadelphia area.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:02 am
Whoops. I got the comments mixed up. Douglas: Where are you in Washington?