Hire Licensed Professional Counselors
Licensed professional counselors help clients who are dealing with any type of challenge, trauma, or loss. Through compassion, empathy, patience, and perseverance, they help their clients cope, regain their sense of self, and transform their lives.
The recruitment process for a licensed professional counselor begins with identifying the specific needs of the hiring facility or institution. Licensed professional counselors work in a variety of different settings, including private practices, schools, hospitals, mental health centers, hospitals, the military, community centers, and government agencies. Depending on the requirement, licensed professional counselors may also specialize in a specific group. They may work with children, adults, or the elderly. Licensed professional counselors help clients from all backgrounds.
A compelling job description is essential to hiring a licensed professional counselor. A job description sets the tone for hiring and is the first communication between candidates and the hiring facility. For an enticing job post, hiring managers should be clear, concise, and detailed. Carefully outline the responsibilities as well as requirements. These details will help candidates picture themselves working in your clinic or institution.
Aside from general job boards, it is best for hiring managers to post job announcements on healthcare-specific job boards, online groups, and in community groups. Getting referrals from other medical professionals and employees themselves is a helpful way to source candidates. Your staff may already know a licensed professional counselor so let them know about the job vacancy.
Licensed Professional Counselor Responsibilities
From a general standpoint, licensed professional counselors assess people for mental health issues or disorders and provide specific treatment plans. They treat clients individually, as a family, or a group, depending upon the need.
Licensed professional counselors assess the health and history of clients and conduct interviews respectfully and professionally, allowing clients to share information as they feel comfortable. Upon assessment, they diagnose specific mental health disorders and create and develop an individualized treatment plan. Licensed professional counselors use appropriate forms of psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and others to help clients recognize unhealthy thoughts and behaviors and learn useful methods to cope with stress, anxiety, and other concerns.
Licensed professional counselors monitor the client’s response and progress to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment plan and modify it if needed. Licensed professional counselors determine factors that hinder progress and manage them. Detailed documentation of notes and observations are made in each session and serve as a guide throughout the treatment. Licensed professional counselors communicate and update the client’s family and all other people involved in the client’s care, if appropriate. Additionally, licensed professional counselors are responsible for reporting any indication of substance abuse or neglect. Should a client be suspected of harming himself or other people, licensed professional counselors report it to the proper authorities right away.
Licensed professional counselors also recommend other resources and community support groups that are available to the patient. They may collaborate with other medical professionals in fulfilling the treatment plan. Lastly, licensed professional counselors uphold patient confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
Licensed Professional Counselor Skills and Qualifications
The ideal candidate for a licensed professional counselor has a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling and an updated state license to practice as a professional counselor.
Additionally, the candidate is an individual who is compassionate, trustworthy, and professional with excellent active listening and problem-solving skills. Moreover, strong communication skills and empathy are a must as licensed professional counselors interact closely with patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals. Though challenging, the services they provide are instrumental in changing people’s lives.
