As a current student within a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program with a LPC licensure track, I strongly oppose this proposed amendment. One of the main reasons for opposing this proposal is the differences in the educational track and career focus of both LPC and LCSW. We are discussing (in what I see) two completely different approaches to counseling. LPCs often specialize in a more clinically tailored counseling and psychotherapy approach whereas LCSWs specialize in case management, advocacy, focusing on environmental and social factors, in addition to therapy. 

If you were to compare the educational track master’s programs for an LPC and LCSW you will most likely find little to no similarities. As stated above in most LPC track programs you will find clinical heavy courses with a focus of counseling, theories, and specializations. These courses are seen as mandatory in most counseling programs for LPC track. If you were to look at the program coursework for an LCSW individual, you would find most of the coursework is social justice work driven. In some LCSW programs you can find specialized concentrations and classes offered at Elective levels; these classes are not mandatory as compared to an LPC.

To propose this petition or have this even as a consideration is beyond me. As a current master’s student, I would prefer to have someone supervise me that was in the exact same path that I am following. I am currently an intern student on LPC licensure track with an LMFT supervisor. In this situation, I have often struggled on making connections with my supervisor and taking in account suggestions and feedback from someone of a different background (specializing in families and couples).  It has been my own experience of being supervised by someone with a different specialty that makes me strongly oppose this petition. We are the ones who can ultimately pick who we would like to have to supervise us, why can’t we have someone that will ultimately support us and have knowledge of our own licensure track. Everyone should at this point, supervise their own residents in my opinion. It is best for the individual and it will be better overall for the community and populations that we will serve in the long run.