LPCs are governed by a state-specific code of ethics. Competence is one of three key areas (integrity and professionalism) that make up licensing requirements. The Texas Board of Examiners in Counseling (TBEC) requires that Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) must complete continuing education courses on the Texas LPC code of ethics every three years to renew their licenses. So, what does this mean? What rules do you need to know about the LPC code of ethics? Let’s look at what this means and what it has to do with being an LPC in Texas.
Professionalism
Being professional is more than just saying please and thank you. To be truly professional, you have actually to hold yourself to a high ethical standard. Professionalism refers not only to your ability to work with clients; it also encompasses everything from your appearance and personality, which may seem like it should go without saying for those in therapy, but appearances can be deceiving. Understanding what’s expected of you as a therapist requires that you know your state’s licensure board requirements and their guidelines for professionalism. You will need to do research on what is acceptable based on these standards as part of your licensure application.
Competence
The cornerstone to becoming a licensed professional counselor is demonstrating competence to potential employers and clients. There are some exceptions, but generally speaking, if you can’t prove your level of education and training (as determined by your state’s licensing board), you won’t be able to work legally as a counselor. Competence includes having a degree, learning counseling skills in practicum courses, and supervising clinical experience before applying for licensure. This means that it may take longer than two years to graduate with an LPC license, which can add up when considering tuition costs and/or paying off student loans early on in your career as a counselor.
Confidentiality, Privacy and Information Security
As a psychotherapist or counselor, your job is to help clients solve problems and make decisions. A counselor will typically assist people going through major life transitions (such as divorce or moving to a new city) or who are suffering from trauma (such as mental illness, trauma, or abuse). Because you’re privy to some very personal information about your clients, you must adhere to a high level of confidentiality. The Texas Licensed Professional Counselor’s Code of Ethics explains that counselors must keep client information confidential and never use client information for personal gain. It’s also important that you take every step possible to protect client privacy—even if a court orders you not to.
Dealing with Clients in an Ethical Manner
Credibility and integrity are essential to success as a licensed professional counselor. Counselors who act unethically in their personal or professional lives can get themselves into trouble, damage their reputations, and hurt their ability to effectively conduct business with colleagues and clients. They should remember that actions speak louder than words, and following ethical principles is less a matter of convenience than an obligation.
Quality Control and Accuracy of Work
The counselor reports only information that is accurate and truthful. The counselor does not include opinions, conclusions, judgments, or recommendations that are not supported by facts presented to them in their report. The counselor does not report on matters outside his or her competence.
Final thoughts
Having a clean, easy-to-access list of rules to follow ensures that you’re staying within your Texas LPC code of ethics guidelines. While it may seem like a big deal if you do choose to break those rules, remember that there is someone who is likely to call you out on it: a peer (or one of your clients). By having a readily available list and sticking by it, you’ll not only be able to keep yourself out of trouble but also show your peers that you know what’s up when it comes to being a good therapist in Texas.