Need Advice On Becoming A Licensed Mental Health Counselor

[Jonathan Whatley]

This is not really my strong suit, but my understanding is that there are some counseling programs that have add-ons that allow for the ability to write prescriptions. If that's why you want to become a nurse practitioner, when it would otherwise not really seem to enhance your goal of being a counselor, then ask questions about this as an alternative.

Master's-level counseling, social work, or MFT: none can prescribe medication anywhere.

Doctoral-level licensed psychologist with additional training at a post-doctoral master's or so in psychopharmacology: Can qualify to prescribe or collaborate in prescribing medication in seven states and some federal employment.

RxP: A Chronology (American Psychological Association)
Prescriptive authority for psychologists movement (Wikipedia)

[XNutty98]

The other option for being a therapist is Clinical Social Work. Which requires a Masters of Socail Work from a CSWE Accredited school, it's possible you could also take some Healthcare related courses in the Program. I have an MSW and am licensed to practice therapy in VA, FL and MD and work entirely online.

I would love to hear more about your path to get where you're at. If I could just do MSW and practice virtually, I'd most likely just stop there. The only reason I want to do the NP is because I would like to have control over the medications my patients take (if any).

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This is not really my strong suit, but my understanding is that there are some counseling programs that have add-ons that allow for the ability to write prescriptions. If that's why you want to become a nurse practitioner, when it would otherwise not really seem to enhance your goal of being a counselor, then ask questions about this as an alternative.

The only reason I'd like the ability to prescribe is because I'd like to have control over what my patients take, if anything. While there are people that benefit from medication, I think they are very over-prescribed. I'd much rather teach coping skills and give medication as a last resort than have one session and then just manage medication. My thinking is that most patients will come to me for therapy and an MD for their meds. If those aren't working together, my belief is that the patient will not get the benefit they are expecting to get.

[Duneranger]

The other option for being a therapist is Clinical Social Work. Which requires a Masters of Socail Work from a CSWE Accredited school, it's possible you could also take some Healthcare related courses in the Program. I have an MSW and am licensed to practice therapy in VA, FL and MD and work entirely online.

I would love to hear more about your path to get where you're at. If I could just do MSW and practice virtually, I'd most likely just stop there. The only reason I want to do the NP is because I would like to have control over the medications my patients take (if any).

---

This is not really my strong suit, but my understanding is that there are some counseling programs that have add-ons that allow for the ability to write prescriptions. If that's why you want to become a nurse practitioner, when it would otherwise not really seem to enhance your goal of being a counselor, then ask questions about this as an alternative.

The only reason I'd like the ability to prescribe is because I'd like to have control over what my patients take, if anything. While there are people that benefit from medication, I think they are very over-prescribed. I'd much rather teach coping skills and give medication as a last resort than have one session and then just manage medication. My thinking is that most patients will come to me for therapy and an MD for their meds. If those aren't working together, my belief is that the patient will not get the benefit they are expecting to get.

If you don't get some serious time as a psych RN, you are going to be a subpar psych NP. I have known dozens and dozens of them. Psych NPs are some of the highest paid NPs and many people rush into it when they shouldn't have.

This path is not to be done quickly. Sure you can prescribe (So can I....), but this is something you dont want to screw up and your plan is haphazard at best. I have seen soooo man ****** up psych med regimens from people who had no idea what they were doing.

Psych NPs mostly do med management and not psychotherapy. 

I am not quite sure you know what their curriculum even is. You would be better suited to go after a PsyD or stay as a counselor. A rush through ABSN to psych NP is next to useless....I don't want an inexperienced psych NP with 0 nursing experience and 500 clinical hours managing dangerous psychotropic medications.

[Stonybeach]

Interestingly, some States think 500 hours is woefully inadequate and require up to two years of extra supervised experience before granting full autonomy. At the same time, some states maintain "reduced" or "restricted" practice authority for nurse practitioners. Although there appear to be a few postgraduate fellowships in psychiatric nursing practice, they seem very competitive. There is a significant shortage of psychiatrists, and the psychiatric np role helps fill the gap. The reality is that family practice physicians and family NPs are the "default providers" because of the shortage.

After obtaining the RN, I recommend obtaining a family nurse practitioner first, followed by the psychiatric nurse practitioner postgraduate certificate program. In my humble opinion, based on over 20 years of experience, the need for a solid foundation in primary care/internal medicine is wise before adding a specialty like psychiatric medicine. I'm sure some disagree.

I have not done much research on this, but another consideration is the Master's degree program for the physician assistant (MPAS). There are now postgraduate psychiatry certificate programs for the licensed PA. Once again, the bachelor's degree will check the box, but one will need to spend a year obtaining the prerequisites to gain admission into PA school, which has become rather competitive.
https://www.acpe.org/psychiatric-physician-assistant/

[rixbae]

The other option for being a therapist is Clinical Social Work. Which requires a Masters of Socail Work from a CSWE Accredited school, it's possible you could also take some Healthcare related courses in the Program. I have an MSW and am licensed to practice therapy in VA, FL and MD and work entirely online.

I would love to hear more about your path to get where you're at. If I could just do MSW and practice virtually, I'd most likely just stop there. The only reason I want to do the NP is because I would like to have control over the medications my patients take (if any).

---

This is not really my strong suit, but my understanding is that there are some counseling programs that have add-ons that allow for the ability to write prescriptions. If that's why you want to become a nurse practitioner, when it would otherwise not really seem to enhance your goal of being a counselor, then ask questions about this as an alternative.

The only reason I'd like the ability to prescribe is because I'd like to have control over what my patients take, if anything. While there are people that benefit from medication, I think they are very over-prescribed. I'd much rather teach coping skills and give medication as a last resort than have one session and then just manage medication. My thinking is that most patients will come to me for therapy and an MD for their meds. If those aren't working together, my belief is that the patient will not get the benefit they are expecting to get.

If you don't get some serious time as a psych RN, you are going to be a subpar psych NP. I have known dozens and dozens of them. Psych NPs are some of the highest paid NPs and many people rush into it when they shouldn't have.

This path is not to be done quickly. Sure you can prescribe (So can I....), but this is something you dont want to screw up and your plan is haphazard at best. I have seen soooo man ****** up psych med regimens from people who had no idea what they were doing.

Psych NPs mostly do med management and not psychotherapy. 

I am not quite sure you know what their curriculum even is. You would be better suited to go after a PsyD or stay as a counselor. A rush through ABSN to psych NP is next to useless....I don't want an inexperienced psych NP with 0 nursing experience and 500 clinical hours managing dangerous psychotropic medications.

Ultimately the clients have control over what medications they take, or at least they should. I would say just be a therapist, and then find a good psychiatrist you like to refer folks too. All the time learning about medications, is time not spent learning about therapy. I did my Masters in Social Work at Western New Mexico University, while I was living in Pennsylvania. Son I did my 1000 hours on practicum and internships locally and all the classes were online. The CSWE accreditation is the most important thing as far as getting licensed. If you have questions feel free to ask , here orjin Facebook messenger would be ok too. The degree will be at least a 60 hour Masters so 2 years full time, or 3-4 part time.