Find a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

Medically reviewed by Gabriela Asturias, MD on June 24, 2024
Written by the MiResource team

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) play a vital role in the mental health landscape of the United States, offering a range of services to individuals, families, and groups. This article will help you understand who licensed professional counselors are, how they differ across states, and what they can do to help you.

  • Lyle Weeks, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

    Lyle Weeks

    Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Nurse Psychotherapist

    Remote only

    Lyle Weeks is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in undefined, undefined. They treat Aging, Intimacy Concerns, Drug Use.

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  • Karl Lager, Community Resource

    Karl Lager

    Community Resource, Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

    1145 West Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223

    Karl Lager is a Community Resource in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. They treat Histrionic Personality, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Infertility.

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  • Aristotle Fernandez, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

    Aristotle Fernandez

    Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Audiologist, Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW), Academy of Certified Social Workers License (ACSW), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), Certified Social Worker (CSW), Certified Trauma Professional, Community Resource, Counselor, Credentialed Sexual Abuse Youth Clinician (CSAYC), Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW), Education Specialist (EdS), Executive Function Coach, Hypnotherapist, Independent Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC), Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Level Psychologist (LMLP), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Psychological Examiner-Independent, Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider (LSOTP), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Work (LSCSW), Limited Licensed Master Social Worker (LLMSW), Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor (MFCC), Massage Therapist, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Neuropsychologist, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Psychotherapist, Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist

    1951 Tavern Court, Alpine, California 91901

    Aristotle Fernandez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in Alpine, California. They treat Sexual Concerns, Gambling Concerns, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

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  • Olena Preprod, Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)

    Olena Preprod

    Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW), Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Audiologist, Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), Academy of Certified Social Workers License (ACSW), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Social Worker (CSW), Certified Trauma Professional, Community Resource, Counselor, Credentialed Sexual Abuse Youth Clinician (CSAYC), Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW), Education Specialist (EdS), Executive Function Coach, Hypnotherapist, Independent Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC), Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Level Psychologist (LMLP), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

    632 Josh Way, Alpine, California 91901

    Olena Preprod is a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) in Alpine, California. They treat Dependent Personality, Polyamorous relationship, Avoidant Personality.

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  • Adria Terrell, Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW)

    Adria Terrell

    Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW), Academy of Certified Social Workers License (ACSW), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Audiologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), Certified Social Worker (CSW), Certified Trauma Professional, Community Resource, Counselor, Credentialed Sexual Abuse Youth Clinician (CSAYC), Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW), Education Specialist (EdS), Executive Function Coach, Hypnotherapist, Independent Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC), Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Level Psychologist (LMLP), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Psychological Examiner-Independent, Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider (LSOTP), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Work (LSCSW), Limited Licensed Master Social Worker (LLMSW), Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor (MFCC), Massage Therapist, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Neuropsychologist, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Psychotherapist, Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist, Other, Pastoral Counselor, Peer Support, Physician Assistant, Pre-Licensed Professional, Primary Care Physician, Psychiatric Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Registered Dietitian, Registered Nurse, Speech-language Pathologists

    Vista Alpine Road, Alpine, California 91901

    Adria Terrell is a Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW) in Alpine, California. They treat Grief and Loss, Autism, Self-Esteem.

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  • liubov Provider, Community Resource

    liubov Provider

    Community Resource, Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW), Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), Executive Function Coach, Counselor, Hypnotherapist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)

    Hyde Street, San Francisco, California 00000

    liubov Provider is a Community Resource in San Francisco, California. They treat Career, Borderline Personality, Relationship Violence/Stalking/Harassment.

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What is professional clinical counseling?

Professional clinical counseling is the practice of assessing, diagnosing, and treating emotional or behavioral issues through talk-therapy methods such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, solution-focused therapy, and more. A clinical professional counselor is trained to:

  • conduct biopsychosocial assessments;
  • assign DSM-5-TR diagnoses when appropriate;
  • create measurable treatment plans and track outcomes;
  • provide individual, group, couples, or family therapy;
  • coordinate with physicians, psychiatrists, schools, and community agencies;
  • intervene in crises, including suicide-risk assessments.

Medication management (prescribing) remains outside the LPC scope; for that you need a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.


Education, examination, and supervised practice

Milestone National standard What it means for you
Graduate degree 60 semester-hour master’s (or doctoral) program accredited by CACREP/MPCAC or accepted by the state board Ensures your counselor completed rigorous, counseling-specific coursework, not a general psychology degree.
National exam National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE) Confirms competency in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
Post-graduate supervision 2 000–3 000 clinical hours (18–36 months) under a board-approved supervisor Gives early-career counselors real-world coaching before they practice independently.

During that supervised period many states issue a provisional license—for example, LLPC counselor in Michigan or LPC-Associate in Texas. You receive the same services, but your therapist must disclose the supervision arrangement and may be restricted from certain insurance billing.


One profession, many titles—check your state letters

Because licensure laws are written locally, you will see different initials on provider directories. Focus on whether the license allows independent practice (green column below).

Region Independent license (can practice & bill solo) Provisional / associate (still under supervision)
CA, CO, KY, MN, NM, ND, OH LPCC – licensed professional clinical counselor Associate LPCC
AR, ID, IL, KS, MD, MT, NV LCPC – licensed clinical professional counselor LAC / LGPC
~25 other states & D.C. LPC – licensed professional counselor (often listed as lpc counselor or lpc therapist) LLPC counselor, LAPC, LPC-Associate
FL, NY, WA, MA, HI LMHC – licensed mental health counselor LMHCA / LMHCI

Always verify the license on your state board’s website before scheduling. Most boards offer a free “license lookup” with any public disciplinary history attached.


What services can an LPC, LPCC, or LCPC therapist provide?

A fully licensed provider may:

  • Diagnose anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, etc. (A few states, such as New York, require an added diagnostic privilege endorsement.)
  • Deliver short-term or long-term psychotherapy.
  • Provide telehealth to any client located in a state where they hold a license.
  • Author workplace or school accommodation letters when allowed by local rule.
  • Bill private insurance, Medicaid (in all 50 states), or Medicare Part B (starting January 2024 for rural health clinics; nationwide coverage is under federal review).

Telehealth and the Counseling Compact

COVID-era emergency waivers are gone, but nearly 40 states have now adopted the Counseling Compact. The Compact Commission expects to start issuing multi-state practice privileges in late 2025, letting an LPCC in Colorado see a client who is physically in Georgia without a second full license. Until privileges go live:

  • The counselor must hold a license in your location at the time of service.
  • California offers a 30-day temporary practice allowance for out-of-state LPCCs who meet coursework requirements.

Paying for professional clinical counseling

Commercial insurance & ACA Marketplace plans
The updated 2024 Mental Health Parity rules ban most treatment caps or higher copays on counseling vs. medical care. Check: copay, coinsurance, prior authorization, and whether telehealth bills the same as in-office.

Medicaid
All states reimburse licensed professional counselors; rates and covered billing codes differ. Some states (e.g., California Medi-Cal) publish separate fee schedules for LPCCs.

Medicare
As of January 1 2024, LPCs can bill Medicare in Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers; nationwide direct billing is slated for 2026.

Private-pay / sliding scale
When you are uninsured or the therapist is out-of-network, expect $80-$180 per 50-minute session, with urban coastal rates on the higher end. Many LPCs reserve a few reduced-fee slots—always ask.


Is a professional counselor the right match for your needs?

Choose an LPC/LPCC/LCPC if you want… Consider another clinician if you need…
Weekly evidence-based talk therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions Prescription management (psychiatrist / PMHNP)
Skills-based approaches (CBT, DBT, ACT) Neuropsychological testing (psychologist)
Couples or family counseling Intensive outpatient or inpatient care
Shorter waitlists and lower fees than most doctoral-level providers Specialized evaluations for legal or disability cases

Most people benefit from a team approach: an LPC provides therapy while a PCP or psychiatrist manages medication.


Geographic quirks to know

  • Diagnosis authority: New York requires a separate diagnostic privilege for LMHCs; Louisiana allows counselors to diagnose only after 2 000 independent hours.
  • Telehealth training: California demands a one-time three-hour telehealth course for all LPCCs licensed after July 2023.
  • Medicaid rates: Minnesota pays LPCs 93 % of psychologist rates; Texas reimburses at 60 %, influencing how many counselors take Medicaid panels. (Check your state fee schedule or call the plan.)
  • Rural incentives: Colorado’s state loan-repayment program offers up to $12 000 per year for LPCs practicing in mental-health professional-shortage areas.

Key questions to ask an LPC therapist during the first session

  1. “Which evidence-based modalities do you use most often?”
  2. “How will we track progress—symptom checklists, goal reviews, both?”
  3. “What is your cancellation policy and average length of treatment?”
  4. “If medication becomes necessary, how do you coordinate with prescribers?”
  5. “Are there any state-specific consent forms I should know about (e.g., Good-Faith Estimate, telehealth notice)?”

Find care for LPCC

Remember, recovery is possible. With early intervention, a supportive network, and the right professional care, you can overcome the challenges of LPCC and build a fulfilling life. We are here to help you find care.

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