RN to Counselor??

Nurses Career Support

Updated:   Published

Hello. I am considering going from a hospital RN to hanging my shingle and working in counseling. I have two degrees (one being my BSN degree). Do I still need to get a degree in Counseling?? Anyone know?? One can open their own counseling center right?? Mulling over the idea... what do you think?? THANKS! ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I'm not sure I understand the question.... Your degrees are not in counseling? What type of counseling service would you offer? Is it related to nursing somehow?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Counseling for what? Like, a licensees professional counselor? If so, you must be licensed by going through a professional program (as the title LPC implies.). I'm not sure where you live, but in my neck of the woods, that means a Masters or Doctoral degree in psychology + internship.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Counseling for what? Like, a licensees professional counselor? If so, you must be licensed by going through a professional program (as the title LPC implies.). I'm not sure where you live, but in my neck of the woods, that means a Masters or Doctoral degree in psychology + internship.

It is the same in my area. You need at least a Masters degree in psychology with an emphasis in the type of counseling you want to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

That's why I felt that I was misunderstanding the question. I've not heard of being able to hang a shingle as "counselor" without the educational background. Perhaps OP means some type of health-based counselling which would utilize her RN degree.

Counseling for what? Like, a licensees professional counselor? If so, you must be licensed by going through a professional program (as the title LPC implies.). I'm not sure where you live, but in my neck of the woods, that means a Masters or Doctoral degree in psychology + internship.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
Counseling for what? Like, a licensees professional counselor? If so, you must be licensed by going through a professional program (as the title LPC implies.). I'm not sure where you live, but in my neck of the woods, that means a Masters or Doctoral degree in psychology + internship.

Funny, I was just researching this topic for myself. I feel done with nursing and that I would be a much better counselor. Then I saw how much much education I needed..... I don't have the time or money:(

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks everyone! Yes! You answered my questions.... I was not sure if I could just counsel without a degree in counseling or if I had to be certified in that... was wondering if the RN degree alone would suffice.

Thanks all!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No way. Whole different field.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Its called a psychiatric nurse practitioner. You will need to get your msn likely. Psych nurses can even do private practice and prescribe mental health medication. One of my professors was a psych nurse. Check the regulations in your state. You may be able to do a pstch program with your bsn just not private practice. You could also likely get a mental health tech job as an rn. However that is not counseling or good pay. I hope this is still an active post. I signed up strictly to answer your question :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, technically, depending on what you call yourself (avoiding any protected titles), there is nothing stopping the OP or any other individual, nurse or otherwise, from "hanging a shingle" and offering people advice for money. But, without recognized education and certification/licensure in one of the mental health disciplines, you wouldn't be able to get reimbursed by any insurance company. You would be limited to people who were willing to pay out of pocket (and who didn't mind that you have no formal training or certification/licensure). And you would be undertaking the same kind of liability that mental health professionals do -- if you were "counseling" someone and things went badly sideways, you could be sued or even, in an extreme worst-case scenario, charged criminally. And, of course, no insurance company would be willing to provide professional to someone with no recognized training or credentials.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

One of my nursing instructors grew tired of the ED where she worked for 25 years and went back to school to become a licensed MFT. Maybe look into graduate programs for counseling? That'd probably be your best bet. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are counseling certificates that you could get in addition to your RN. I want to counsel healthcare workers too, I've looked into this as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment