Psych Mental Health NP duties

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Hello all practicing Psych NP,

I would like to be a PMHNP but love counseling.. If I opened my private practice can I do private counseling and get insurance reimbursement? I live in NJ and am really torn between two career options Licensed Professional Counselor and PMHNP. I know the NP will pay more but I dont want to just do medication monitoring I also want to counsel clients as well. I am currently working in the addictions field and love it.

Thanks

KC Bren

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Hello all practicing Psych NP,

I would like to be a PMHNP but love counseling.. If I opened my private practice can I do private counseling and get insurance reimbursement? I live in NJ and am really torn between two career options Licensed Professional Counselor and PMHNP. I know the NP will pay more but I dont want to just do medication monitoring I also want to counsel clients as well. I am currently working in the addictions field and love it.

Thanks

KC Bren

I'd go the NP route as you can prescribe and do therapy if you wish. I also prefer to do therapy however, with med management you can make big bucks while getting credentialed for insurance companies (takes a lot of time) and in general just getting ready to open up a practice.

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[color=#000]hi,

thanks for replying. i was discussing my dilemma with friends and one suggested to me to do both become an lpc and psych np but i dont need to do that correct? as i can counsel as a psych np and get paid for it right? i am accepted to a 1 yr bsn program then i guess i have to do a 2 year np psych program so basically it could be 3-4 years before i can practice. lpc needs 4500 hours (3 years) before i can be licensed and the program is also 1 year since i have a masters already. i guess i am torn between 1 year of school and 4500 hrs practicing my craft, vs. 1 year bsn trying to work plus 2-3 more years of np school. as an addictions counselor i love counseling and just dont want to lose that.

kc bren

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[color=#000]hi,

thanks for replying. i was discussing my dilemma with friends and one suggested to me to do both become an lpc and psych np but i dont need to do that correct? as i can counsel as a psych np and get paid for it right? i am accepted to a 1 yr bsn program then i guess i have to do a 2 year np psych program so basically it could be 3-4 years before i can practice. lpc needs 4500 hours (3 years) before i can be licensed and the program is also 1 year since i have a masters already. i guess i am torn between 1 year of school and 4500 hrs practicing my craft, vs. 1 year bsn trying to work plus 2-3 more years of np school. as an addictions counselor i love counseling and just dont want to lose that.

kc bren

i'd just do np as you can do both. then you can take further training in any modality you like if you want.

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Take a look at your state's Nurse Practice Act for the duties/roles. The roles will vary from state to state. In some states, a PMHNP cannot be reimbursed for therapy.

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Take a look at your state's Nurse Practice Act for the duties/roles. The roles will vary from state to state. In some states, a PMHNP cannot be reimbursed for therapy.

Hi UVA Grad Nursing,

Is there an online source listing which states a PMHNP can and can not be reimbursed for therapy? Also, isn't it common for therapists (Psychol, Psychia, PMHNP, etc), in their own practice, to not take insurance leaving clients to pay for the service and submit a receipt to their insurance company, for either in or out of network reimbursement?

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