Can a Limited Licensed Counselor practice alone in Michigan?
It really feels like the field of mental health care (hopefully soon more widely known as just health care) is rapidly changing. There are so many opportunities out there for Limited License Counselors (LLC), formally Limited Licensed Professional Counselors (LLPC), in Michigan. With so many people feeling the weight of the last several years of fear, anxiety, grief and transition in their lives, our services are very much needed.
Opportunities to join large agencies, virtual platforms, or a private practice are everywhere. Just because opportunities are a plenty, doesn’t mean you should accept an ole’ offer. I recommend the following to “vet” a new employment opportunity:
Use your resources! Ask around to other LPC, LLC’s or anyone else in the mental health field. Have they heard of this place? What is there impression?
Need someone to ask: Try the Michigan LPC Advocacy and Action group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2900377576657172)
Google them. Don’t just look at their website, look at reviews on google, or checkout glassdoor.com. What are people saying about them online?
Remember in your interviews for a new place, that you are also interviewing them! What vibe do you get talking to the hiring manager? What is the interview process like? Develop a list of questions that will help you learn more about what your experience working there will be like.
Yes, it is still slightly more difficult for a limited license counselor to find work (especially in Michigan where Social Work is King). So…have you considered opening up your own private practice?
WHAT!? Can I do that as an LLC?
Yup, you sure can.
WHAT!? How?
The full answer to this question is much too long for a blog post. But, Yes, a person under supervision, who has a limited license counselor, LLC, can have their own private practice! An LLC can see client’s independent of a fully Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC. There are a few limits:
Limited License Counselors, LLC’s cannot bill private health insurance on their own. Medicaid, technically you can, but I would advise staying away from this in private practice. Too many rules or administrative things that can go wrong.
Know the limits of your scope of practice. When you’re a new limited licensed counselor, LLC in Michigan, everything is new, EVERYTHING is “outside of your scope of practice”. There are certain aspects of mental health work for limited licensed counselors, LLC and even licensed professional counselors, LPCs, that are outside of our scope. An example of this would be administration of psychological testing, with an LLC or LPC this is off limits.
You really need an LPC, ACS (Licensed Professional Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor) on speed dial who can help you through. While technically there is no rule saying this is a must, I’d not advice working independently without someone who has been there done that.
I HIGHLY recommend that you have a solid supervisor that you trust and that you’re seeing for supervision on at least a weekly basis to ensure that you’re doing all the things according to our ethical and legal codes. Here are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about going out on your own:
Consider and consult - Create a pro’s and cons for going it a lone. Ask around, what have others experiences been in private practice?
Find a Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) and setup sessions consistently before starting to see clients.
Think about safety and risk - how will you keep yourself safe (physically and professionally) and how will you provide safety (physical and emotional) for your clients?
A bunch of administrative stuff:
HIPAA - you’ll still have to comply with, how will you ensure PHI is stored and transmitted safely?
information gathering for your clients, ID cards, background information, medication lists
how will you keep your notes? treatment plans?
consider setting up a PLLC, because ya know, tax stuff
How will you market yourself?
My opinion? It’s worth it! While so many providers are offering virtual services the overhead costs of opening a private practice are at an all time low. If you’ve been considering it, now is the time!