TPC Journal V8, Issue 1 - FULL ISSUE

The Professional Counselor | Volume 8, Issue 1 37 by the ACA Code of Ethics, NBCC, and the 2016 CACREP Standards; and CACREP accreditation for counselor education programs as supported by ACA, NBCC, and some states in the AASCB. Table 1 provides the verbatim text used for the five scale questions. Table 1 Likert Item Responses for all 494 Participants M SD I am consistently clear in my language with clients, other professionals, and the public that I am a counselor (as opposed to saying I am a psychotherapist, therapist, etc.) 3.39 1.59 Scale Questions 1. In your opinion, how important is it that clinical mental health counselors-in-training in graduate school are supervised only by independently licensed counselors? 3.65 1.44 2. In your opinion, how important is it that clinical mental health counselors under supervision post-graduation seeking independent licensure are supervised only by independently licensed counselors? 3.62 1.45 3. Is it important for the profession of counseling for counselor educators to be licensed and/or educated as counselors (as opposed to psychologists, social workers, etc.)? 3.75 1.43 4. Is it important for the profession of counseling for graduate students to be taught the distinct occupational role, philosophy, and professional approach of the field of professional counseling (as opposed to psychologist, counseling psychology, social work, etc.)? 3.68 1.33 5. Is it important for the profession of counseling for graduate programs to be Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited? 3.73 1.52 Because this was a new and untested instrument, we sought content validity before its use. Ten experts from the counseling profession rated each item presented in the study for clarity, representativeness, and appropriateness to establish content face validity. These 10 experts from four states had PhDs from counselor education and supervision programs, published on CACREP standards in counselor education, taught at CACREP-accredited programs, and served on state or national counseling association professional identity committees. These experts wanted items addressing the CACREP 2016 standards focused on counselor professional identity, the importance independently licensed counselors place on CACREP accreditation, and views on state board mandates for independently licensed counselors to provide postgraduate supervision. These individuals also suggested revisions to survey items to increase focus and clarity. Three sections comprised the survey: (a) questions about participants’ demography, (b) one Likert scale question asking about the participants’ clarity in consistently identifying professionally as a