Peaceful Counseling

COUC 500 Orientation to Counselor Professional Identity and Function | Week 1

Course Description

This course introduces students to concepts regarding the professional functioning of licensed professional counselors, including history, roles, professional organizations, standards, and credentialing. Current issues in the practice of mental health counseling and marriage, couple, and family counseling in a variety of professional settings are explored. Students are also introduced to program policies, graduate level writing, and APA style.

Books

CORE membership A subscription to this cloud-based software is a one-time purchase required for this degree program. Please note: Subscriptions last for five years. If the student purchased a subscription in a previous course, he or she do not need to purchase it again as long as he or she remains enrolled in the same degree program.

Simmons, R., Lilley, S., & Kuhnley, A.K. (Eds.). (2024). Introduction to counseling: Integration of faith, professional identity, and clinical practice (2nd ed.). Kendall Hunt. ISBN: 9798385117543.

ADB Background Check for Counseling

Week 1 Learning

Readings

• Simmons, Lilley, & Kuhnley: Chapters 1, 2
• Advocating for Educational Standards in Counselor Licensure Laws
• Watch Chapters 1, 2 Videos

Assignments

• Discussion Board Benefits of Professional Counseling Associations
• Religious and Spiritual Assessment
• Criminal Background Check - Confirmation of Purchase
• Quiz Historical Overview and Current Trends (10 questions)
• Quiz Professional Identity (10 questions)

I convinced myself to take 3 counseling courses and 2 addictions courses. I will get it done though. I’m really enjoying the addictions courses I’m taking and learning so much.

This week was 2 chapters to read and a few other separate readings. The discussion board shouldn’t have been a discussion board in my opinion because how do I respond to someone else about counseling associations…there is no opinion in that. Luckily, you only have to respond to one person.

I had to purchase my background check and I’m awaiting instructions on how to get that done.

The Religious and Spiritual Assessment is about 30 questions about your opinion on different counseling and religious concepts on whether those concepts should be incorporated into therapy sessions.

I got a 9/10 on the Historical Overview and Current Trends quiz, missed a question I didn’t feel like researching. I got a 7/10 on the Professional Identity quiz, I got a few licensing questions wrong. The quizzes were about the history of mental health and counseling and licensing.

Until next week,

-Elyse Y. Robinson
A counseling student at Liberty University that hopes to graduate Spring 2026 and open her private practice in Ohio and help the sexual health, military, LGBT+, and those over the age of 60 populations.