Significant numbers of children and youth require support for mental health issues, driving strong demand for school counselors who have also earned their LPC credential.
School districts of all sizes are hiring LPCs to provide support and case management for students in crisis, whether they are experiencing bullying, abuse, depression or anxiety, suicidal thoughts, behavior challenges or other issues. In an era where mass shootings and other threats against students have sadly become more common, more LPC school counselors are also needed to help children and youth deal with the emotional impact of crime on campus.
Additionally, many school districts located in Mental Health Care Health Professional Shortage Areas must rely on LPC school counselors to fill the gap when services in the local community are inadequate to meet student needs. More than 119 million Americans currently live in a shortage area, and at present, 73% of their mental healthcare needs are going unmet. Analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation indicates that Texas has the second-highest shortage of mental health professionals in the nation, currently impacting over 15 million children and adults.