Licensed Professional Counselors’ Attitudes About and Interest in Providing Services for Clients With Schizophrenia: Advocacy Implications

Abstract

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) constitute a population deserving of increased care and advocacy. Although Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) are trained in psychosocial interventions that improve recovery for individuals with SMI, researchers have rarely mentioned LPCs as providers for this population. In this survey, a majority of 111 participating LPCs indicated contact with and low stigma toward people with schizophrenia. Results suggest that many LPCs have needed prerequisites to serve clients with SMI effectively.

Keywords:

• attitudes
• schizophrenia
• recovery
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• caregivers
• serious mental illness
• stigma
• advocacy
• professional identity

FUNDING

This research was supported, in part, by a grant from the College of Education, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.