Maintaining Counseling Standards

Licensed Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists Oversight in West Virginia

The West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling provides support, guidance, and counselor oversight in West Virginia to benefit practitioners and clients alike. We also offer a range of other resources for counselor and therapist licensing and continuing education.

Our Mission

The Board of Examiners in Counseling exists in order to ensure that the practice of counseling and marriage and family therapy contributes to the general welfare and public interest of the state and its citizens. The Board authorizes and qualifies practitioners by establishing standards for the education, training, and character of Licensed Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. In addition, the Board establishes regulations, conducts hearings, and initiates other actions that govern the issuing, denial, exemption, and revocation of licenses to counseling and therapy practitioners.

WVBEC Board Staff

Cheryl Henry, Executive Director
Rachelle Martin, Program Manager

WVBEC Board Members

Regina Burgess
Patrick Ward
Karen L. Bowling
Eric Beeson
Anthony Onorato, Board Chair
Durand Warren
Alecia Allen, Secretary

The Board’s Role

The West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling (WVBEC) is a state agency charged with protecting the health and safety of the public through licensure, regulation, and oversight of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).

Counseling Compact

The Counseling Compact offers eligible licensed professional counselors a new method for providing services in other member states. If you are interested in learning more about the Counseling Compact, please use the following link: https://counselingcompact.org/compact-commission/.

Call 304-558-5494 for information on counseling standards.

Filing a Complaint

To file a complaint, you must complete and submit a Statement of Complaint Form. Please note that the form must include your contact information and signature; anonymous complaints cannot be accepted. Please make sure that all complaint submissions are legible. Provide specific and detailed information about the allegations, to include dates and times. Also, provide corroboration and or documentation relevant to the allegations.

The Board investigates matters related to individual LPCs and/or LMFTs. The Board is not permitted to investigate clinics, health centers, etc. The Board also has no jurisdiction over business disputes, general billing disputes, insurance coverage, personality conflicts, or employee/employer disputes.

During the investigation, information regarding a licensee’s professional conduct is confidential. Meetings where complaints and investigations are discussed are also confidential and not open to the public, the complainant, or the licensee.

The Board makes every effort to address all incidents promptly and strives to prevent reoccurrences through education, rehabilitation, discipline, or revocation when applicable.

The Board can suspend, revoke, or reprimand a licensee upon a finding of probable cause. However, the Board cannot seek or recover monetary compensation for the complainant. The complainant may seek restitution through the legal or insurance system if applicable.

Mailing Address:
West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling
Request for a Complaint Form
815 Quarrier Street, Suite 212
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Phone: 304-558-5494