Licensed Professional Counselor Associates
(LPC-Associate)
How They Serve You
Working with an LPC-Associate at EdYouth Foundation means working with a fully trained, exam-passed counselor whose work is actively overseen by our doctoral-level, licensed counseling supervisor. You are never working with someone who is learning on their own; they are constantly working with our Clinical Director to ensure they are providing great care.
LPC-Associates are EdYouth Foundation's primary providers of direct counseling services, and they bring a unique combination of up-to-date graduate training, fresh perspective, and genuine personal investment in the clients they serve.
Insurance and payment options with LPC-Associates
While LPC-Associates cannot bill Medicaid, they are able to bill Aetna and Cigna under Dr. Lewis's supervision. If you carry either of these plans, you are likely able to use your existing coverage to work with an LPC-Associate. For clients whose insurance is not listed, you may consider having shorter sessions with an associate for a lower cost option, or look into seeing one of our LPCs or LCSWs to utilize your insurance benefits (preference may depend on your insurance coverage).
LPC-Associates also provide the majority of services funded through outside sources such as workforce programs and grants, allowing us to serve clients at little to no cost through those funding streams. You can visit our pathway programs website at www.edyouthfoundation.org to learn more about these programs.
For clients who do not have a suitable insurance plan we are in-network with, but can’t afford the cost of working with an associate, our counseling students provide services at lower rates to accommodate these situations. Our tiered sliding scale fee structure ensures cost is never a barrier to receiving care. You can visit our Affording Care page to learn more about the payment rates for different services with clinicians at different levels.
Who They Are
Associates are provisionally licensed counselors credentialed through the administration of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) to practice under supervision. Their qualifications include an earned Masters degree in a counseling related field, training in hundreds of hours of supervised experience as graduate students, and passing of comprehensive licensing exams.
An LPC-Associate has completed everything required to begin practicing as a counselor: their graduate education, their supervised student training hours, and their licensing exam. What they are working toward now is the 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience required by BHEC before they can apply for full LPC licensure. This means every LPC-Associate at EdYouth Foundation is an actively growing clinician, building real-world experience with every client they serve.
All LPC-Associates at EdYouth Foundation practice under the direct clinical supervision of Dr. Felicia Elise Lewis, PhD, LPC-S. This means Dr. Lewis is actively involved in reviewing their cases, guiding their clinical decisions, and ensuring the highest standard of care for every client they work with..
Their Path Forward
Every LPC-Associate at EdYouth Foundation is working toward their full licensure as an LPC. This means they bring a level of motivation, dedication, and investment to their work that is hard to match. They are not simply doing a job; they are building a career, a calling, and a future in service of the clients and communities they care about.
As they accumulate their 3,000 supervised hours, associates are constantly meeting with Dr. Lewis to not only fulfill their licensing requirements, but to ensure they are providing the best care possible. Working with an LPC-Associate is the best way to receive a professional level of care at a lower fee, while benefiting from the direct access to the advanced knowledge and involvement of our Clinical Director. Under Dr. Lewis's oversight, associates grow continuously as clinicians, which means every client they serve is also benefiting from that growth.
Our LPC-Associates
Loree Jones-Huggins, ME, LPC-Associate
Under Supervision of Dr. Felicia Lewis, PhD, LPC-S
Loree brings over 25 years of experience in school counseling and education, with a deep commitment to supporting adolescents and young adults through evidence-based, trauma-informed practice. She has developed strong expertise in individualized assessment, care planning, crisis response, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to connect youth with resources that promote long-term success.
Her clinical training encompasses CBT, DBT, person-centered, and trauma-informed approaches. She has implemented trauma-informed curriculum that earned national recognition and trained educators in evidence-based practices. She is a nationally certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor and has led professional development for hundreds of school counselors.
Loree is particularly passionate about reducing barriers and expanding opportunities for young people. She is invested in the combination of behavioral health, life skills, workforce readiness, and college and career pathways that position youth for success. Her work centers on building genuine relationships with young people and creating spaces where they feel seen, heard, and supported in making healthy decisions for their future.
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-Associate), Texas; Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor (National Certification); Master of Education in School Counseling, Southern Arkansas University.