Therapy, p.1
If you are starting therapy for the first time, you might be feeling confused. Figuring out where to look in the first place is hard enough; once you start browsing through a therapist directory, like Psychology Today, it’s easy to find yourself completely overwhelmed with the seemingly endless list of people whose profiles sound similar, and most of whom seem to be working with every presenting issue under the sun. Why is that?
“Psychotherapist” is an umbrella term that covers a range of mental health professionals: mental health counselors (MHCs), psychologists, clinical social workers (CSWs), and marriage and family therapists (MFTs). Most will have an “L” in front of their credential, which stands for “licensed” (LMHC, LCSW…), and means that they have completed the required number of client hours post-graduation (usually 3,000) under a (licensed) supervisor. Those who are still working towards those hours will sometimes add -LP to their credential (which stands for Limited Permit). If you chose to work with this therapist, you will get someone who might be less experienced. On the other hand, they are unlikely to be burned out and compassion-fatigued; you also get a sort of 2-for-1 deal, as they are required to consult with an experienced mentor who functions as their supervisor.
What about the difference in education? It might come off as biased coming from me, a mental health counselor, but MHC graduate programs really are the only ones specifically focused on developing therapist skills and therapist skills only. On the other hand, social workers help clients address a range of issues, of which mental health is only one component (other can be legal, medical, case management, etc). As a psychologist, you need either a PsyD or PhD in counseling psychology to be able to offer therapy; psychologists’ scope of practice is more focused on clients with serious mental health conditions (psychiatric disorders), as well as testing and assessments.
Finally, the most important thing about choosing a therapist is following your gut: does this person feel like someone that I would like to talk to, do they seem to care, are they interested? Academic training is only one part of therapist’s professional identity development; their personal style and preferred theoretical approach(s) are just as important. At the end of the day, it is (mostly) all about the relationship. More about that later.