When first needed to go see a counselor, I discovered that there are in fact many different types of therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals. It was a bit overwhelming. I’d like to take this post to share what knowledge I’ve gleaned with you, and perhaps help you in choosing which mental health professional is the best fit for your situation. This list is not ranked in any special order. While this information is not all-inclusive, as each professional and position varies in its specialties, I believe this list gives a good general delineation of the variety within mental health providers:
LMFT and LMFT-A:
A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist must have a Master’s degree from an accredited university, with coursework focused on
- Theoretical foundations
- Human development
- Family studies
- Multicultural and gender issues
- MFT assessment and treatment
- Professional ethics
- Applied professional research
- Psychopathology
Upon the completion of this coursework, the person must complete at least a 300 hour internship, after which they can take the licensure exam for MFT’s. Upon passing, they become an LMFT-A, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate. This means that they have to complete 3,000 hours of work supervised by an LMFT-Supervisor. Half of the hours they complete in therapy, directly interacting with clients, must be with families, couples, or just two or more people who are either in the same household or related. When those hours are completed, they can then become a fully-licensed LMFT.
LMFT’s are trained to look at situations from a systemic point of view- to take in all parties contributing to the situation and examining the interactions and their effects on the client or clients. They are trained to work with families, groups, and individuals. Some pursue further specialties.
LPC and LPC-Intern:
A Licensed Professional Counselor must complete at least a Master’s degree in an accredited program. Their courses must cover a wide variety of topics including but not limited to:
- Normal human growth and development
- Counseling theories
- Appraisal or assessment techniques
- Counseling methods or techniques
- Research
- Social, cultural, and family issues
- Lifestyle and career development
LPC’s must complete at least a 300 hour internship before the completion of their program, and then must test and pass a licensure examination before becoming an LPC-Intern. An LPC-Intern must complete 3,000 hours of work supervised by an LPC-Supervisor before they are eligible to become fully licensed as an LPC.
Most LPC’s are trained in individual counseling techniques. However, some choose to pursue specialties in doing group sessions, play therapy, or school counseling.
LCDC:
A Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor is a bit of a different breed than an LMFT or LPC. To qualify, you must have at least an associate’s degree, complete 270 classroom hours of chemical dependency education, complete a 300 hour internship, then complete 4,000 hours of supervised work and take the licensing exam.
Their specific roles, while they vary by the setting, may include individual counseling, group counseling, and psychoeducation to families as they walk with clients towards the road to recovery from addictions.
Social Worker:
There are basically three existing levels now: Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). These are associated with their level of education, their specialty, and the amount of internship and supervision they have received. However, only a person holding a LCSW can provide clinical social work services, referring to more along the lines of counseling. Their training includes areas of education such as:
- Theories of biological, psychological, and social development
- Diversity and cultural competency
- Interpersonal relationships
- Mental disorders
- Addictions
- Impacts of illness, trauma, or injury
- Effects of the physical, social, and cultural environment
Social Workers work in a wide variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, state agencies, foster care, CPS, group homes, adoption agencies, and more.
School Counselor:
A School Counselor is required to have a Master’s degree from an accredited school that offers coursework specific to school counseling. Additionally, they are required to already have two years of teaching in a classroom under their belt. Finally, they have to pass a licensure exam in order to gain their license.
Their work centers around the students within a school. Their duties include group sessions, speaking to classes on topics such as anti-bullying, creating and implementing school schedules, providing counseling to students as needed and giving referrals for outside mental health resources as required.
Psychologist:
The track for becoming a psychologist is similar to the others in that they require internship hours and supervised work, but a Psychologist is different in that they must obtain a PhD in order to practice. Their practice may include research, teaching, therapy, and/or assessments.
Psychiatrist:
A Psychiatrist is also required to have a PhD in order to practice. He/she is either an M.D. or a D.O. specializing in diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They are able to prescribe psychiatric medications, and commonly work in hospitals, private practices, and agencies. Some may even go on to pursue other specialties such as
- Neuropsychology
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Addiction psychiatry
- Pain medicine
- and others
Psychiatric Nurse:
A Psychiatric Nurse typically completes the necessary training to become an RN first, then pursues additional training to gain the skills necessary to diagnose mental disorders, develop treatment plans, treat these disorders, and some may even be able to prescribe medication. Their education can terminate with a MA or a PhD, depending upon their specialty and their interests.