Trying to find the right mental health professional for your needs can feel daunting. There are so many providers out there, and it’s important to find a good one. Show
Many choose to begin their search on the internet. That’s a good start! But looking through search results may feel confusing. Most of the names have letters behind them, but what do all those letters mean? How can a savvy consumer use them to choose a counselor or therapist? Here’s a brief guide to some of the common credentials in mental health licensing in the United States. Some of these credentials relate to the state licensing and certification standards for practicing professionals.Thus, they may vary somewhat from state to state. But in most states there is some similarity in qualifications required for licensure. If you are interested in knowing the minimal level of qualification for practice in your state, you can often find this information from an Internet search for your state and the specific credential you are interested in. You can also contact your state’s licensing board directly for more information.
Professionals who are licensed as counselors, physicians, or psychologists may be licensed in more than one state. States have different continuing education requirements. Licensed mental health professionals are required to maintain current knowledge and practice by completing a certain number of CE credits every year. This helps people seeking help know that potential providers have met the requirements for education and practice and are familiar with the standards for ethical practice. It also assures consumers that care providers are held to these standards to maintain licensure. One red flag is when a clinician’s status does not match their education level. For example: John Doe, MA is listed as a “registered psychotherapist.” This does not reflect the licensure status for a master’s-level clinician. That certification would be LPC, LCPC, LPCC, or LMHC, depending on the state. Another example: John Doe, PhD is listed as an LPC. LPC reflects master’s-level study, not doctoral level study. There could be many reasons for such a discrepancy. Many of these reasons pose no problem, but some do. A short-lived discrepancy may simply reflect the period of transition while a recent graduate completes post-degree hours under supervision. But it may reflect something more concerning. It may mean there is some reason the person is not eligible for the license that best reflects their degree. Perhaps John Doe’s degree is actually in biology, but he decided to change careers. Since his degree is not relevant and does not reflect training in the field, it does not make him eligible to be licensed. Or perhaps John Doe received a PhD from a nonaccredited online university. Because this would prevent him from meeting minimum standards for licensure, he’s practicing under a license reflecting his master’s-level training. Again, this may be nothing to worry about. But some people may wish to ask potential providers about certifications before choosing to receive services from them. Be aware that it’s perfectly reasonably to ask any potential providers about their training, clinical background, experience, and license. By doing so, you are being an informed and conscientious consumer of mental health services. Wise clinicians will encourage this type of consumer advocacy and gladly answer your questions. We want to help you find the best provider for your needs. We know a good fit is a critical element in successful therapy outcomes. Best of luck in your search! * Editor’s Note: The above list is not, nor is it meant to be, an exhaustive list of all mental health credentials and degrees. Credentials, degrees, and licensing requirements can vary from state to state and country to country. On September 17, 2014, the GoodTherapy.org editorial team edited the above list to include LCSW, which was not included in the author’s original list. © Copyright 2014 GoodTherapy.org. All rights reserved. Permission to publish granted by Sunda Friedman TeBockhorst, PhD, GoodTherapy.org Topic Expert The preceding article was solely written by the author named above. Any views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the preceding article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment below. What does LCPC stand for in medical terms?What is LCPC? LCPC stands for licensed clinical professional counselors. The terms “licensed clinical professional counselor” and “clinical professional counselor” both refer to a person who holds a license authorizing the independent practice of clinical professional counseling.
What's the difference between a counselor and a therapist?Counselors tend to offer short-term care, while therapists tend to offer long-term care. Therapists can be more past focused and counselors more future focused. Counselors often have a set number of sessions, and therapists often work on an ongoing basis. Therapists are more likely to treat mental health conditions.
What is the difference between LPC and LCPC in Illinois?Counselors in Illinois can go by two different titles corresponding to their professional status: Those who have completed the standard licensure process are Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), and those who continued their education and further developed their clinical skills are Licensed Clinical Professional ...
What is the difference between an LPC and LCPC in Kansas?The first one is Licensed Professional Counselor, also known as LPC. The second is Licensed Clinical Professional, also known as LCPC. You will need a significant amount of education that is required for both. However, with the LCPC, this license will have more in-depth coursework requirements.
What do you call someone with an LPC?An LPC is a licensed professional counselor. LPCs provide mental health services that focus on behavioral, emotional and mental issues in various healthcare settings. Depending on the state, they may be called a licensed clinical professional counselor, licensed mental health counselor or something similar.
How many hours do you need for LCPC in Illinois?professional counseling are approved programs for both LPC and LCPC licensure. 2 years/3,360 hours of full-time, satisfactory, Supervised employment or experience working as a clinical professional counselor in a professional capacity under the direction of a qualified supervisor, subsequent to degree.
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