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The Alphabet Soup of Therapist

As you begin your search for a therapist, you may see many abbreviations and you may not know what they all mean. Although there is some overlap, there are various types of therapists with different kinds of degrees, licenses, areas of focus, approaches, and certifications. The following table lists some of the most common therapists and was compiled using information form the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Licensed Psychologist (Doctoral Level)	Clinical Psychologists focus extensively on psychotherapy and treating emotional and mental suffering in patients with behavioral intervention. Psychologists are also qualified to conduct psychological testing, which is critical in assessing a person’s mental state and determining the most effective course of treatment. Clinical psychologists help people deal with problems ranging from short-term personal issues to severe, chronic conditions. Some clinical psychologists focus on specific populations, such as children or the elderly, or on certain specialties, such as neuropsychology.
Psychiatrist (Medical Doctor)	A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who completed medical school. They are trained to diagnose mental health disorders and prescribe medication. Psychiatrists usually focus on prescribing psychiatric medication. They spend much of their time with patients on medication management as a course of treatment. In rare cases, they may perform therapy as well. Psychiatrist often work with clients who are referred by therapist for medication consultation and management.
LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Master’s Level Professional)	LCSWs have special knowledge of social resources, human capabilities, and the part that unconscious motivation plays in determining behavior. They are directed at helping people to achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive social adjustments.
LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor (Master’s Level Professional)	LPCs are trained in the application of counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques to identify and remediate cognitive, mental, and emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to disability, crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental problems.
LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Master’s Level Professional)	LMHCs provide treatment to individuals, families, couples, and groups. Some work with specific populations, such as the elderly, college students, or children. Mental health counselors treat clients with a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, stress, and suicidal impulses. They also help with mental and emotional health issues and relationship problems.
LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Master’s Level Professional)	LMFTs work with individuals, couples, or groups wherein interpersonal relationships are examined for the purpose of achieving more adequate, satisfying, and productive marriage and family adjustments.
CADAC: Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (Bachelor’s and Master’s Level Professional)	CADAC professionals have specialized training to help their clients overcome substance abuse problems. They may help their clients process issues from their past that may have led to their addiction. Some addiction therapists work individually with clients, while others may work in a group setting with several people who are struggling with addiction and who can share their individual experiences and support one another.

5 Steps To Getting Into Therapy

Step 1: Ask Around

When deciding to seek therapy, consider reaching out to friends and family who have experienced therapy and inquire about their process. This might give you some insight as well as relieve some of the nervousness to get started.

Step 2: Make A List

Write down what you are looking for in a therapist. Consider what is important to you, for example, would you like a therapist who is a Christian, a female or male. Does the therapist’s race matter? What about location? Is it important if therapy sessions are held in person or online? These are important questions to ask yourself.

Step 3: Do Some Research

If you have medical insurance, reach out to inquire about your benefits and ask for a list of in-network providers. If you do not have insurance or would rather pay out of pocket you can find therapists by talking to your healthcare provider, researching therapists online (we have resources on our home page), getting referrals from others, etc. The main point here is that you will have to put effort into getting names of potential therapists to choose from.

Step 4: Do Your Homework

In seeking a therapist, it is very important to review their credentials and what they specialize in. Having a therapist that can support not only the underlying challenges you may be experiencing, support to enhance personal and professional life.

Step 5: Reach Out

Now that you have taken the first 4 steps! Make the call. Many therapists offer a free 15-30 minute phone consultation to assess whether they are best able to meet your needs. This also gives you an opportunity to feel them out a little bit and decide if you’d like to go to the next phase, which would be to set up a therapy appointment. Read Questions To Ask The Therapist Before Your First Session to learn how to make the best of your consultation. You might have to speak to several therapists before you find the one, but it’s worth it!

Questions To Ask The Therapist Before Your First Session

Finding a therapist is not easy and neither is determining whether they are a good fit once you have identified some potentials. Selecting a therapist is an important decision that requires for you to do a little research. It is essential to decern whether a therapist’s professional approach is in line with your personal goals and desires and whether practical matters (i.e. cost and availability) meet your needs and limitations. Here are suggested questions to help you gather information to make an informed decision.

*Be sure to take notes as the therapist answers your question so that you can review them later.

Basic Questions:

How long have you been providing therapy?

Although not the only indicator of a “good” therapist, the length of time that someone has been practicing can provide information about other important factors such as the number of clients they’ve had, the various types of issues they’ve treated and their areas of expertise.

What qualifies you to be a therapist?

The therapist should provide you with both their educational background and work experience. This question can include asking about specific certifications, licenses and trainings they hold.

What inspired you to become a therapist?

Therapists are HUMAN and every person has a story. Sharing a part of that story with you can give you insight into why they do what they do. Don’t expect for the therapist to tell you the intimate details of their entire life (that would actually be a red flag). However, having a story that includes their connection to the human experience could be quite reassuring.

What are your fees?

Fees vary from therapist to therapist. There could be a flat fee set by the therapist OR the therapist might have a sliding scale for fees. A sliding scale allows the therapist to set your fee based on your income.

How frequent will we meet and how long is each therapy session?

Most therapist begin with weekly sessions that range in duration from 45 – 60 minutes long. However, the therapist might recommend more or less frequent sessions depending on your individual circumstances. It is important to have this discussion with the therapist during your initial meeting.

Therapist Approach Questions:

What is your general approach to helping people with their problems?

You want to listen for a clear and organized explanation about how the therapist views client problems and how they approach working with the client to find solutions. Is their approach collaborative or directive? Do they explore your childhood or are they present focused? Do they focus on symptoms or the root of the symptom? Keep in mind that each of these approaches are valid therapy approaches. The goal here is to gather information about what you can expect when working with them.

How many clients have you worked with who have had similar circumstances to mine?

Having a therapist who has clinical experience working with clients who’ve had similar presenting problems, symptoms, stressors, concerns, etc. can speak to the therapist’s skills and expertise and possible ability to help. Remember that even though others might have similar circumstances, your treatment should be based on your uniqueness as an individual.

Do you have any special training and experience working with trauma?

All therapists are not created equal! If you have some traumatic experiences that you would like to address, you want to make sure your therapist has some specific training in this area. You want to listen specifically for EMDR therapy or Somatic Therapy.

What are your strengths and limitations as a therapist?

Knowing the therapist’s areas of strength and limitation can provide you with information to help you determine whether they have the skill to assist you with your challenges. It will also provide you with information about the therapist’s ability to be insightful about themselves (which is an important ability for a therapist to have).

How can my faith be integrated into our work together?

You want to make sure that you can bring your whole self into the therapy room. Many people find that during therapy, they like for their own values and beliefs to be taken into consideration and applied. Therefore, if you have a spiritual belief, it is important to bring those beliefs into therapy.

What will take place in the first session?

The first session might not feel like “therapy”, but it is. During the first therapy session many therapists will do an initial assessment to evaluate different areas of your life including your medical and mental health, current functioning, resources, etc. This is how the therapist makes their determination of how to help you.

How long will therapy continue?

The duration of therapy will be determined by the work you and the therapist will do together. The therapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan and as YOU heal through the goals you and along with the therapist will determine how long, based on what YOU need.

After the first session ask yourself these questions:

Question	Answer Yes or No
I felt heard and understood by the therapist.
The therapist seemed empathetic to my situation.
I felt emotionally safe with the therapist.
I felt physically safe with the therapist.
The therapist seemed interested in getting to know me.
I felt comfortable disagreeing with/correcting the therapist.
The therapist tone and pace felt comfortable.

NOTE: If you answered no to any of these questions, consider speaking with the therapist and/or getting a second opinion.