While searching through Psychology Today or doing a random google search for therapist (or counselor, or psychologist), you will likely see a whole bunch of letters after many professionals’ names. That’s not egomania or an attempt to impress you  – many licensing boards actually require clinicians to list their degree (Masters, Doctorate or Medical Doctorate) as well as their license.

Here is a list of other credentials you may see after someone’s name and what they mean:

LPA – Licensed Psychological Associate

LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCAS – Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist

LMHC – Licensed Mental Health Counselor

LPCA – Licensed Professional Counselor Associate

LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

NCC – National Certified Counselor

RN – Registered Nurse

MS – Masters of Science

MA – Masters of Arts

MSW – Masters of Social Work

DSW – Doctorate of Social Work

Ph.D. – Doctorate of Philosophy

Psy.D – Doctorate of Psychology

Ed.D – Doctorate of Education

MD – Medical Doctor

DO – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Now for a bit more detail on the most common types of mental health professionals you’ll run into on Psychology Today and other databases.

Psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a physician (doctor of medicine [M.D.] or doctor of osteopathic medicine [D.O.]) who specializes in mental health. This type of doctor may further specialize in areas such as child and adolescent, geriatric, or addiction psychiatry. A psychiatrist can perform the following though they primarily prescribe medication:

• Diagnose and treat mental health disorders
• Provide counseling
• Prescribe medication

Psychologist. A psychologist is trained in psychology — a science that deals with thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Typically, a psychologist holds a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.). A psychologist:

• Can diagnose and treat a number of mental health disorders, providing counseling, in one-on-one or group settings
• Cannot prescribe medication unless he or she is licensed to do so
• May work with another provider who can prescribe medication if needed

Licensed Clinical Social Worker. If you prefer a social worker, look for a licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.) with training and experience specifically in mental health. A licensed clinical social worker must have a master’s degree in social work (M.S.W.), a Master of Science in social work (M.S.S.W.) or a doctorate in social work (D.S.W. or Ph.D.). These social workers:

• Provide assessment, counseling and a range of other services, depending on their licensing and training
• Does not prescribe medication
• May work with another provider who can prescribe medication if needed

Licensed Professional Counselor or Mental Health Counselor. Training required for a licensed professional counselor (L.P.C.) and (L.M.H.C.) varies slightly by state, but most have at least a master’s degree with clinical experience. These counselors:

• Provide diagnosis and counseling for a range of concerns
• Does not prescribe medication
• May work with another provider who can prescribe medication if needed

Background Checks

When I encourage folks to conduct background checks, I’m not talking about running their info through the FBI to find out if they are criminals. When considering whether to work with a therapist, google their name, look up their info on the state licensing board’s website (if the state has one), and ask for clients or colleagues that could provide a referral. Asking for a referral is a bit unorthodox and most therapists wouldn’t know how to respond but it doesn’t hurt to ask. When prospective clients ask for referrals, I explain that because of HIPAA rules, I can’t just hand over a previous client’s contact info. What I can do is contact previous clients and ask if they would be willing to provide feedback to the prospective client. It’s tricky since I want to protect privacy and not put any sort of burden on the client.

Questions to Ask 

Real simply put, when you are looking for a therapist, think of it like interviewing someone for a job (counseling). Treat it like a hiring interview and have a plan. Here is the list of questions you need to ask when considering whether or not to work with a therapist (print this off if needed):

• What training do you have to treat the issues I described?
• Please give me an example of how you would work with me on the issues I described?
• What are your communication policies between sessions?
• Have you ever had your license suspended or removed in this or another state?
• How do you use technology in your practice? Is your agency able to provide weekly and 24 hr reminders prior to sessions?
• If I need a different type of care or different level of care, what’s your experience in working with referral sources?
• Are you in-network, out-of-network with my insurance? Do you have someone in your practice that files claims and works with insurance?
• And for virtual and phone counseling, do you work from a professional office or home office? If you have a home office, how do you maintain professionalism and confidentiality?

I hope this helps provide a bit more information and clarity about who is out there in the behavioral health world. While all of the degrees and licenses can be confusing, be cautious – If someone does not have letters listed anywhere, make sure to ask if they have a graduate degree in mental health AND are licensed. Sometimes, professionals will not be forthright in what they are trained in and the limitations of their experience.