So many therapists, how do I pick one?!
LPC, LAC, MA, LCSW, MSW, LMFT, so many different acronyms and titles it can be overwhelming and confusing when you’re trying to find a therapist. What do all those titles and letters mean anyway and how do you know which one will be the right fit for you? This article will help you understand a little bit more about the different licenses and what the acronyms mean so you can make the right choice for you. Another thing to note is the titles don’t always translate the same across state lines and the acronyms may look a little different and add to the confusion.
LPC stands for Licensed Professional Counselor which is the title held by counselors in Colorado. An LPC must have a master’s degree in counseling (MA) and has completed the required tests and has accumulated the required hours for licensure which can take two to five years to complete. The education an LPC receives is typically more geared towards individual counseling and the student may be able to choose a specialty dependent upon what the chosen school has to offer. The coursework is geared towards counseling skills, the various theories of counseling, as well as other classes such as multicultural counseling, practicum and internships.
LAC stands for Licensed Addiction Counselor which is the title held by counselors in the state of Colorado. For this license, the counselor must already have a master’s degree and have taken all the coursework required for addiction counseling. The counselor also must pass the master of addiction counseling exam (MAC). A counselor usually pursues this path when he/she has a passion for helping folks work through their addiction struggles and/or wants to have a better understanding of addictions and how it impacts individuals.
LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker and may be more familiar to people as their field has been around the longest. An LCSW must have obtained a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) as well as completed all the required testing and hours to obtain licensure. A master’s in social work program typically includes some coursework on the theories of counseling as well as social justice coursework, practicum, and internship classes. Social workers can wear many different hats as some social workers only want to do counseling with clients while other social workers only want to help clients find resources or do triage work with hospitals and other mental health programs.
An LMFT stands for a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. This counselor has a master’s in marriage and family counseling and typically this program is geared towards teaching the counselor to view and understand clients from a systemic viewpoint, whether the counselor chooses to do individual, family, or couple’s counseling. This counselor typically has more knowledge, understanding, and practice with working with couples and family as their coursework is geared more towards the family unit. Many LPC’s and LCSW’s will take extra coursework or complete an externship program to obtain certificates in marriage and family counseling so they feel more competent to be able to work with couples and families.
Knowing what the different acronyms stand for can be helpful but still may lead to the question of, “how do I pick the right therapist for me?” Identifying the different areas of your life that you are wanting to change, heal, or grow from, such as past trauma, addictions, relationship struggles, or learning how to manage depression and anxiety in healthier ways can help you narrow down your search for the therapist that will best fit your needs as each therapist usually lists his or her specialities. If the therapist offers a free consultation, taking them up on the offer can also help you determine whether or not you want to work with him or her as that will allow you to ask the therapist questions and hear how they approach therapy and the different methods they use in sessions to help you reach your goals. No matter what license the therapist holds, feeling heard, valued, cared for, and respected are all qualities you may want to look for when interviewing therapists. Therapy can be a long, hard, messy journey, and it’s important that you find the therapist who specializes in or has an understanding of what you might be experiencing so you can receive the best help possible while also feeling safe and comfortable.
