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How to Find a Good Therapist

 

People seek therapy to get help making an important personal change, by their choice or urged by loved ones.

Maybe you are being proactive and preparing for a happy event such as a wedding or a new baby, and you want to get off to a strong start.

Maybe you are struggling with a relationship, a diagnosis, alcohol or substance abuse. You may be experiencing thoughts and feelings that make it very difficult to get through each day.

Regardless of the reason, you want an effective therapist to help you find the insights and new abilities you need.

Here are questions and tips to help you choose a therapist who is both skilled and a good fit for you.

Does a qualified therapist have to have certain credentials?

No matter the discipline, therapists must have some specific education to pass the licensing exam in your state. Licensed therapists have at least a Master’s degree (shown as MA). Some have a doctorate, (for example, PsyD). The American Psychological Association (APA) has a helpful guide to the differences between practitioners such as psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and social workers. Another excellent article by the Seleni Institute briefly describes the different types of therapists you may find.

Common abbreviations and what they mean

A therapist may list licensing and training credentials with abbreviations such as these (courtesy of this article by Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz):

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Therapists may or may not display all of their credentials. You can ask the therapist about education and training they took to begin their practice and what licensure they hold.

Some therapists (myself included) list the training they have taken on their website.

What is a therapist intern or resident?

You may find a practice that has interns or residents in counseling or therapy working under the supervision of a licensed provider. Supervised professional work is part of a therapist’s requirement to finish their education and become eligible for a license.

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