Making Sense of Mental Health Practitioner Degrees and Licenses
Amie Kang
I first considered seeking professional mental health support in high school. Digging through our school website, I saw titles such as “school counselor” and “school psychologist.” What was the difference, and who was I supposed to meet? “Psychologist” sounded like someone who dealt with mind and emotion-related issues, but the term also sounded more intimidating than “counselor.” In the end, the uncertainty kept me from reaching out to anybody.
Outside of school, there is an even greater diversity of mental health practitioners, and it can be overwhelming for someone seeking mental health support. This discomfort may be especially limiting for many Korean Americans, because we may not know about anybody else who has sought therapy, and therefore cannot make recommendations. Therapy may be an unfamiliar and uncomfortable concept. It may thus be helpful to decode some of the factors to consider when looking for a therapist.
There are several factors to consider when looking for a therapist, such as language, therapy approach, and specialization. You may also notice a variety of practitioner titles and licenses that adds to the confusion. As the first step, it is important to recognize that all mental health practitioners -- different from friends or pastors who may be good listeners -- are trained and licensed. That means no matter what their license is, they should be equipped to help support you in your mental health journey. This article describes the most common types of mental health practitioners you may encounter in the United States.
The specifics of each mental health practitioner’s scope of practice may vary by state, but below are some general differences that can help you understand the different credentials you may encounter in your search. An important point to keep in mind is that In most states, therapists cannot prescribe medication. Medication is prescribed by medical professionals, often in collaboration with therapists (We hope to discuss prescriptions in greater detail in a future blog post). It may also be worth noting that the degrees and licensure of practitioners in the United States are different from those in Korea.
Assessment and Therapy
Therapists are trained to help individuals, couples, families, or groups resolve issues related to thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and relationships (see our blog post on what therapy is). There are three broad groups of therapists (clinical social workers, counselors, and psychologists) who are all trained to assess and provide therapy, but differ in their degrees and licensure:
Clinical Social Workers
Licensed clinical social workers work in the field of social work, so traditionally, they tend to be more affordable and work with disadvantaged populations compared to other therapists. In addition to therapy, they are also trained in case management and advocacy and can help with problems like substance abuse, domestic violence, housing, and unemployment. You will often see them in offices, schools, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals.
Degree: Master’s degree in social work (MSW)
Licensure: LICSW, LCSW, ACSW
Counselors, Clinicians, Therapists
Licensed counselors are master’s-level mental health practitioners trained in therapy and assessment. You will often see them in offices, clinics, hospitals, courts, and client homes. The titles may differ by treatment setting and specialty as listed below:
Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Licensed Professional Counselor
LMHCs and LPCs are therapists trained to work broadly with different presenting mental health problems and may also specialize in certain mental disorders or life issues. If you are seeking a specific type of support, you can ask LMHCs for more information on their education, training, and services. The license (e.g., LMHC, LPC, LPCC, etc.) differs by state, and the list we provide here is not an all inclusive list.
Degree: Master’s degree
Licensure: LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor; LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor; LPCC, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFTs are specialized in seeing couples and families and working in the context of family relationships.
Because family and relationships are central to Korean cultural values, it may make sense for Korean American families to engage in therapy together. Keep in mind that other therapists may also be trained in group and family dynamics. If you are seeking family therapy, make sure to also ask any potential therapist if they have experience working with families.
Degree: Master’s degree
Licensure: LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Psychologists (Ph.D, Psy.D)
Psychologists are therapists who hold doctoral degrees, either a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in a field of psychology. Both are trained to perform psychological evaluation and testings, make diagnoses, and provide therapy. The doctoral programs are longer than master’s programs and may entail more education and training, as well as research (Ph.D’s traditionally entail a greater focus on research than Psy.D’s and thus may be longer).
Degrees: Ph.D or Psy.D
Licensure: Licensure boards in each state
School-Based Practitioners
As the name suggests, school-based mental health practitioners work primarily in schools often in partnership with other school personnel, outside professionals, and students and their families. These practitioners may place a greater focus on student academics, but like other therapists, are also trained in crisis intervention and counseling in a variety of issues. Students and their families may initially find these school-based practitioners to be the most accessible mental health practitioners.
School Counselors
School counselors often serve the entire school population and work with students on various issues such as schoolwork, bullying, and other behavioral and emotional problems. School counselors may also support students in scheduling courses and reaching academic and career goals.
Degrees: Master’s degree in school counseling
Licensure: Licensure or certification by state
School Psychologists
School psychologists often work with a few students on more specific behavioral symptoms and academic issues. A big role for school psychologists is testing, researching, and assessment to determine student eligibility for special education services (e.g., IEP’s) and providing referrals to external services. School psychologists hold either an EdS or PhD degree, and those with PhD degrees may work in private offices outside the school setting.
Due to stigma and unfamiliarity, Korean American families often underutilize the support that school psychologists offer. However, these services can be extremely helpful for students with learning disabilities and special needs. Families who suspect that their child may have special needs can advocate for testing and increased support from their school.
Degrees: EdS or PhD
Licensure: Licensure or certification by the state department of education
Other Mental Health Providers
Depending on the state, the mental health providers we discuss in this section may not be required to obtain licensure. Instead, they may be certified to provide specialized care. Those who are licensed often hold mental health practitioner degrees mentioned in the sections above.
Addiction counselor
Addiction counselors are specialized in treating people with addictions, whether substance abuse, gambling problems, sexual addictions, or hoarding. Addiction counseling can be done in groups with others struggling with addictions, with family, or privately. The titles and certification requirements vary by state, but most commonly, addiction counselors are required to take relevant courses and complete a practicum. Licensed mental health practitioners mentioned in the sections above can also receive additional training to specialize in addiction recovery.
Possible Certifications and Licensure: Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor Associate (CADCA); Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor I or II (CADC-I; CADC-II); Licensed Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor (LAADC)
Pastoral counselor
As the name suggests, pastoral counselors are pastors who are also trained in mental health support. They deal with a variety of issues but in a spiritual context. Pastors often provide counseling for their congregation members and can do so without a license. Licensed pastoral counselors additionally hold a master’s or doctorate in psychology, counseling, or in pastoral care and counseling. They may be licensed as LMHC’s, LMFT’s or as pastoral counselors (only six states offer the pastoral counseling license).
For many Korean American families, spirituality and faith is an important aspect of life. Keep in mind that many other therapists also share this aspect and may be able to incorporate spirituality into the therapy space. If this is important to you, make sure to let your therapist know and ask if spirituality can be incorporated into the sessions.
Degrees: Master’s or Doctorate Degree in Counseling; Doctor of Theology (ThD) in Pastoral Counseling
Possible Additional Licensure: Pastoral Counseling
Art therapist
Art therapists are trained to involve creative activities, such as art, music, and writing, to explore and process mental health issues. This type of therapy may be helpful to express emotions and thoughts that are difficult to articulate in talk therapy. Art therapists are required to earn a master’s degree in art therapy in order to become a “Board-Certified Art Therapist.” Some art therapists may additionally be licensed either as an art therapist (only a few states offer an art therapy license) or a mental health counselor.
Degree: Master’s in Art Therapy
Board Certification: ATR-BC, Board-Certified Art Therapist
Possible Additional Licensure: LCAT, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
Conclusion
Overall, the type of therapy a therapist provides will depend on the setting it is offered in: Some practitioners may offer brief therapy while others may offer long-term therapy. Because all licensed mental health practitioners are trained to provide therapy, rather than focusing on their degrees and titles, it is important to consider whether they have experience in the area or approach you want to focus on, whom you have access to, and whether you feel comfortable working with them. We hope to continue this conversation of factors to consider when seeking a therapist in future blog posts.
About the Author
Amie Kang is currently a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Boston College. Before, she earned her B.A. in Psychology at UC Berkeley and her Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As a child of immigrant parents, she experienced some of the struggles of growing up as a Korean American, and thus, is very excited that MSG offers resources and conversation spaces for Korean American families. Apart from work and studies, Amie enjoys drinking lattes, experimenting with new coffee beans, and taking late night walks along the Charles River in Boston with her husband, Hanjun.
Disclaimer for blogs/workshops
The information presented by MSG is intended for informational purposes only. Consuming this information does not constitute a professional, clinical relationship between consumers and the writers and presenters. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please contact 911. If you would like to speak with a therapist, please refer to our online directory. Any reference on this website to any mental health professional, service or organization, or any linkages from this website to the website of another party, does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of Mustard Seed Generation or any of its volunteers acting on its behalf. Mustard Seed Generation provides the information on this website “as is” for general information only.