If you tell me that you have never felt lost before, I wouldn't believe you. It's part of the human experience to get to figure ourselves out. We all may experience this "lost" feeling for different reasons, but more than anything, I want to help remove the stigma from seeking mental health supports. There is absolutely no shame in seeing a therapist, whatever the reason may be. We all feel lost sometimes, and it's okay to need some help.
So you've decided you want to see a therapist. How do you find one? What's the difference between a therapist, counselor, psychiatrist? Look no further, the answers are here!
A therapist and a counselor are essentially the same thing, just called by a different name. What you do find a difference in, is licensure. Let's go through these with some simple explanations:
-Certified Social Worker (CSW)- This licensure requires a Master's degree in social work and the person is in the process of getting their 4,000 hours of clinical experience post graduation. A CSW can provide therapy for any range of issues.
-Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)- This licensure requires a Master's degree in social work and two years or 4,000 hours of clinical experience post graduate school. An LCSW can provide therapy for any range of issues.
-Associate Certified Mental Health Counselor (ACMHC)- This licensure requires a Master's degree in a mental health counseling program and the person is in the process of getting their 4,000 hours/2 years of clinical experience post graduation. An ACMHC can provide therapy for any range of issues.
-Certified Mental Health Counselor (CMHC)- This licensure requires a Master's degree in mental health counseling. Typically a 2-3 year program and 4,000 hours/2 years of clinical work post graduation. A CMHC can provide therapy for any range of issues.
-Psychologist (School or Clinical)- a Psychologist has a doctorate degree in psychology and can have gone to school to be a school psychologist or a clinical psychologist. A clinical psychologist will do therapy, but can not prescribe medication. Most often, a psychologist is associated with completing psychological testing/evaluations.
-Psychiatrist- a psychiatrist is someone with a doctorate and has gone to medical school. They can do therapy if they want, but are more often associated with prescribing medication.
So how do you find one of these people to help? A great place to start is Psychology Today. You can search by location, gender of the therapist, issues you need help in etc. Another option is to ask for a referral from your doctor or suggestions from friends or family who have had good luck with their therapist. You can also call your insurance provider for a list of therapists that are covered in your network.
The most important thing in finding a good therapist is the relationship you have with them. If you meet a potential therapist and get a weird vibe or really can't seem to connect with them, just be honest about it and ask for a referral to someone else! It's absolutely okay to switch around therapists until you find the right fit. People do this all the time with doctors and dentists, so why not be picky about the person you're going to share your deepest thoughts with?
A few other things to keep in mind when scoping out therapists:
1. Ask about and understand their treatment philosophy. This tells a lot about the therapist and you can get a good idea if they will fit your personality and needs before you even begin therapy sessions. If their philosophy is psychodynamic and focused on the subconscious but you want more solution-focused treatment, you might not be the best fit.
2. Ask what their specialty or area of interest is. If you are seeking therapy for trauma and you find a therapist who's passion and interest is working with Autism, you probably aren't going to get the kind of help you are looking for. Make sure your needs match with what the therapist can confidently provide.
3. Lastly, please understand that therapy is NOT a quick fix to solving your problems. You get out of it what you put into it. If you aren't ready to delve into deep and vulnerable things, your progress will be slow and minimal. The therapist can only help if you're willing to be helped.
That being said, be patient with yourself! You don't have to get to the hardcore nitty gritty in the first few sessions. Just keep yourself open to exploring and find a therapist that you feel safe with. If you set your intention to healing, you will do just fine!
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