Tips for Choosing a
Psychotherapist
Deciphering the
Degrees
By
considering a prospective therapist's credentials along
with the particular license they possess, you may be
able to determine the amount and kind of academic
training and experience they have had.
Doctors of
Philosophy (Ph.D.), Psychology (Psy.D.), or Education (Ed.D.)
have usually completed four or more years of graduate
school and are all eligible for licensing. However, only
those who have been licensed can call themselves
psychologists. There are many Ph.D.'s from other related
or unrelated academic fields who still practice therapy
without being licensed or clinically trained.
Psychologists can also specialize in a wide variety of
non-clinical practice areas, including statistical
research, industrial psychology, diagnostic testing and
evaluations.
Licensed
Social Workers (LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT),
and Professional Counselors (LPC) usually have at least
two years of graduate school and have earned a Masters'
Degree (some may have doctoral degrees).
Licensed
Social Workers often have other credentials: B.S.W.
(Bachelor's of Social Work), M.S.W. (Master's of Social
Work), A.C.S.W. (Academy of Certified Social Workers; a
2 yr post graduate national credential), BCD (Board
Certified Diplomate; 5 yr post graduate credential) or
DCSW (Diplomate of Clinical Social Work; 5 yr post
graduate credential). Social workers are also trained to
specialize in a variety of areas in addition to clinical
practice including community organization and
development, and administrative management.
Licensed
Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional
Counselors have other Master's degrees such as: M.A.
(Master of Arts), M.S. (Master of Science) or M.Ed.
(Master of Education). Marriage and Family Therapists
have specialized training in the area of family systems
while Professional Counselors may have a variety of more
generalized training in the area of psychology and
counseling.
Other
Practicing Professionals
There are many other professionals who may
practice forms of psychotherapy. The list
includes: Pastoral Counselors: M.Div. (Master of
Divinity), or Th.D. (Doctor of Theology);
Psychiatric Nurses: R.N. (Registered Nurse) or
M.S.N. (Masters of Science in Nursing); and
Alcohol Counselors: C.A.C. I, II, or III
(Certified Addiction Counselors). Psychiatrists:
M.D. (Medical Doctors); Psychoanalysts: (anyone
trained or practicing Freudian or analytic
styled psychodynamic approach); Hypnotherapists:
anyone trained or practicing hypnosis); Sex
Therapists: (anyone trained or practicing sex
therapy).
Summing It All Up
A highly
recommended, experienced and licensed therapist may have
the right credentials, with a wall covered with
prestigious diplomas and certificates, and still not be
very effective in helping you. As ironic, an unknown
unlicensed therapist with a limited amount of experience
may be just the right match for you. Some people have a
natural ability to listen and communicate well with
others. This factor alone can sometimes make all the
difference in being helped. In the long run, the
theoretical practice style or technique one uses may not
make much difference at all. Most likely, the ideal
therapist for you has a healthy balance of:
 |
Professional credentials and training |
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|
A
natural ability to communicate |
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A
long history of having helped many others
effectively with caring and respect
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The Impact of Managed Health Care on Psychotherapy
Recent economic and political priorities towards
national health care reform, demand that
psychotherapy be brief, symptom relieving and
cost effective. Health Maintenance Organizations
(HMO's) and managed health care organizations
that regulate and limit the practice of health
care in a competitive market may eliminate the
affordability of mental health care for many
people. Most health insurance companies that
provide mental health benefits for "mental and
nervous disorders" now contract with independent
managed health care organizations to allocate,
monitor and regulate mental health care
treatment and insurance benefits.
What
this means is that a managed health care
organization could limit and control the amount
and kind of therapy treatment seemingly
available to you in your health benefits plan.
It is important to understand that while you may
be going to a competent therapist, your
insurance company, as regulated through managed
health care, may not cover the style and length
of treatment that you or your therapist feel is
warranted. You may be forced to make a decision
about whether you and your therapist are willing
to continue ongoing treatment even when your
insurance benefits are discontinued. You may
therefore want to ask your therapist how they
would handle your fees, should you find that
your therapy is no longer covered by your
insurance plan.
Best Wishes on
Your Journey
I hope this
article has been helpful in giving you a better
understanding about what it takes to find a good
therapist. You deserve to have caring, effective,
professional help that is also affordable. Everyone
does. You also have a right to be satisfied with the
service you receive. You are ultimately responsible for
the direction your life takes. The decisions you make
today, influences where your life leads into tomorrow.
Selecting a therapist who can guide you along the way
for a part of your journey, may insure that you arrive
safely at your chosen destination. Good luck in your
life's journey! May you find the help you are seeking
and continue to live your life with health and well
being.
Sincerely,
Barry Erdman
be@nilenet.com |
