At Cindy Miller Counseling & Behavioral Health Associates, we know that seeking a counselor is an important step. We are confident that you will find our fully qualified, licensed professionals to be knowledgable, engaged, compassionate and focused on your success. The variety of therapy choices can be overwhelming, when you first attempt to seek help. We hope the answers to these frequently asked questions (FAQs) are helpful. 1. How do I choose the right therapist?
2. What is the difference between a therapist, a social worker, a counselor, a marriage and family therapist, a psychologist and a psychiatrist? Therapist is a generic term for a provider of psychotherapy. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT), Clinical Psychologists (Ph.D, Psy.D) and Psychiatrists (M.D.) can all be called Therapists. LCSWs, LCPCs, LMFTs are all licensed professionals who have at least a master's degree from an accredited college or university: Following completion of graduate school, each clinician is required to work under the direct supervision of a licensed clinician in their field for approximately two years before qualifying to take their state's licensing exam, which they must pass to attain the license discussed above. In order to renew their licenses (every two years) each clinician must demonstrate attendance at a minimum of 30 hours of continuing clinically-related education. Each of these licensed professionals has been educated in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health, behavioral and interpersonal issues. They may differ in their areas of specialty and approach, but they can provide assessments, diagnosis and treatment of most mental health & behavioral conditions. Their clinical practice concentrates on talk therapy or other non-medical intervention. They do not prescribe medication. Therapists routinely collaborate with a client's primary care physician or psychiatrist if medication is appropriate for a client. A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional who has attained a doctorate, a Ph.D or Psy.D in the field of psychology, and is licensed by the state regulatory body to practice clinical psychology. In addition to talk therapy, a psychologist is trained to conduct behavioral and psychological testing. They do not prescribe medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D.) who has several years of post-doctoral training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Psychiatrists generally treat their patients with medication or other medical therapies. Some do provide talk therapy, but in an era of managed care, this is increasingly rare. It is more common for a psychiatrist and a therapist to work together to provide care to patients/clients they have in common. We look forward to serving you.
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