How to Choose a Therapist
The law in California states that anyone who provides professional services to diagnose and treat mental disorders must be licensed, or be working toward their license under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. Those who are licensed have completed internship requirements (usually 3,000 hours), passed rigorous exams and must complete on-going continuing education requirements according to the standards set by their licensing board.
Types of Therapists:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs or LMFTs): This license requires a Master's Degree in psychology, clinical psychology, counseling psychology or marital and family therapy. Training focuses on interpersonal relationships, human development, a variety of therapeutic orientations, understanding family systems, crisis intervention, brief psychotherapy, and intensive long-term psychotherapy.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs): Practitioners with the LCSW license have a minimum of a Master's Degree in social work and provide psychosocial diagnosis, assessment and treatment, client advocacy, consultation, evaluations and research. Work settings include hospitals, clinics, agencies and private practice. Many LCSWs work through an environmental systems perspective as well as provide counseling and therapy from a variety of therapeutic models.
Psychologists: With a doctoral degree in psychology, psychologists often have advanced training in research methods, psychological testing and evaluation, learning disabilities and other aspects of psychology. Psychologists also provide counseling and psychotherapy services.
Psychiatrists: As licensed physicians, psychiatrists prescribe medication to treat emotional and mental problems. While some psychiatrists only prescribe medications, others prescribe and provide therapy as well.
Other Considerations: Besides choosing the professional whose education, training and license seem to best fit your needs, it is important to consider length of experience, how you feel in the presence of the therapist or while talking over the phone, the type of therapy being offered (for example: cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, systems theory, psychoanalysis), availability of appointment times, availability for emergencies, fees and affordability, and areas of specialization.