Mental Health Counselors and Their Acronyms
Welcome back! If you’re here, chances are you’re looking for information on counselors. I remember one thing that stuck out to me as I looked for counseling before my training was all the acronyms… and no explanation for them! It’s overwhelming enough having to sort through the hundreds of clinicians in the area, and we have to know what all those letters after their names mean, too? I’m here to demystify some of that, because I believe you should have all the information in order to make the best decision for your treatment. Please note this list is Colorado-specific and may not be applicable in other states, and is not comprehensive (does not include marriage and family therapists or social workers). Here’s a list of some common abbreviations in the field, with a short description:
• MA – master of arts, often in counseling psychology or clinical psychology.
• MS – master of science, often in counseling psychology or clinical psychology.
• LPC – licensed professional counselor, a master’s-level counselor who has completed their provisional license requirements. This credential is the goal for most master’s-level clinicians.
• LPCC – licensed professional counselor candidate, a provisional license for master’s-level counselors working toward their LPC (usually for 2-3 years).
• LP – licensed psychologist, whose license is documented as PSY. This is a doctorate-level clinician.
• PSYC – provisionally licensed psychologist, working toward LP. This is a doctorate-level clinician.
• RP – registered psychotherapist, available to bachelor’s-level practitioners who typically do not have accredited training in counseling.
What does all of this mean? There’s lots of options for you to get treatment! The biggest two factors you’ll see correlated with all these acronyms are the length of training the clinician received, and an increase in fees as a result. I would encourage you to thoroughly research an RP if you are interested in receiving treatment from them. Many have additional certifications or are in graduate programs which may qualify them to treat you, though it is important to note that bachelor-level psychology programs do not teach students how to counsel responsibly and ethically according to the American Counseling Association or American Psychological Association. And naturally, doctorate level clinicians (LP, PSY, PSYC) will have more training than LPCs and LPCCs. Additionally, doctorate-level counselors have additional training and abilities to provide testing and assessment for clients that master’s-level clinicians are not trained in.
Need more clarification? I’m happy to discuss with you what would be the best fit for you going forward. Most importantly, you’ll want to find someone who has experience and training in your presenting problem area, who you click with. As an LPCC, I understand that some clients simply would benefit from more experienced clinicians, and that’s okay! If this is the case for you, it is something we will discuss together in order to ensure you are getting the best treatment available to you.
Did I miss anything? Comment below, and thanks for reading!
Meagan
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational and educational purposes and is not to be used as a substitute for a therapeutic relationship, individualized mental healthcare, or medical healthcare.