How to Choose your Therapist
The only thing more intimidating than deciding to go to therapy is choosing your therapist.
If you’ve made the decision to start therapy, you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Understandably, I have simplified the process!
Below are four important factors to consider & an explanation of licensure aka the letters after everyone’s name.
Be proud of yourself for choosing yourself and prioritizing your wellness.
Specialty
There is a lot of different options out there to choose from when searching for your therapist. You may consider going to a generalist if you are not sure what you are looking for. On the other hand, you may want a therapist specializing in a specific age demographic (kiddos, adolescents, adults, geriatric) or area of focus (trauma, grief, depression).
2. Connection
Finding the right therapist for you can be a process. First, you want to make sure you feel a connection with your provider as you search PsychologyToday.com or explore websites. Therapy can be a vulnerable place and feeling connected to that person; establishing trust is essential to a successful self-discovery journey. Next, schedule an appointment & if you don't feel a connection, ask for a referral.
3. Schedule
Ask your potential provider what their scheduled office hours are. If you are worried, you can't make a consistent scheduling commitment. Your therapist will help you create space in your life for you. Your appointment time may fluctuate in frequency or scheduled time/day to help meet your needs.
Resilient Wellness understands it can be difficult to schedule appointments in today's modern world & that's why RW offers 24-7 online bookings for existing clients.
4. Investment
Not all providers are paneled with insurance. The reason behind this is insurance can limit your sessions & requires specific diagnostic criteria to be met to reimburse you for services. If you do not want a diagnosis in your chart or to be reviewed and evaluated by a panel of strangers (your insurance company) determining if they feel you have met enough criteria to be reimbursed for support, I strongly recommend considering private pay. The other reason, providers may not take insurance is it requires documentation of clinical notes to be released, as mentioned above then you have a whole lot of strangers reading your story determining if you meet the criteria to cover your services.
Insurance can be helpful, contingent on your plan it may decrease the financial responsibility. Depending on what type of services you're looking for, evaluate your needs, pros, and cons to make an informed decision. Would you prefer to private-pay and go to a provider you want to work with whom specializes in your concerns or are you fine seeing a generalist? Both options are acceptable.
The choice is yours.
Frequently Asked Question:
“Can someone please explain what all these different letters mean?”
Counselor Trainee (CT)- A Master level graduate student supervised by LPCC-S, gaining clinical experience before they sit for their LPC licensure exam and complete their degree. CT status is only valid while they are in practicum and internship. CTs meet with their professor in addition to their supervisor once a week.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)- A licensed therapist who is supervised by a licensed therapist. These therapists consult about their patients in their caseload to ensure that their clients are receiving the most appropriate level of care. LPC’s are typically in their first 1-2 years of licensed field experience.
Training Requirements:
Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Pass state board licensing exam
LPC’s are required to continue to meet with their supervisor 1x a week to consult on client cases.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC)- Independently Licensed Therapist
Training Requirements:
Must be an LPC to apply, minimum 2 years licensed experience
Extensive Direct hour requirements must be met prior to applying for licensure
Pass another state board license exam ( this is a different licensure exam than what they previously completed to get their LPC).
Licenced Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor (LPCC-S) - This is me!
Training Requirements:
Minimum 3 years of licensure experience & meet specified direct-hour requirements.
Must be an LPCC prior to applying for the supervision endorsement.
Specific training in supervision to supervise CTs and LPC’s. We sign off on every note, engage in weekly supervision with our supervise, and oversee their caseload to ensure appropriate client care.
Did you find this RW Blog helpful?
If you or someone you may know might benefit from therapy share this blog with them to help make a decision about choosing a therapist that’s right for them.
If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Yiannoula Mavroidis M. Ed., LPCC-S, BC-TMH, owner of Resilient Wellness, click the link.
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