Choosing the best provider to help you grow as a person can be a difficult task. Many of you are looking for help for a mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression. Many others have just had it rough and need a little help moving forward. Some of you feel as if your world has caved in, and you can’t breathe, you can’t see through the black fog, and you are never going to get through this mess. Where do you go? Where do you turn? How do you ask for help? I am here to help you untangle the web of craziness and who you should call.
Understanding Your Needs
Yes, the easy answer is me: I am Vickie, a therapist in Maryville, TN, and I help people from Knoxville and the surrounding communities heal from their trauma and adverse life experiences. I can help you. Click the link at the top of the page so we can talk.
OK, maybe you aren’t as sarcastic as I can be, or maybe you are, and your response is something like, “Whatever!” I get it. Seriously, figuring out what you need is not always easy. Do you need a therapist, counselor, life coach, or something else? You can’t make the best decision if you don’t know who they are or what they do.
Most people look at insurance or talk with their doctor, and go with that suggestion. You may want a little more information to make an informed decision, though. That is the purpose of this post: to inform you of your options for getting the help you need. You don’t have to rely on insurance, and you may want to protect your privacy.
Types of Mental Health Providers
There are many types of mental health providers with letters after their names. My brother-in-law calls it my “alphabet soup.” Each of us has a different perspective. We refer to these letters as credentials. Today, I am going to provide you with a list of some of the most common types and tell you what the letters mean.
LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. We are well qualified and focus on the entire family. We cannot prescribe medication, and most of us don’t want to. We have a master’s degree and are licensed to practice without supervision. We will most likely see you once a week for about fifty minutes. We narrow our focus on functioning within the family. Even though we may see you individually (I only see individuals), we are thinking in terms of how your relationships within your family are affecting your functioning
LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. These clinicians consider their treatment from the perspective of society and cannot prescribe medication. When you seek therapy from someone with this credential, they most likely will see you once a week for about fifty minutes. Their focus, even if they are seeing you individually, is primarily about social functioning. They will focus on how you function in society as a whole and look for solutions to help you better understand yourself as you fit in with society. They have a master’s degree and are licensed to practice without supervision.
LPC, Licensed Professional Counselors These professionals focus on treating individuals and individual psychology. They have a master’s degree and can practice. They cannot diagnose or bill insurance. The LPC will also most likely see you for fifty-minute appointments weekly. They will see you individually and are more focused on how you function as an individual rather than within a group, such as a family or community. Most people with this designation obtain enough experience to add MHSP to their letters.
LPC, MHSP, Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation. Professional counselors have the same master’s degree and continue to get experience that teaches them more in-depth about diagnosis and treatment for mental health issues. This allows them to bill insurance and practice without supervision. They cannot prescribe medication.
APN, Advanced Practice Nurse. These nurses have continued with their education and have achieved a high level of competence in their field. They will specialize, for example, as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. They may also specialize in other areas. They will spend about twenty minutes talking with their patients and prescribing their medication. They have a master’s degree and work under the supervision of a medical doctor.
PsyD. Doctorate of Psychology Most of the time, these letters indicate someone who concentrates on psychological testing and research. They work hard to get to the exact problem and, most of the time, refer out for treatment. Sometimes, a psychologist will engage in therapy with their clients as well.
PhD. Doctorate in Philosophy. There is a wide range of specialties for people with this degree, and it is not limited to just mental health. Most of the time, people with this degree are focused on research in their field of expertise.
MD, Medical Doctor Medical doctors are educated as scientists, and their focus is on the science of the illness. This includes psychiatrists who will see you for about twenty minutes and then prescribe medication. Psychiatrists specialize in treating different types of mental illnesses. They have gone to medical school and graduated.
Caution When Choosing Non-Licensed Providers
There are many other types of mental health professionals as well. You can find pastoral counselors and even alcohol and drug experts. All of these practitioners are regulated by the state licensing board for Tennessee. Sometimes, people will call themselves a “life coach” or a “consultant,” but within the mental health field, there are no requirements for someone to call themselves these things. You should use caution if you choose to seek assistance from someone of this level. They may have a natural talent and enough life experience to be helpful, or they may not. This is an individual decision, and you should make it carefully. I am Vickie, a therapist in Maryville, TN, and I help people from Knoxville and the surrounding communities heal from their trauma and adverse life experiences. I can help you. Click the link at the top of the page so we can talk.