WHAT DO THOSE LETTERS MEAN

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: call Vickie at The Lion's Lamb Family Therapy, LLC. I offer a ![free fifteen-minute consultation, click this link to schedule] ( https://calendar.app.google/zwsVG83f19QSHqvK6)
OK, maybe you aren't as sarcastic as I can be, or maybe you are, and your thought 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, and 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, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. ** Marriage and Family Therapists are well-qualified and focus on the entire family and cannot prescribe medication. 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 of functioning to 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. We want to preserve your family and help you heal at the same time.
** 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 50 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 **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 can see you individually and are focused more on how you function as an individual rather than within a group. Most people with this designation obtain enough experience to add MHSP to their name.
** 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.
** APN ** stands for** 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.
** Psy.D. the 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,** these letters are used for people who have earned a ** 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, **these letters are used for medical doctors. 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 finished.
## 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 those 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.
## ![FREE FIFTEEN MINUTE CONSULT] ## (https://calendar.app.google/zwsVG83f19QSHqvK6 )
With all of this information, how do you choose a treatment provider? You ask questions. I will get more detailed with those questions in my next post, but for now, consider what you are looking for, as any one of the above professionals is likely to be able to help you move forward in your journey to healing, regardless of the severity of your problem. Of course, I do offer a free fifteen-minute consult, and you can schedule with the link above. div.class_name {     word-wrap: normal;   }