Counseling Terms
Glossary of Counseling Terms
Credentials
Techniques and Modalities
Formats of Group Therapy
Credentials of Counselors and Group Therapists
LCDC, Chemical Dependency Counselor
LMFT, LMFTA, Marriage and Family Therapist
LPC , Professional Counselor
MD, Psychiatrist
APN, Psychiatric Nurse
PhD, PsyD; LP, LPA, PLP , Psychologist
LCSW, LMSW, Social Worker
LSSP, School Psychologist
According
to Texas Department of State Health Services, counseling means assisting one or
more clients through a therapeutic relationship, using a combination of mental
health and human development principles, methods, and techniques, including the
use of psychotherapy, to achieve the mental, emotional, physical, social,
moral, educational, spiritual, or career-related development and adjustment of
the client throughout the client's life. That’s a lot of ground to cover!
The
mental health profession has many types of certifications, each with unique
education, training, approach, and licensing requirements. All of the
practitioners listed on this site are licensed in their own area of education
and training. Types of licenses may be
important if you're looking for a therapist who can prescribe medication or who
is expert in a particular problem like drug addiction. But in general, effective
therapy is mostly about finding a therapist who works well with you.
Because
many of us aren't quite clear on the differences between psychiatrists,
psychologists, counselors and social workers, we offer a rough field guide
here.
Chemical Dependency
Counselor (LCDC)
A
licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC) is licensed only to provide
chemical dependency counseling services to drug-users, family members of
drug-users or any other person involved in a significant relationship with an
active substance abuse issue. Providers
must pass a state licensing exam and have comparable educational and clinical
experience in the chemical dependency field. The must also maintain annual continuing education credits. The license does not qualify an individual to
provide services outside the scope of chemical dependency, meaning that LCDCs
are not qualified to treat individuals with a mental health disorder or provide
family counseling to individuals whose presenting problems do not include
chemical dependency.
Marriage
and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Marriage
and family therapists, (LMFTs), receive
a master’s or doctoral degree specializing in family and interpersonal
dynamics. They treat individuals in the context of family relationships,
addressing issues from anger and resentment to intimacy and communication
skills. Treatment with a marriage and family therapist is typically brief (20
sessions or less) and solution-focused. Since 1970, the number of practitioners
has increased substantially, and the number of states licensing marriage and
family therapists. (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)
Pastoral Counselor
(LPC, LMFT)
Pastoral
counselors listed on this site are ministers who have graduate training in
religion and behavioral science and are licensed as Professional Counselors or
Marriage and Family Therapists. They
offer therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups and their approach
is shaped by their religion. They also
provide consultation and leadership in personal, family, and spiritual
growth.
Professional
Counselor (LPC, LPC-Intern)
An LPC, or licensed
professional counselor, has a master’s degree in a relevant field, such as
counseling, psychology, or substance abuse treatment. To become certified they must complete 3000
clock hours of counseling under a supervisor and pass a state licensure
exam. An LPC-Intern has completed a
master’s degree and is in the midst of completing their hours under
supervision. They often treat people dealing with problems such as depression
and anxiety, grief, work-related issues, communication, relationship stress,
and addiction or eating disorders. Some specialize in a certain area such as
child counseling, internet addictions or trauma. All LPCs are regulated by the
Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
Psychiatrist (MD)
Psychiatrists
are medical doctors who, after completing medical school, receive an additional
four years of specialized mental health training. Psychiatrists treat the full
range of emotional and mental disorders, and are licensed to prescribe
medication. Psychiatrists sometimes use psychotropic medication in conjunction
with psychotherapy to treat psychiatric disorders. (American Psychiatric
Association) Some psychiatrists only
address medication management.
The
Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) in Mental Health has a master’s degree or higher
from an accredited school of nursing and has passed a national exam. Services include psychiatric evaluation,
psychotherapy, and patient education. Additional education and authorization by the Texas Board of Nursing
Examiners permits some APNs to also prescribe psychoactive medications.
Psychologist (PhD,
PsyD; LP, LPA, PLP)
Psychology
has two doctoral degrees: a PhD a doctor of philosophy, and a PsyD, doctor of
psychology. Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology emphasize theory and research
methods and prepare students for either academic work or careers as practitioners.
The Psy.D., which was created in the late 1960s to address a shortage of
practitioners, emphasizes training in therapy and counseling. Psychologists
with either degree can practice psychotherapy but are required to complete
several years of supervised practice before becoming licensed. (American
Psychological Association)
Psychologists
practicing under a PhD or PsyD have a doctoral degree in psychology that meets
the requirements of the Psychologists’ Certification and Licensing Act, for the
State of Texas. They have also passed the National Psychology Licensing
Examination, the Texas State Board’s Oral Exam on ethics and professional
conduct, and have two years of supervised experience (one pre-doctoral
internship and one postdoctoral year) from a licensed psychologist that
satisfies the requirements of the Board. Psychologists perform a wide range of evaluation and treatment
interventions with children, adults, couples, families, groups, and
organizations. Services include therapy,
diagnostic evaluations, psychological and neuropsychological testing, career
counseling, forensic evaluations, behavioral health consultations, and
organizational consulting.
Licensed
Psychological Associates (LPA) and Provisionally Licensed Psychologists (PLP) are
trained at the masters or doctoral level and can provide a full range of
psychological services under the supervision of a fully licensed psychologist,
including individual and group therapy and psychological assessment. All psychologists are regulated by the Texas
State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
A
social worker usually has a master's degree in social work and has studied
sociology, growth and development, mental health theory and practice, human
behavior/social environment, psychology, research methods. In terms of
counseling, social workers help individuals deal with a variety of mental
health and daily living problems to improve overall functioning.
(http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=15160) While many work in private practice, social
workers often work in schools, hospitals, community clinics and government
agencies. (National Association of Social Workers) The social work perspective is one of
strengths-based practice, meaning that the practitioner will help look for and
encourage building upon a client’s strengths. A social worker also as a broad view of the client, keeping in mind the
family, community and culture of each person.
“LCSW”
stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. A professional with this designation has
completed 3000 post-graduate hours of clinical work under supervision, has
passed a state licensing exam, and is current on annual continuing education
requirements. “LMSW” stands for Licensed
Master of Social Work. A practitioner
with this designation has completed a master’s program, taken a licensing exam,
and is in the midst of accruing their 3000 hours of clinical work under an
approved professional’s supervision. All
social workers are regulated by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Social
Workers.
Specialist in
School Psychology (LSSP)
School
psychologists have specialized training in both psychology and education and
must have completed a graduate degree in psychology from a regionally
accredited academic institution with graduate level coursework in specific
domains related to educational psychology. In addition, LSSPs must have completed a minimum of 1200 supervised
hours of internship or experience, 600 of which must be in a public
school. They team with educators,
parents, and other mental health professionals to ensure that every child
learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment.
Specific Techniques and Modalities in
Counseling
Art therapy
Art
therapy uses art media and the creative arts process in psychotherapy. Registered Art Therapists (ATRs) are board certified
through a national exam.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback
is the use of electronic equipment to reflect the physical state of the
individual while the person learns techniques to regulate the body's systems
and to reduce unwanted symptoms. It teaches physical awareness, and voluntary
control over the body's systems. This is referred to as self-regulation.
Biofeedback is a painless and non-invasive therapy which should be performed by
a trained biofeedback therapist, preferably one with certification credentials.
Biofeedback is used for the treatment of stress, chronic pain, Raynaud's
Disorder, anxiety, TMJ jaw pain, high blood pressure, tension, muscle pain,
addiction, phobias, migraine headaches, Attention Deficit Disorder, panic attacks,
tension headache, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and many other
disorders. There are many types of biofeedback.
(http://www.coe.unt.edu/cdhe/Biofeedback1.htm) See [this site](link to http://www.aapb.org) for more information.
Brief Therapy
Brief
therapy is short-term (usually 10 to 20 sessions) and focused on helping a
person to resolve or effectively manage a specific problem or challenge, or to
make a desired change. The therapy is typically solution-oriented, and sessions
are more geared towards here-and-now aspects of the problem than on exploration
of historical material. Goal setting is the hallmark of this approach, and the
therapist is more active in sessions than is typically the case in traditional
psychotherapy. Most often, those who practice brief therapy take a cognitive,
behavioral, or cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment. (http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/therapy/brief-therapy.php)
DBT (Dialectical Behavior
Therapy)
Dialectical
Behavior Therapy is an approach that has been developed for a type of
personality that has extreme shifts in emotional state and behavioral
instability called Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). In addition, those
with BPD may have tendencies toward self-injurious or suicidal behaviors, and
have difficulty stopping themselves from acting upon these impulses.
Simultaneous emphasis on acceptance and the need for change are at the core of
this approach, and specific behavioral skills are learned and practiced to
improve impulse control, emotional regulation, interpersonal interactions and
overall functioning. The goal is to replace old, harmful ways of thinking,
feeling and behaving with new, healthier ones. (http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/therapy/dialectical-behavior-therapy.php) See [this site] (link to http://www.behavioraltech.com/downloads/dbtFaq_Cons.pdf)
for more information.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing)
Eye
Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic
technique used by licensed mental health practitioners who are trained in this
protocol to facilitate the recovery of those suffering from aftereffects of
traumatic events. In this technique, the therapist guides the person in
right/left eye movement or other right/left brain stimulation as he or she
recounts the event. Also, the person gets to choose their actions rather than
feeling powerless over his or her reactions. The goal is to release blocked
emotional experience (memories and distress) as well as successful integration
of the event, resulting in symptom relief and healing. (http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/therapy/emdr.php) See [this site](link to http://www.emdr.com) for
more information.
Forensic services
If
a practitioner offers “forensic services” they are willing to apply their
knowledge and training in mental health to the investigation and establishment
of facts or evidence in a court of law.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis
is a method whereby a hypnotist seemingly induces a trance or trance-like state
in a willing subject. Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for therapeutic
purposes, and should only be employed in this manner by a licensed
professional. The main ingredients of this approach include: (1) deep
relaxation, (2) intense concentration, and (3) high suggestibility on the part
of the subject. During hypnosis, the hypnotist uses techniques that foster a
very relaxed state in which defenses or resistance is lowered. Then,
suggestions are given that are related to the purpose of the procedure, or the
subject's mind or imagination is explored in order to gain insight or access to
memories (though accuracy is not enhanced). Contrary to popular myth, a person
will not engage in any behavior that is against his or her will, either during
the procedure or afterwards. That is, the person is not controlled by the
hypnotist; both the hypnotist and the subject simply behave in accordance with
their own expectations of the situation, and each play a learned role. Also, an
"altered state of consciousness" is not actually achieved, but rather
it is akin to the twilight state between sleeping and waking.
(http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/therapy/ericksonian-hypnotherapy.php)
Imago Therapy
In
Imago therapy, couples are taught structured dialogues to change their
relationship from a power struggle to one of mature love with mutual
commitment, awareness, safety and comfort. (http://www.psychomed.net/clp/Imago.html) See [this site] (link to http://www.gettingtheloveyouwant.com)
for more information.
Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback
is a form of biofeedback which uses electrical signals from the brain detected
by electrodes that are placed on the scalp. It is a completely painless and
non-invasive exercise in which the person's mental activity in the form of
frequency bands or individual frequencies (brainwaves) are "fed back"
to him or her via a computer. A coach trains the person how to change the
activity of one's brain in a desired way, and thus new behaviors are learned.
This way, the person gains better control over his or her symptoms.
Neurofeedback has been used to help those with Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADD). It has also been used to treat problems that are stress-related, such as
chronic pain, headaches, insomnia, depression and addictions. (http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/therapy/neurofeedback.php)
Play Therapy
Play
therapy is an approach typically used with children between ages 3 to 8. It is
the medium by which a child can express, or play out, internal conflicts and
distress regarding a variety of problems. Younger children in particular do not
have the cognitive development or verbal skills to discuss issues and
communicate directly with words as adults do. Also, in play, children feel more
empowered by interacting voluntarily, on their terms, in a modality that is
natural, familiar and comfortable for them. Within a playroom containing a
range of carefully selected toys and materials, children are the directors and
rule makers in their symbolic world. Play therapy provides a safe, accepting
environment for children to express their needs and feelings, practice social
skills, and reenact conflicts for the purpose of preparing them to deal with
upsetting issues or traumatic events. In addition, it affords children an
opportunity to find and experiment with alternative solutions to problems, as
well as to learn how to cope better. Parents are an integral part of the
process, and the therapist shares observations with them, as well as provides
guidance regarding ways in which parents can foster their child’s progress. (http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/therapy/play-therapy.php)
Psychodrama
A
psychotherapeutic technique in which people are assigned roles to be played
spontaneously within a dramatic context devised by a therapist in order to
understand the behavior of people with whom they have difficult
interactions. (http://www.answers.com/topic/psychodrama)
Systems Centered Therapy
(SCT)
According
to Systems-centered theory (SCT) living human systems survive, develop, and
transform from simple to complex through a developing ability to recognize
differences and integrate them. SCT explains
how living human systems contain their energy within functional boundaries and
direct it towards their goals: the primary goals of survival and development
and the secondary goals of environment mastery. Systems-centered training teaches how to understand and influence living
human systems and how to take up one’s role as an agent of change, both for the
self and for other living human systems. SCT members learn through experience rather than explaining. (http://www.systemscentered.com/index.asp?page=/Theory/index)
Time-limited
This
type of group closes to new members after the first couple of sessions, runs
for a set period of time.
Psycho-Educational
This
type of group is focused on educating the members about a certain topic such as
divorce, grief, or terminal illness. There
may be some internal or interpersonal processing involved.
Open Process Group
Process
group therapy is defined as a method of treating existing presenting problems
using the interaction between a mental health professional and two or more group
members to promote positive emotional or behavioral change. An “open” group is
ongoing and receives new members as there is room; there will be a certain
focus of the group, whether it is a topic, experience, or type of therapy.
Support Group
Support
groups are focused on a certain experience that all the members share and the
goal is to foster support for one another in light of that experience. In general, this type of group may or may not
be run by a licensed counselor. On this
site, only groups run by licensed professionals are listed.
Process and Art /
Movement / Writing / Yoga
These
are all “expressive group therapy” formats. Through active expression,
inner-strengths are discovered that can help the client deal with past
experiences and cope with present life situations in more beneficial ways.