Types of therapists: Credentials, licenses and choosing the right fit

Whether you are just starting out therapy or looking to change therapists, it’s easy to get lost among the various therapist credentials and licenses. What do those letters and abbreviations mean after a therapist’s name? How do you choose a therapist who is right for you?

The good news is that while therapists’ credentials and license types do matter, most therapists and counselors are able to provide therapy for a diverse set of conditions, and there is typically more than one type of therapist who will be able to treat you.

In other words, you don’t need to get bogged down too much in the license and credentials of a therapist. You can focus more on what you’re seeking help with, whether a therapist is experienced in that topic, and whether they’re a good fit for you personally.

Still, understanding therapist qualifications and therapist specialties is important, because they tell you about a therapist’s background and training, what type of conditions they are equipped to treat, and how they view therapy and the therapist’s role.

This guide will go over everything you need to know about different types of therapists and will empower you to choose a therapist who’s right for you.

Why understanding therapist credentials matters

You will often see the terms “therapist,” “counselor,” and “mental health professional” used in reference to therapy. These are general terms to describe professionals who work with people experiencing mental health challenges, and can be used interchangeably for a variety of different mental health professionals.

Therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals typically work one-on-one in therapy offices, but may work in clinics, hospitals, or other group settings. These days, therapists also often offer services online through telehealth.

To understand the different types of therapists out there, you can look to what their licensure and credentials are. These will tell you things like what degrees they have, what type of training they’ve received, and the scope of their therapy or counseling practice. 

What are the key differences between therapists and counselors?

Therapists usually practice psychotherapy (talk therapy), which is the type of one-on-one therapy many people associate with mental health therapy. Psychotherapy can support you in managing your symptoms, understand what your needs and wants are, and help you function more optimally in your daily life.

Depending on their certifications and training, counselors can also practice psychotherapy, and many of them do. But some types of counselors practice in different settings, such as school counselors. The word “counselor” can also refer to someone without specific mental health training or licensure, such as a clergy person or peer counselor. 

What are common types of therapists, and what do their credentials mean?

So what exactly do those letters and abbreviations mean after a therapist’s name? In a nutshell, they describe a therapist’s licenses, credentials, education, and specialties. Sometimes licensure and title vary across states, but training and scope of practice are largely universal.

Without further ado, here are therapist credentials, explained:

Psychologists

Psychologists may also be referred to as clinical psychologists or psychotherapists. They hold doctoral degrees, such as doctor of philosophy in psychology (PhD) or doctor of psychology (PsyD). They can provide therapy, evaluations, diagnoses, and provide psychological testing.

Social workers

Clinical social workers can provide one-on-one therapy and are also trained to work in settings like community clinics and hospitals. They typically have master’s degrees and special training in social work. There are several different social work licenses you might see, including licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed independent social worker (LICSW), and doctor of social work (DSW). 

Licensed counselors

Licensed counselors have master’s degrees and a license in counseling. Counseling licenses include licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC), or licensed clinical mental health counselor (LMHC). 

Marriage and family therapists

Marriage and family therapists are trained in psychotherapy and also family systems. They must have master’s degrees. The license for a marriage and family therapist is licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). 

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are mental health professionals who are initially trained as medical doctors before going through additional education in psychotherapy and psychotropic medications. They are also licensed to prescribe psychotropic medications. Psychiatrist licenses include doctor of medicine (MD) and doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). 

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs)

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) can diagnose conditions and prescribe medications. They are registered nurses with advanced training and degrees in psychiatry. 

How to match credentials to your needs

Different types of therapists can treat various mental health conditions. In other words, there isn’t one type of therapy for depression or anxiety or any other type of mental health condition you may be experiencing. That said, different types of therapists may be uniquely trained and well-matched to treat a specific mental health condition.

Here’s what to know about therapist license types and therapist specialties. 

Couples and family therapy

Many different licensed therapists and counselors can provide couples and family therapy, including licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), psychologists (PhD/PsyD), and licensed professional counselors (LPC).

Children and teens

A variety of licensed mental health professionals can treat children and teens, including licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), psychologists (PhD/PsyD). But it’s essential to make sure the specific therapist you are speaking to is trained and experienced with children and teens.

Besides licensure, you want to ask the therapist what type of therapy they practice. Types of therapy that are known to be effective for children and teens include:

• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Family therapy
• Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT)
• Play therapy 

Trauma and PTSD

Several different types of therapists can be trained to treat people who live with trauma and PTSD. These include psychologists (PhD/PsyD), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), and psychiatrists (MD/DO), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), and licensed professional counselors (LPC).

In addition to choosing a qualified therapist, you’ll want to ensure that the therapist has training in the types of therapies known to effectively treat trauma and PTSD. Evidence-based trauma-informed therapies include:

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
• Prolonged exposure therapy (PE)

Medication management and psychiatry

There are only certain types of licensed providers who can prescribe medication for mental health. These include psychiatrists (MDs and DOs) and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). 

Addiction and substance use

There are several different types of licensed mental health professionals who can treat addiction and substance use. The safest first step is often to start with a licensed medical provider, such as a primary care provider, psychiatrist (MD or DO), or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), who can help assess your symptoms, evaluate any safety risks, and recommend the right next step.

This matters because stopping alcohol or certain substances suddenly can sometimes be dangerous, and, in some cases, even life-threatening. Depending on your situation, a medical provider may recommend outpatient treatment, medication support, a higher level of care such as detox or rehab, or a combination of services.

In terms of therapy and counseling, you’ll want to find a provider who is trained in supporting people with addiction or substance use issues. Various mental health professionals may be qualified, including psychologists (PhDs/PsyDs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), and licensed professional counselors (LPCs).

How to evaluate a provider beyond their credentials

Therapist license types and therapist qualifications are important aspects of choosing a therapist, but it goes beyond that. Above all else, finding the right therapist for you is about comfort level — because treatment works best if you feel heard, seen, and understood by your therapist. 

Experience, specialties, and therapeutic approach

As you’re getting to know a prospective therapist, you can ask them what their background and training is, and what populations they have worked with in the past. Do they have any specialties? Have they ever treated people with similar mental health challenges to yours? What is their approach and philosophy to therapy? 

Personal fit and communication style

This is something that isn’t always easy to put into words and is more like a gut instinct kind of thing. But after speaking to a therapist, it can be helpful to ask yourself if you feel comfortable with them.

Do they create an atmosphere that feels welcoming and where you could see yourself sharing personal information and stories? You don’t have to be ready to share right away with a therapist, but you want to be sure the therapist has a communication style and “vibe” that feels comforting to you. 

Insurance coverage and cost transparency

Not all therapists take insurance, but many of them do. Either way, your therapist should make it clear what insurances they take as well as how they can help you navigate insurance if they are out-of-network with your insurance company. Many therapists will also have a sliding scale for clients, and you can ask them about that. 

Licensure verification

If you are uncertain about your therapist’s licensure or credentials, you can also verify them online. Typically this involves looking up the therapist’s specific licensing board and then entering their name or license number to verify. For example, if you are looking up a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), you would search for the LMFT licensing board along with the state that the therapist practices in. 

Tips for choosing the right therapist

Choosing the right therapist is all about personal fit and comfort. Here are some questions to ask before booking your first appointment to make sure you and your therapists are on the same page:

• What are your credentials and what were you trained in?
• What type of therapy do you practice?
• How do you establish therapy goals and when should I start to see improvements?
• How do you ensure that what I tell you is confidential?
• How do you approach therapy sessions and what should I expect?

After talking to a therapist, ask yourself some specific questions:

• How did this therapist make me feel?
• Was this therapist respectful of my background and point of view?
• Was this therapist professional?
• Was it easy to communicate with this therapist?

How to use Grow Therapy’s filters to find your match

Grow Therapy allows you to do a deep dive into the different therapists available for your care. You can use Grow Therapy to search for therapists by state, insurance, and specializations. 

You can go further and use filters to search by session type, treatment methods, identity, and format. Ratings and reviews will further help you identify if the therapist might be a good fit for you.

Additionally, each therapist has a photo and brief description of their therapy philosophy and point of view so you can get a sense of who they are and how they communicate.

When to consider switching providers

Sometimes you end up staying with a therapist for several months, or even years. There is no timetable for how long therapy needs to last. But you know it may be time to switch providers when:

• It’s not clear what your goals are for therapy and you don’t feel like you are progressing.
• You aren’t feeling comfortable — even if it’s been several visits.
• You aren’t feeling heard or respected.
• You feel that you and your therapist aren’t a good match in terms of personality or communication style.

Which therapist to choose and when to switch therapists is a very personal thing, and you should always go with your instincts here. Having a well-matched therapist is crucial and can ensure that the therapy will be effective and that you’ll feel more like yourself sooner.

Final thoughts

Choosing a therapist is one of the most personal decisions you can make — and it doesn’t have to be perfect on the first try. The credentials and license types covered in this guide give you a useful framework for understanding a therapist’s training and scope of practice, but they’re a starting point, not a finish line. What matters most is finding someone you feel comfortable opening up to, whose approach fits what you’re looking for, and who has experience with the specific challenges you’re navigating.

If your first choice doesn’t click, that’s not a failure — it’s information. Therapy works best when the relationship works, and it’s completely normal to try a few providers before finding the right fit. Grow Therapy makes it easier to filter by specialty, insurance, identity, and approach so you can spend less time searching and more time focused on what actually matters: feeling better.

Frequently asked questions