The Different Types of Therapists and Counselors: The Complete Guide
Submitted by guest contributor Joseph Rauch.
There are dozens of types of therapists and counselors, each with a different method, speciality, salary or degree. If you are interested in working with a psychotherapist, this guide will offer all the information you need to find the professional who best fits your challenges, lifestyle, budget and preferences. It is also helpful for aspiring therapists who want to learn about possible career paths.
What Does “Type” Mean in the Context of Therapists?
There are several factors that determine exactly what a therapist’s “type” is (we explore all of them thoroughly in the rest of the guide):
Type of Psychotherapy They Practice
Type of Degree or License
Type of Specialized or Additional Credential
Issues or Disorders They Specialize in Treating
Whether They Use Mediums Such as Art and Music
Willingness to Give Advice
Practicing In an Office, Online or Both
If They Practice in an Office, Is It a Group or Individual Office?
Health Insurance Policies
Works with Individuals, Couples, Families or a Combination
Works Only with Adults, Only with Children, Only with Seniors or a Combination
Specializes in Seeing Clients of Certain Races, Income Levels, Religious Backgrounds and Sexual Orientations
The Locations in Which They Practice
There is no consensus or standard definition of what “type” means in the context of counselors. “Type” can refer to any one of the aforementioned factors. Nonetheless, therapists and clients mostly use “type” to refer to the type of psychotherapy the therapist practices or their degree, license or credentials. This is because many therapists most prominently feature therapeutic approach and education in their personal brand and marketing. They also often perceive it as a more important part of their professional identity.
Why All Parts of a Therapist’s Type Are Equally Important
It’s natural for therapists to stress their credentials and approach more than other parts of their type. “Health Insurance Flexible Therapist” doesn’t sound as appealing as “CBT therapist,” even if clients find the therapist by searching health insurance directories.The unintended negative consequence of stressing education and type of psychotherapy more than other factors is it leads some clients and therapists to believe the other factors don’t matter as much. The factors actually vary in importance depending on what the client is looking for and what the therapist wants to offer during treatment.Some clients search for therapists based on health insurance or the ability to practice online. To them, the type of psychotherapy and credentials are an afterthought.Then there are clients who want a therapist with the same race or similar life experiences. They, too, don’t care as much about education level and therapeutic approach.There are also therapists who believe the type of degree does not significantly impact the quality of therapy. “I believe any mental health professional who has experience counseling can help people with the same effectiveness as another degree, such as LMFT, LPC, PhD, LCSW and LMHC,” said Talkspace therapist Karissa Brennan, LMHC. All of the factors that make a therapist’s type are important. Keep reading to learn about them in-depth and see how they impact both the client and therapist.
The Type of Psychotherapy/Therapeutic Approach
The type of psychotherapy or therapeutic approach affects a therapist’s career path but makes little difference in the quality of treatment they can provide. It is important to clients, though.Some clients might find a purely cognitive behavioral approach too cold or believe psychodynamic methods are outdated. It’s crucial for the therapist and client to think about how the therapeutic approach will mesh with their personalities, preferences and goals.Most therapists say they specialize in or use a certain approach rather than claiming they are a practitioner of it. There is a difference between someone who calls himself a psychoanalyst and someone who says he uses psychoanalysis in therapy. The former is less likely to blend psychoanalysis with other approaches.
This is a guest post by writer Joseph Rauch. Please visit the Talkspace blog to read the full version of this article.
An Inviting Look at Overcoming Despair and Living with Hope
When you're living with mental illness, the world can seem like a dark and hopeless place. As a therapist, I find inspiration in the stories of resilience in not only my own clients, but in others who share with the world at large. It is this kind of sharing that helps to chip away at the crippling stigma that any of us feel when we struggle to say, "I am not okay."
This sense of despair and lack of hope is somethings that's so appropriately engaged in Dennis C. Miller's memoir, Moppin' Floors to CEO: From Hopelessness and Failure to Happiness and Success.As the title suggest, this book is an epic story of odyssean proportions. As a young man living in New Jersey, Miller struggled with an abusive father. As is often the case with children of abuse, Miller struggled with depression in his younger years, trying his best to move throughout live despite his tumultuous family life. He suffered to feel good about himself and struggled in school. Many didn't notice that he was suffering. It was the abuse that also led Miller trying to kill his father. The depression led him to hospitalization at the age of 20. This intervention, it seems, was the moment in which Miller's life changed forever.
This doesn't mean that Miller's life was without more bumps in the road. Further self-deprecation and difficulties at work are hallmarks of Miller's story. Through it all, he somehow powers his way through all life's challenges.In Moppin' Floors to CEO, Miller talks openly about his time in treatment. Throughout his life, he comes to terms with the value of therapy and credits his investment in therapy as critical to his success. He reminisces fondly of his therapists, the people who served as beacons of light throughout his various life stages. For Miller, it seems there is no place in stigma when it comes to mental health care. He has lived and reaped the benefits of engaging in therapy and he has a successful career and loving family to show for it.
The beauty in Miller's story is not just the trajectory of his life and the bumps in the road, it is also his simplicity and undeniable charm that makes Moppin' Floors to CEO such a gem. Miller's story is accessible. It is a new, untold American story that few have heard before.Through it all, the journey with Miller is an enjoyable one and the pay off is powerful. In the end pages of his incredible story, it's easy to feel the reality of a man musing about his life's work and his family. His revelations about hope and health are compelling, even when they are not explicitly expressed. Miller's voice is strikingly clear and for anyone who is seeking hope in living a full life when faced with mental illness, Miller's story is a much-needed antidote to shame and hopelessness.
You can learn more about Dennis C. Miller and his work at his website DennisCMiller.com.
Why I Think the University of Chicago Got it All Wrong on Trigger Warnings
Note: This post includes discussion about the topics of sexual assault and consent. There are no graphic images or descriptions of sexual violence. If you are a survivor and looking for support, please visit RAINN.
Last month, the University of Chicago sent a letter to incoming students which included discussion on the university's stance on both trigger warnings and safe spaces. In the letter, Dean of Students in The College John Jay Ellison states:
"Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so called ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.Fostering the free exchange of ideas reinforces a related University priority—building a campus that welcomes people of all backgrounds. Diversity of opinion and background is a fundamental strength of our community. The members of our community must have the freedom to espouse and explore a wide range of ideas."
I agree that universities and institutions of higher learning should foster a diversity of thoughts and ideas. After all, that allows for the most well-rounded kind of education. But, I think that the university’s stance on this is misguided, if not downright insensitive. We’re not talking about preserving the right to academic “discomfort” here. We’re talking about the potential benefit of limiting further psychological damage in a patriarchal, misogynist and sexist culture.The folks at the University of Chicago seemed to be conflating the ideas of free speech and reasonable access. Trigger warnings aren't about giving in to "PC culture". They're about showing compassion to another's pain and suffering.Trigger warnings aren't about limiting speech in the slightest. I see trigger warnings as being about two chief ideas:
Accessibility
Compassion
Accessibility
For those who have experienced traumatic events, such as sexual assault or abuse, the effects can be longstanding. Some go on to develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, though not all survivors do. Engaging in a culture which allows for trigger warnings means that before involved discussion about the ideas of consent and sexual assault, students would have the opportunity to not take part or emotionally prepare themselves for such a discussion. A notification of the impending discussion doesn’t mean that there will be no discussion, it simply gives a survivor the opportunity to exit or prepare from psychologically damaging material. For those in recovery, the power to opt out can not be overstated.
Compassion
What I find most incredulous about the whole controversy about trigger warnings is how difficult it seems to be for people to step outside of themselves and think with their hearts instead of their minds. It may take 5-10 seconds to issue a trigger warning about a certain topic, so I think that it’s fair to say that it’s a pretty minor inconvenience for most. What if that minor inconvenience for you enabled someone the ability to avoid further psychological pain? Why wouldn’t you want to help someone in that way?You may have noticed that there was a small notation at the beginning of this post. In essence it was a trigger warning about this post's content. That's really what we're talking about here.
I question any institution of higher learning that doesn’t seriously take into the account, or prioritize, the mental health of its students. And given the rate of sexual assaults on campus, particularly among first semester women, it is astounding to me that the University of Chicago would not be more compassionate about such an issue.Some may argue that participating in these discussions is somehow “good” for survivors as it desensitizes them to the language and content. In essence, some argue that this “no trigger warning, no safe space” policy enables survivors the opportunity to heal. Well, they’re wrong. Only in the context of a safe and controlled environment, such as a therapy hour, can that kind of systematic healing begin. It takes a highly experienced and trained mental health professional to foster that kind of trauma recovery experience. The classroom is no place for that.By giving trigger warnings, what do you really have to lose?
You may view a sample of the letter sent to incoming freshman of The University of Chicago at this link.
What is online counseling?
Health care has entered the age of technology. Telehealth services are on the rise and companies like Pager, Oscar and Talkspace (among many others) are disrupting the current insurance company standard and instead focusing on client (or patient) experiences. As a provider of online services, I find that there is a lot of confusion about what online counseling is and can be, so I thought I would share some thoughts with you with the hopes of clearing up any confusion.
Traditional counseling takes place in an office setting where you sit face-to-face with a therapist or counselor who talks you through your concerns and helps you explore solutions. With online counseling, you can have a very similar experience. For example, if you contact me we will start with a free consultation where we can begin to discuss what's been going on for you lately and what you may be looking for in terms of support. From there we collaborate on a plan that meets your needs and then we're off to the races!
Online counseling services can include things like text based conversations and video or audio calls. It's very flexible based on your needs, budget and lifestyle. One of the great things I love about online counseling is the flexibility for both the therapist and client. With my online practice work, we talk through your concerns openly just like you would in a face to face setting. There are some obvious limitations as it relates to crisis care, but online counseling isn't built for that, at least not just yet. Video sessions are great for those who travel often or are otherwise unable to meet with a therapist.
If you're looking to speak with a licensed therapist on a consistent basis but find traditional counseling too inaccessible or too hard to schedule then online counseling might just be a good fit for you.Whether you are trying to work through relationship concerns, work issues, depression or anxiety, or identity related (race, immigration, LGBTQ) concerns I can help. Submit an inquiry to begin your free consultation where you can learn about how online counseling could be beneficial for you.
"Frozen" Star Kristen Bell talks Living with Anxiety and Depression
It's not often that we see celebrities speak openly and candidly about their experiences with mental health issues. That's why I was surprised to hear actress Kristen Bell recently talk about living with anxiety and depression.In a recent interview with "Off Camera" show host Sam Jones, Bell talked about her family's history of anxiety and depression. She made note of a conversation her mother had with her about the family's struggle with mental health issues:
"[My mom's] a nurse and she had the wherewithal to recognize that in herself when she was feeling it and when I was 18 said, 'If you start to feel like you are twisting things around you, and you start to feel like there is no sunlight around you, and you are paralyzed with fear, this is what it is and here's how you can help yourself."
What I found so remarkable about this part of the interview is that Bell's mother talked about their family's history with mental health issues which ultimately helped Bell seek out support when she needed it. I think that's a particularly powerful example and message to all of us, especially as May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I think it gives us all pause to have these kind of discussions in our families to reduce the stigma related to mental health issues. This greatly increases the likelihood of seeking out treatment support when we need it.
It was also interesting to hear Bell speak about how she struggles with perfectionism, a desire she has to fight against, to make herself likable and sunny to everyone. It's something I have seen both in my clients and at times, with my own self. Striving to be seen as perfect can create a never-ending cycle of anxiety as well as set a precedence of ignoring one's own needs and values.For those who also struggle with persistent social anxiety, the combination of trying to be perfect and ignoring one's own needs can be debilitating. It's incredibly powerful for a popular actress like Kristen Bell to talk so openly about these feelings because it helps reduce the stigma around mental health issues, social anxiety and the pressure to be perfect with which many people struggle. We certainly need more public figures to talk openly about mental and emotional health. The acknowledgement that we all struggle from time to time is an important message that we all need to hear.