Finding a new counselor can be tough, and trying to understand the different titles can make it even more confusing. We hope to clarify this for you so that you can feel more comfortable with your choice of a counselor. At Grace Counseling, we offer multiple options of well-qualified individuals to fit your needs.
Counseling Interns
Our interns have completed their undergraduate degrees and are currently enrolled in a Master’s program with a desire to pursue mental health. Once they are nearing the end of graduate school, they are required to complete internship hours with a counseling center like ours. Interns are overseen by our team of psychologists, who help guide them on cases and learn how best to shape their client’s mental health journey.
Testing Interns
Our testing interns have completed their undergraduate and Masters degrees and are currently enrolled in a doctoral program with a desire to pursue mental health, with specific training is psychological testing. They are overseen by our psychologists, who help guide them on cases and learn how best to shape their client’s mental health journey. They conduct and write assessments, work with schools to advise learning programs, and assist with resources for managing symptoms. They also work with individuals and their families to help them understand how their new diagnosis may impact their day-to-day life and provide tools to make life a little bit easier.
Licensure Candidates (LPCC and MFTC)
Once a clinician graduates from their Master’s program in counseling, they are eligible to start collecting hours towards becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. These counselors provide therapy while under direct supervision of experienced therapists. Candidates are eligible to take an exam and accrue the supervised experience they need to become a fully-licensed clinician.
The Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners requires applicants to have 2000 hours of clinical experience and 100 hours of direct supervision before they can earn their licensure.
Licensed Counselors (LPC and LMFT)
Once a counselor completes 2,000 clinical hours,100 supervision hours, and passes their licensure exam they become fully licensed LPCs or LMFTs. Professional counselors are typically involved in the mental, emotional, and behavioral needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities. This is probably what comes to mind when you think of a therapist. There are many kinds of specializations and certifications that you can gain after you become a LPC or LMFT.
Counselors work with clients to resolve specific issues such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem or substance abuse. They may work with individuals, families or other groups one-on-one or at the same time. Counselors typically treat mental health issues that are rooted in a variety of causes. These issues may also impact marriage and family relationships, but the emphasis is on improving the client’s mental health.
A LMFT focuses on couples and family members to address problems within relationships. They often use a goal-oriented therapy approach to help clients recognize how their beliefs and feelings affect their actions and relationships. Depending on the situation, an LMFT may partner with another professional such as a licensed social worker or a substance abuse counselor, to address issues such as abuse or addiction.
Psychologists
Practicing psychologists must earn an undergraduate, a master’s, and a doctorate in psychology with either a PhD or PsyD. Practicing psychologists have the professional training and clinical skills to help people learn to cope more effectively with life issues and mental health problems.
A doctoral degree to practice psychology requires at least 4–6 years of full-time study after completing an undergraduate degree. Coursework includes areas such as ethics, statistics, individual differences, the biological, cognitive-affective, and social bases of behavior, and specific training in psychological assessment and therapy.
While in graduate school, psychology students may also participate in research and teaching. A one-year full-time supervised internship is required prior to graduation, and in most states, an additional year of supervised practice is required before licensure. Psychologists must pass a national examination and additional examination(s) specific to the state in which they are being licensed.
Because of this experience and training, psychologists are often prepared to work with more difficult and complicated cases.