Navigating the world of coaches, therapists, counselors, and psychologists can be daunting. Sometimes all we hear are a bunch of letters in our word soup. Let's pull out a few words and letters and look at them!
Doctorates! PhD and PsyD and MD. PhD's are people with Doctorates in Psychology or some other field. The "PH" stands for philosophy. Often this degree includes research and theories more heavily than the PsyD. PsyD's are more focused on the clinical aspects of psychology. PsyD's dissertations are usually more practical than theoretical. Someone licensed with a PhD or PsyD is called a psychologist. This is a person who provides "talk therapy." There are a few states where psychologists can prescribe, but very few. MD is the designation for a medical doctor. Someone working in this field is usually a Psychiatrist. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications. Some Psychiatrists offer hour long sessions like the psychologists and include talk therapy. Some offer the shorter 15 minute sessions for medication management. Psychologists are particularly trained to handle major psychological disorders, pathology, difficulties with the mind, interpersonal relationships, and psychological assessment. There are MANY kinds of psychologists with many different specialties. Just because someone has a PhD does not mean they are licensed as a psychologist. Many people are licensed from their lower degrees. So pay attention to which degree a person is licensed under. Licensure varies from state to state. But psychologists' training includes around 3000 hours of experience, 3-10 years in course work and dissertation, plus a national licensing exam. Often state licensing exams are required as well. Psychologists who have attended APA (American Psychological Association) accredited schools are more well respected as are Psychologists who are licensed by the ASPPB or the National Register. Analysts have even more training, often 5-10 years more specialized training in a particular field.
Masters! There are a few different kinds of Masters level degrees including counseling degrees, marriage and family degrees, and social work degrees. Often professionals at this level are called "therapists" or "psychotherapists" or "counselors." Each of these have their own licensing regulations. These regulations also differ from state to state. Usually there is around 1000-3000 hours experience and 2-4 years of degree training. Almost every state has a state licensing exam. According to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Counselors, "conduct assessments for the purpose of establishing counseling goals and objectives to empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce stress, experience growth, change behavior, and make well-informed, rational decisions." Whereas Social Workers, use counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families or groups. They provide information and referrals and arrange for social services. They are more involved in community organization and social justice. Often Social Workers are found in non-profit settings or hospitals. A person can have a Bachelors (BSW) or Masters (MSW) in social work. If someone is licensed as as a social worker, they will have an LCSW. Meanwhile according to the the California BBS, Marriage and Family Therapists "perform services with individuals, couples, or groups wherein interpersonal relationships are examined for the purpose of achieving more adequate, satisfying, and productive marriage and family adjustments. This practice includes relationship and premarriage counseling. The application of marriage and family therapy principles and methods includes, but is not limited to, the use of applied psychotherapeutic techniques, to enable individuals to mature and grow within marriage and the family, the provision of explanations and interpretations of the psychosexual and psychosocial aspects of relationships." In California, the designations MFTI means the person is an intern still in training. The designations LMFT shows the person is a fully licensed marriage and family therapist.
Coaching! What is a life coach or an executive coach? Life coaches and executive coaches have a large range of backgrounds. Many people hang their shingles without any particular training or certification. Coaches, like therapists who do Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, are very goal oriented. Coaches expertise is in helping HEALTHY people move through difficult portions of their lives or to maximize potential in a particular area. Many coaches have particular niches. Executive coaches usually have extra training or experience in the corporate world. ICF is one of the organizations that has created some standards for coaches. These standards include three levels of certification. An Associate Certified Coach, "practiced" has 60 hours of training and 100hours of experience. A Professional Certified Coach, "proven" has 125 hours of training and 750 hours of experience. A Master Certified Coach, "expert" has 200 hours of training and 2500 hours of experience.
NOW WHAT? Whew! That is a lot! Now what do we do with it? Only you know what is right for you. It is really important to be informed about what kind of expertise you are receiving from whomever you choose to help you. Are you getting the expertise you are paying for? Knowledge and research can go a long way! It is important to use the vast amounts of research in the psychology field to your advantage! Technique and training can go a long way! Be sure to match your needs with the person with the right kind of expertise and therapeutic style. Different professionals will be using different techniques. Some will fit you better than others. There is recent research that tells us that one of the major variables in healing has to do with the relationship and rapport between the person and the therapist. In spite of the training or technique or style, what ultimately becomes the most important is the feel the client/patient has with the psychologist/therapist/coach. Do your homework. Shop around. Most importantly, don't be afraid to try a few different people. Let your mind be your guide. Let your heart be your guide. Let your body be your guide. How do each of those feel when you are talking with that professional? Which one feels the best? Who do you feel most comfortable with? Who knows what you need for the issues at hand? You want to feel like you can trust the person. It is amazing how important trust and comfort really are!
Doctorates! PhD and PsyD and MD. PhD's are people with Doctorates in Psychology or some other field. The "PH" stands for philosophy. Often this degree includes research and theories more heavily than the PsyD. PsyD's are more focused on the clinical aspects of psychology. PsyD's dissertations are usually more practical than theoretical. Someone licensed with a PhD or PsyD is called a psychologist. This is a person who provides "talk therapy." There are a few states where psychologists can prescribe, but very few. MD is the designation for a medical doctor. Someone working in this field is usually a Psychiatrist. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications. Some Psychiatrists offer hour long sessions like the psychologists and include talk therapy. Some offer the shorter 15 minute sessions for medication management. Psychologists are particularly trained to handle major psychological disorders, pathology, difficulties with the mind, interpersonal relationships, and psychological assessment. There are MANY kinds of psychologists with many different specialties. Just because someone has a PhD does not mean they are licensed as a psychologist. Many people are licensed from their lower degrees. So pay attention to which degree a person is licensed under. Licensure varies from state to state. But psychologists' training includes around 3000 hours of experience, 3-10 years in course work and dissertation, plus a national licensing exam. Often state licensing exams are required as well. Psychologists who have attended APA (American Psychological Association) accredited schools are more well respected as are Psychologists who are licensed by the ASPPB or the National Register. Analysts have even more training, often 5-10 years more specialized training in a particular field.
Masters! There are a few different kinds of Masters level degrees including counseling degrees, marriage and family degrees, and social work degrees. Often professionals at this level are called "therapists" or "psychotherapists" or "counselors." Each of these have their own licensing regulations. These regulations also differ from state to state. Usually there is around 1000-3000 hours experience and 2-4 years of degree training. Almost every state has a state licensing exam. According to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Counselors, "conduct assessments for the purpose of establishing counseling goals and objectives to empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce stress, experience growth, change behavior, and make well-informed, rational decisions." Whereas Social Workers, use counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families or groups. They provide information and referrals and arrange for social services. They are more involved in community organization and social justice. Often Social Workers are found in non-profit settings or hospitals. A person can have a Bachelors (BSW) or Masters (MSW) in social work. If someone is licensed as as a social worker, they will have an LCSW. Meanwhile according to the the California BBS, Marriage and Family Therapists "perform services with individuals, couples, or groups wherein interpersonal relationships are examined for the purpose of achieving more adequate, satisfying, and productive marriage and family adjustments. This practice includes relationship and premarriage counseling. The application of marriage and family therapy principles and methods includes, but is not limited to, the use of applied psychotherapeutic techniques, to enable individuals to mature and grow within marriage and the family, the provision of explanations and interpretations of the psychosexual and psychosocial aspects of relationships." In California, the designations MFTI means the person is an intern still in training. The designations LMFT shows the person is a fully licensed marriage and family therapist.
Coaching! What is a life coach or an executive coach? Life coaches and executive coaches have a large range of backgrounds. Many people hang their shingles without any particular training or certification. Coaches, like therapists who do Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, are very goal oriented. Coaches expertise is in helping HEALTHY people move through difficult portions of their lives or to maximize potential in a particular area. Many coaches have particular niches. Executive coaches usually have extra training or experience in the corporate world. ICF is one of the organizations that has created some standards for coaches. These standards include three levels of certification. An Associate Certified Coach, "practiced" has 60 hours of training and 100hours of experience. A Professional Certified Coach, "proven" has 125 hours of training and 750 hours of experience. A Master Certified Coach, "expert" has 200 hours of training and 2500 hours of experience.
NOW WHAT? Whew! That is a lot! Now what do we do with it? Only you know what is right for you. It is really important to be informed about what kind of expertise you are receiving from whomever you choose to help you. Are you getting the expertise you are paying for? Knowledge and research can go a long way! It is important to use the vast amounts of research in the psychology field to your advantage! Technique and training can go a long way! Be sure to match your needs with the person with the right kind of expertise and therapeutic style. Different professionals will be using different techniques. Some will fit you better than others. There is recent research that tells us that one of the major variables in healing has to do with the relationship and rapport between the person and the therapist. In spite of the training or technique or style, what ultimately becomes the most important is the feel the client/patient has with the psychologist/therapist/coach. Do your homework. Shop around. Most importantly, don't be afraid to try a few different people. Let your mind be your guide. Let your heart be your guide. Let your body be your guide. How do each of those feel when you are talking with that professional? Which one feels the best? Who do you feel most comfortable with? Who knows what you need for the issues at hand? You want to feel like you can trust the person. It is amazing how important trust and comfort really are!
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