So you’ve made the choice to seek counseling in Sioux Falls, SD, but now you’re wondering, “How do I make the right choice? Which type of mental health professional is right for me?” You’re right to wonder about this, because counseling approaches vary by professional licensure, and you definitely want to make sure that you make the right choice. After you read this blog, you should be able to decide whether to see a Sioux Falls counselor, marriage therapist, couples therapist, marriage and family therapist, play therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker or nobody at all!
The first thing to do is to establish who the client will be. Is the client an individual? And if so, is that person an adult or a child? Or is the “client” a couple or family. This is important when selecting a counselor or therapist in Sioux Falls, SD because every mental health professional treats different types of clients. Someone who is excellent in treating adults with depression and anxiety may not be great with children. Someone who is excellent in treating young children may not feel competent with teenagers (that’s me)!
So once you have decided who your client is, that is where to begin the search. Do a Google Search (or Bing, or Yahoo, or whichever search engine you prefer) for the type of client that you have selected. For example, search “Couples Therapist Sioux Falls, SD” or “Marriage counseling Sioux Falls, SD” if you are looking for a mental health professional who can treat you as a couple.
If you are looking for a skilled mental health professional who knows how to work with family issues consider searching, “Family Counselor or Family Therapist Sioux Falls, SD.” If the client is a child and you are looking for a mental health professional with experience with children search for something like, “Child Counselor Sioux Falls, SD”, “Counseling for children Sioux Falls, SD” or even something more specialized like, “Play Therapist Sioux Falls, SD” if you think that the child would benefit from a more specialized treatment like play therapy.
And finally, if the client is an individual that isn’t a special population like a child, consider searching for something like “Individual Therapy Sioux Falls, SD” or “Individual Counseling Sioux Falls, SD.”
Once you complete this search, you will be provided with multiple options. You will see professionals with many different letters behind their name, and you will become overwhelmed. Here is a cheat sheet on what these letters stand for.
LPC
This stands for Licensed Professional Counselor. LPCs must have a master’s degree in the field of counseling or other related area, supervision by a LPC while they learn how to practice and pass an examination by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Typically, a LPC’s training is going to be in the area of traditional counseling approaches for individuals and groups. However, some counseling programs provide courses related to couples or family dynamics.
Of course, training is different for each LPC depending on which school the professional attended. It’s a good idea to ask the LPC how she approaches counseling to learn more about what your experience would be like, and if she is right for you. A LPC is eligible to accept health insurances, but may be limited to certain ones. Some health insurance companies may refuse to allow a LPC to enroll, and of those that will accept LPCs, the LPC decides which ones to enroll in.
LPC-MH
This stands for Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health. This professional has a higher distinction than an LPC because of his increased knowledge about diagnosing mental health disorders, but has similar training to the LPC. Again, it’s a good idea to ask the LPC-MH how he approaches counseling to learn more about what your experience would be like, and if he is right for you.
A LPC-MH is also eligible to accept health insurances and will have more authority to accept certain health insurances that LPCs have difficulty with, such as government programs like Medicaid. But just like a LPC, a LPC-MH decides which health insurance plans to enroll with. So just because a LPC-MH can enroll with Medicaid does not mean that he will choose to.
LMFT
This stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. A LMFT also has a master’s degree, but the focus of training for a LMFT is on the relational system, not individual psychopathology. LMFT training programs prepare graduates to utilize a relational perspective to treat individuals, couples, families and communities. LMFTs, too, are required to complete a written test and practice under the supervision of another LMFT prior to obtaining the license. A LMFT is likely going to involve many people in the course of treatment–with the permission of the client, of course–to use the relationships and surrounding system of the client to help resolve the problems.
LMFTs can follow similar theories to LPCs and LPC-MHs with a focus on the relational perspective. If you have selected a LMFT as your treatment of choice, again be sure to ask how she approaches the therapy process to ensure that she will be the right fit for you. LMFTs are also eligible to accept health insurance payment, but they too are limited to certain health insurances. Currently, LMFTs in South Dakota are not eligible for reimbursement from Medicaid.
CSW-PIP
This stands for Certified Social Worker-Private Independent Practice. A CSW-PIP has a master’s degree in social work along with two years of supervised experience by another professional who serves in the same clinical area, such as another licensed mental health professional or a psychiatrist. Social work programs can vary greatly by state, so the focus of the master’s level training can vary. A CSW-PIP is also eligible for health insurance reimbursement. I’ll be honest that I don’t know any CSW-PIPs in South Dakota, so my knowledge on this license isn’t the best. If you find a CSW-PIP that you want to see, just be sure to ask questions about training, approach to therapy and billing of insurance prior to beginning your treatment.
LP
This stands for Licensed Psychologist. Typically, a LP has a doctorate degree, although some LPs may have a master’s degree if they received their degree many years ago. Any LP who was practicing as such when the rule came into effect that a doctorate was required was allowed to retain the LP distinction without receiving further education. Most psychology programs focus on individual pathology, individual therapy and group therapy, and prepare professionals for work with some of the more severe types of mental illness, like Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia. Some psychology programs emphasize specific types of psychology, such as family psychology or interpersonal psychology, and allow for a broader focus of treatment.
LPs have higher status due to the education required and their ability to treat some of the more severe mental health disorders. They are allowed to charge higher amounts of money for the services they provide compared to other master’s level mental health professionals. LPs have no issues with being eligible for health insurance companies because of their status, but they may choose not to enroll with some. If you find a LP that you want to work with, ask about the method in which he approaches therapy and assesses a client to be sure that you have found the right professional for your needs.
CNP
This stands for Certified Nurse Practitioner. A CNP has a master’s degree in nursing and is given similar, although less, authority to a medical doctor. A CNP can practice in many areas, so if you are searching for a CNP, make sure that the training this CNP has received is in the field of mental health.
A CNP is allowed to prescribe medication for mental health disorders and admit patients for involuntary mental health treatment. A CNP will typically only meet with the patient for checkups to review how the prescribed medication is helping the mental health problems, or when the patient is in crisis. However, there are some CNPs who may choose to practice mental health in the same manner as other mental health professionals, incorporating medication management into regular, ongoing therapy. When the CNP is used for medication management only, it is common for the patient to meet regularly with another mental health professional, like those listed above, for regular therapy. A CNP has no difficulties enrolling in health insurance companies, but again may elect not to participate in certain health plans.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is someone with a medical degree (M.D.) who has received special training in the treatment of mental health disorders. A psychiatrist also has the authority to prescribe medications and admit patients for involuntary mental health treatment.
Much like the CNP, the psychiatrist meets with patients periodically for medication management and may only provide minimal therapy or counseling to the patient during scheduled sessions. Just like with the CNP, it is common for a patient to utilize a psychiatrist for medication management while also seeing another mental health professional for regular, ongoing therapy.
Once again, it is possible for a psychiatrist to act similar to a therapist who sees the patient for weekly therapy and also prescribes medication as needed. This is more common for psychiatrists in private practice than in the bigger hospital systems. A psychiatrist should have no difficulties enrolling in health insurance companies, but again may elect not to participate in certain health plans.
RPT
This stands for Registered Play Therapist. This certification is an add on certification to anyone who already holds a license to practice in the mental health field and has received specific training in play therapy. Anyone with RPT distinction must hold one of the other licenses or titles that I have already discussed above before they can be eligible for this certification.
A RPT receives post-master’s graduate level training in play therapy and supervision from a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor before being allowed to hold this certification. There are various different theories of play therapy, much like there are different theories in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, and psychology. Each play therapist will have his or her own method of approaching a client’s problems and intervening through play. Each may also have a typical problem or type of client that is common for their practice, such as young children, adolescents, or those with disabilities who may require a different approach to therapy than some of the traditional models. Before selecting a play therapist, be sure that you are aware of the play therapist’s approach to play therapy to see if it is right for your situation. Insurance coverage for a RPT is irrelevant because the RPT must bill the services through the primary license.
Hopefully this information was helpful to you as you try to wade through all of the information that is presented to you when you search for a mental health professional. If I have one piece of advice it is this: pick the mental health professional that you most agree with! All counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, psychologists, nurse practitioners or psychiatrists approach problems and their solutions differently, even if they have received similar training. Find the mental health professional that most agrees with your outlook on life, problems and their solutions to have the best luck in resolving your problems.
Good luck!
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