Treatment & Therapists
Types of Counseling Modalities With so many types of counselors available to pick from, there are also many types of modalities that these counselors use. Some examples of modalities of treatment are cognitive-behavioral, gestalt, person-centered, psychodynamic, somatic experiencing, and the list goes on. Rather than duplicating what is available, there is a great resource that lists out many of the types of counseling available and a bit of information about them. Counseling Washington's list is available by clicking here, which opens in a new window.
Types of Counselors and Therapists There are several types of counselors and therapists available. Most offer the same skills of counseling, but they have their specialties due to their particular training.
- Licensed Addiction Counselors (LAC)
Licensed Addiction Counselors specialize in counseling those struggling with addictions. While Indiana offers Licensed Addiction Counselors, some geographical areas offer Certified Addiction Counselors. Check with your state/providence as to what type of addiction counselor you should look for. Addiction counselors may or may not have a degree as designated by their geographical location.
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
Licensed Clinical Social Workers are trained to address the comprehensive needs of their clients while assisting them in identifying the resources available to them. They offer counseling in an outpatient setting, while inpatient or other settings, they may work with needs assistance or advocacy and/or counseling. The minimum educational requirements are a Masters degree. - Licensed Marriage and Family Counselors (LMFT)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists are trained in providing counseling that addresses the dynamics and processing of family issues such as parenting, marriage and other related issues. They specialize in this area, and have training that other counseling professionals may not have experience in. The minimum educational requirements are a Masters degree. - Licensed Mental Health Counselors or Licensed Professional Counselors (LMHC or LPC)
Licensed Mental Health Counselors are trained in providing more of a broad spectrum of counseling. They aren't trained in one particular area, unless they picked a specialty when going through their training (which many do have a special interest area). The minimum educational requirements are a Masters degree. - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners are RNs who have a Masters degree, and work under a physician's supervision. They are trained in prescribing medications, and while some may provide counseling, many do not do so, but work along side of a psychiatrist for medication management. - Clinical Psychologists (HSPP)
Clinical Psychologists have a doctoral degree, and may have a specialized focus such as testing and/or counseling. They work in both outpatient and inpatient settings. While psychologists do have a doctoral degree, they do not prescribe medication. They are trained in the interaction of the mind and behavior. - Psychiatrists (MD)
Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They are trained in the physiology and intrinsic processes of the mind and body, specializing in mental health issues. They may or may not provide counseling, depending upon the psychiatrist. Many provide only medication management, and refer counseling to other professionals in the field. They do prescribe psychiatric medications.