Psychotherapy: Choosing What (And Who) is Right for You

Finding the Right "Fit" of Style and Personality Between Yourself and a Therapist is of the Essence

What Is A Psychotherapist?
In general, a psychotherapist is a professional trained (at either the Masters' or Doctoral degree level and licensed to practice in the State in which they work) to provide non-medical treatment to people in need of help with solving their own life issues and dilemmas, addressing their concerns about loved ones or with concerns that they may be suffering from an emotional condition over which they feel the need to achieve greater mastery. In California, only four types of licensed professionals are legally allowed to say that they are "Psychotherapists." These include 1) Physicians (MDs or DOs) who are Board Certified in Psychiatry, 2) Licensed Clinical Psychologists, 3) Licensed Clinical Social Workers and 4) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. While there are no restrictions on the use of the more generic term "therapy", laws written into this State's Business and Professions Codes require that a valid license in one of those four named areas (or registration as an intern working toward one of those licenses under the direct supervision of a licensed person) to be able to advertise or offer "psycho"therapy. A person can be any other kind of therapist they want to be. There are dream therapists, hair therapists, animal, crystal and perhaps even artichoke therapists - but, to present themselves as a Psychotherapist, they must have one of the four credentials listed above. Each State will have their own licensing standards, and it is always public information (as is the ability to check an individual's credentials) and can be easily found by web searching the individual's name, discipline, state and license type.