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Identifying Qualified Professionals

Making a decision to get help is an important one and could be a decision
that helps you to move through the pain of estrangement.

The right therapist and the right modality is essential. Unfortunately, the

professional mental health community is littered with people who are

coaches, mentors, trainers, and other self-created labels to sound credible.

Here are the designations that you are looking for, with the biggest

most important qualifier being licensed, meaning that they have a degree
in this area and have aligned with the state/federal professional standards commission that oversees and regulates mental health professionals. These are the professionals who have earned at least a masters degree in licensed professional counseling, psychology,
social work, or pastoral care, studying in university-level programs that are CACREP accredited.

The term certified does not mean that they have a degree. Anyone can become "certified"
by taking a weekend online course and should not be interpreted that there is any

semblance of government or professional oversight.

Disclaimer: I am not a therapist. Please make sure you do your own research
to make the best decision for you and your healing.

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BONAFDIDE THERAPIST DEGREES AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS
 

  • Master of Social Work (MSW) is the degree, and this usually leads to a designation of Licensed  Clinical Social Worker. These professionals are often employed by institutions, or governmental agencies. Their area of therapy focuses on individual family systems. An example of this would be someone who works for the Department of Children and Family Services.
     

  • Master of Arts (MA)/Master of Science (MS) in Counseling is the degree, and this usually leads to a professional designation of Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). These professionals are the foundation of talk therapy, but there are more modalities that they can study based on their interest and career direction. A masters degree in this area is the minimum requirement for a bonafide therapist. 
     

  • Master of Arts (MA)/Master of Science (MS) in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is the degree, and the professional designation is Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). These professionals specialize in the couples and family dynamics.
     

  • Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) are the degrees, and Licensed Psychologist (not psychiatrist) is the professional desigation. Professionals who obtain the PsyD degree typically lean toward assessment and therapy, whereas professionals who obtain the PhD are aligned with research and therapy.
     

  • Note: A Master of Arts or Master of Science in Psychology does not typically meet the state requirements for licensure. Licensure is essential because that means that the therapists are subject to the Professional Standards Board in their respective state who oversees ethics and practice, as well as compliance with the professional standards/guidelines, and state and federal laws. If someone has put in this much work, and is aligning themselves under this umbrella, then they are a practitioner who has taken their education and professional career seriously and should be considered first and above all other possibilities (there are minimal exceptions).

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AN UNCOMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE TITLES THAT ARE USED IN LIEU OF BONAFIDE CREDENTIALS. These professional designations do not require advanced degrees and are not regulated. The biggest difference between these pathways/designations is that they are NOT ALLOWED to DIAGNOSE OR TREAT diagnosable mental health conditions. Unregulated practitioners may overstep boundaries and treat clinical issues that they are unqualified to handle, delay clients in getting real help, and sell overpriced services based on false promises and a complete lack of scholarly research. You will notice that a lot of the terms used below are used repeatedly. If you see any combination of these terms, chances are you are not working with a bonafide mental health professional.
 

  • Trauma-Informed Tour Guide

  • Life Coach

  • Health Coach

  • Wellness Coach

  • Peer Support Specialist

  • Recover Coach/Sober Coach

  • Spiritual Coach or Faith-Based Counselor

  • Hypnotherapist

  • Meditation Instructor

  • Mindfulness Coach

  • Energy Healer

  • Emotional Wellness Strategist

  • Mental Fitness Coach

  • Trauma-Informed Life Coach

  • Shadow Work Guide

  • Empath Coach

  • Subconscious Reprogramming Specialist

  • Intuitive Healer

  • Quantum Life Coach/Quantum Emotional Alignment Specialist

  • Certified Angel Therapist

  • Emotional Alchemist

  • Neuro-Spiritual Activation Coach

  • Trauma Recalibration Specialist/Coach

  • Soul Contract Decoder

  • Subconscious Alignment/Realignment Practitioner

  • Intuitive Trauma Coach/Alchemist

  • Empathic Energist

  • Shadow Work Specialist

  • Emotional DNA Rewriter/Strategist

  • Third-Eye Life Counselor

  • Frequency Doula

  • Divine Masculine Integration Coach

  • Consciousness Expansion Doula/Midwife

  • Multi-Dimensional Healing Coach/Mentor

  • Did I mention Trauma-Informed Tour Guides?

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