Tips For Finding A Mental Health Counselor, Psychologist, Or Therapist

Therapy is becoming increasingly common in the lives of people of all ages, backgrounds, and degrees of privilege. There are counselors trained to treat and support a wide variety of needs and conditions, and there is likely to be a therapist able to help you with any issues you might have. Here’s how you can go about finding appropriate counseling for your needs.

What is a mental health counselor?

A mental health counselor is a professional who is trained and licensed to work with people seeking mental health assistance. There are many different types of counselors, but the most common designation is that of a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). These two designations are typically used interchangeably, though some state licensing boards will have separate qualifications for each.

A counselor, either an LPC or LMHC, practices counseling, which his essentially a form of guidance that allows patients to improve their mindsets, habits, and outlooks, to mitigate feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, or anger. Counselors can treat a host of disorders and general symptoms and are qualified to intervene in mood disorders (depressive disorders, for instance), personality disorders (such as Narcissistic Personality Disorder), and addictive disorders (such as alcohol dependence). While it may seem as though these issues all require a psychiatrist or psychologist, many counselors successfully treat these concerns through talk therapy, by walking through the issues at hand, reframing them, and teaching their clients how to adopt new patterns of thinking.

Are counselors and therapists the same?

The term “counselor” usually refers specifically to someone trained to work with mental health. The term “therapist,” conversely, is broader in its scope, and usually refers to people with more hands-on approaches and training methods. A counselor, for instance, deals exclusively in treating through talk therapy and related methods. A therapist, however, might include a speech therapist, who teaches individuals how to speak or how to formulate sentences properly. A therapist can also be a physical therapist who delivers or teaches their clients stretching, strength exercises, and other physical tasks designed to build strength and improve mobility. 

Some psychologists, who typically have doctorates according to the American Psychological Association, also sometimes refer to themselves as therapists or counselors.

When should you start finding a mental health counselor?

You do not have to have a looming psychological threat or disorder to enlist the help of a counselor and benefit from some form of counseling. Counselors can function in the same way as your doctor performing a check-up and can help identify any unhealthy thought patterns, habits, or behaviors you have adopted, and give you strategies to change them to improve your mental health and, consequently, your life.

You can also see a counselor as a form of treatment. Counselors are qualified to treat countless disorders and conditions and can provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan to ease the symptoms of disorders such as anxiety and depressive disorders, or personality disorders.

If you feel as though you need an extra push to chase after your goals, or an unbiased ear to talk to, or even just someone to bounce ideas off of, you could also benefit from speaking to a counselor. Although counselors might have reputations as being solely for more serious issues, counselors are often best utilized as preventative measures against the effects of serious mental conditions.

Counselors and therapists often refer to psychologists for psychometric testing or advanced treatment. The American Psychological Association maintains a database of licensed psychologists who can provide assessment and treatment services either alongside a therapist or independently.

Is there ever a time you shouldn’t see a counselor?

Although most people can benefit from seeing a counselor, there may be some needs that exceed the capability of a counselor, and that requires a larger scope of practice. Someone who needs to change or begin an antidepressant regimen, for instance, will need to seek the help of a psychiatrist to receive the proper diagnosis and pharmaceutical intervention; counselors are not licensed to practice medicine in this way.

More severe mental health conditions, too, might require the intervention of a psychologist or psychiatrist, as these professions focus more on long-term, substantial therapy, and can provide different therapy modalities that focus on cognitive or neurological functioning, rather than just behavior and thought modification. Trauma therapy, such as EMDR, might be necessary for someone who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-and trauma therapy does not fall under the purview of a counselor.

Counselors can refer you out to other specialists who may be able to help you with more substantial needs. If you begin meeting with a counselor, then discover your needs exceed what the counselor is able to offer, you can always let your counselor know that you need more help, and he or she can refer you to a general practice doctor, a psychiatrist, or a psychologist, in order to create a comprehensive, complete treatment plan.

Is all counseling the same?

There are many different types of counseling, and many different styles or backgrounds counselors can use to target your specific wants and needs. Some counselors offer services that incorporate religious beliefs, for instance, while others can incorporate philosophical practices. Still, others might use complementary treatment methods, such as lifestyle changes, meditation, and yoga, to help treat the issues you bring to the table. 

Not all counselors are the same, nor are all counseling modalities identical. Instead, countless personalities, preferences, and perspectives can come into play, to create a truly unique counseling experience for everyone who enlists the help of mental health professionals.

Finding a mental health counselor to meet your needs

If you want to find mental health specialists to help you or someone you know, there are many aspects to consider. Choosing a mental health professional requires taking several things into account, including your wants, your needs, your preferences, and your mental state. Someone who is searching for general insight, improved self-esteem, and improved life skills can benefit immensely from enlisting the help of a counselor, as these professionals are skilled at imparting unique perspectives, and healthier ways of looking at your situation and the world around you.

When is the right time to look for professional therapists?

If, however, you feel that you have a mental health condition that might exceed the limitations placed on treatment by talk therapy alone, you might need to go beyond seeking a counselor, and seek a medical professional who can help you navigate a deeper form of therapy and, possibly, pharmaceutical intervention. Counselors can, in these cases, function as complementary treatment options, and may work alongside a psychiatrist or psychologist to deliver mental health treatment.

If you want to work through some life changes or significant upheavals in your usual beliefs or routines, and you want the perspective of someone who is of a similar faith or belief system, you can usually find a therapist who offers faith-based counseling. There are also other forms of counseling that incorporate your unique background and personal history, using your interests to help you see new perspectives and ideas.

Advantages of counseling

One of the most wonderful aspects of counseling, though, is that a counseling relationship is not a lifelong commitment. If you engage in a counseling session and find that you and your counselor do not click, you need more help than your counselor can provide, or want to try a different counseling perspective, you can always ask your counselor for an outside referral, or request that they point you in the direction of someone who might be a better fit.

Online counseling as a mental health option

One of the simplest ways to take part in therapy services is through online counseling, which can provide the same high-quality therapy as a brick-and-mortar counseling office, with greater flexibility and similar payment options. The professionals available at Regain encompass psychiatrists, psychologists, LPCs, and LMHCs, so there is likely to be at least one mental health professional able to suit your unique wants and needs.

Some doubt the effectiveness of online therapy; this is to be expected with a new course of treatment. However, online therapy has been clinically proven to be just as effective as in-person treatment for a wide range of mental health conditions and concerns, meaning that you don’t need to worry about whether you are trading quality for convenience. You can have both.