Many people wonder what the difference is between counseling and therapy. In most contexts, there aren’t a lot of differences. First, it should be noted that ‘therapy’ in the mental health field is shorthand for psychotherapy. Regardless of that, a lot of the wording comes down to preference. Some professionals decide to use the term counseling over therapy and vice versa. There can be a stigma attached to the term ‘therapy’, so you may see an uptick in counselors instead of therapists, but the truth is: they are the same thing.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is the credentials of your counselor or therapist. Due to specific credentials, you can get lost in the weeds pretty quickly. For instance, a psychologist can be a therapist, but a counselor can’t be a psychologist. Or how about a social worker, who can also be a therapist, but not a counselor, but a counselor is not a social worker. Depending on how people identify, they may even find that to be incorrect. It also comes down to what education someone has completed. One person could be a psychologist, social worker, and counselor, but they would also have at least three master’s degrees.
What about those pesky letters?
LLC and LPC
When you see these letters, you are seeing a counselor. LLC (formerly LLPC) stands for Limited Licensed Counselor and LPC stands for Licensed Professional Counselor. These are people that obtained their license after receiving their master’s degree in mental health counseling. This is the program I did, and I love it because it focuses on exactly what I do: counseling. Complete with roleplays, a 100-hour practicum, and 600-hour internship.
The LLC works under supervision for at least two years before they can become an LPC.
LLMSW and LMSW
When you see these letters, you see social workers. LLMSW stands for Limited Licensed Master Social Worker and LMSW stands for Licensed Master Social Worker. These are people who have obtained their license after completing a master’s degree in social work. Unlike the focus of the Counseling program, these individuals can choose a wide variety of paths to study, but ultimately always have the option to do therapy, as well as many other roles, primarily in the public sector, including hospitals, governments, and more.
LLP and LP
When you see these letters, you see psychologists. LLP stands for Limited Licensed Psychologist and LP stands for Licensed Psychologist. These are people who have completed a master’s degree (or higher) in Psychology. While psychology is looked at as more of a research field by many, the degree holds the opportunity to get into one-on-one hands-on therapy, as well.
Which is best?
Even though I’m an LLC, I can’t say that one is better than another. Most research points to the relationship between the therapist and client as the biggest factor in growth, change, and positive results. With that in mind, it’s easy to take some of the weight off of all those letters at the end of someone’s name. Especially because the list above is just some of the ones you will see. We didn’t even talk about Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Certified Addictions Counselors, and many more people that fit the mold of a therapist.
So, bottom line, find someone that’s good for YOU, not good for a resume.
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