“Therapists are trained to help people who are struggling with mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. They diagnose, assess, and provide treatment of mental disorders,” Christine R. Melendres, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, recently told mbg. She adds that therapists can also help clients with crisis intervention, grief counseling, or processing and healing from past hurts and traumas. “Counselors typically provide short-term, solution-focused strategies to address behaviors that include exploring stressors, coping skills, and environmental factors contributing to behaviors which are negatively impacting one’s life,” says Angeleena Francis, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor, therapist, and executive director at AMFM Healthcare in Washington. It’s also important to note that “counselor” is a general term used in many different fields, such as a guidance counselor (at school), a career counselor (at work), a spiritual counselor (in religious contexts and communities), and beyond. These are different and separate from a mental health counselor, who is legally required to hold a license. Additionally, in different countries, these words mean different things—for example, a counselor in Canada is the equivalent of a therapist in the U.S. On the other hand, counseling often focuses on current behavioral patterns and creates tangible strategies to address these. Because of this, counseling can also be used as a component in addition to therapy (and vice versa). Notably, though, there’s a lot of overlap between how many therapists and counselors practice. Many licensed counselors are also trained in therapeutic methods and incorporate them into their practice, and many therapists are trained in modalities that are based in the here and now, coping with present emotions, and present and future behaviors. In general, it’s far more effective to ask your potential therapist or counselor about how they practice therapy or counseling than to guess based on the title alone. Likewise, according to the American Counseling Association, professional counselors are also required by law in every state to be licensed in order to legally practice. While the specifics vary by state, licensure usually will require some kind of graduate education, passing an exam, and training under a licensed supervisor as well. Notably, in some states, licensed counselors are also legally allowed to practice therapy and can legally refer to themselves as therapists. (This is why it gets confusing, and often the terms can be used interchangeably.) That said, Francis notes there are some exceptions in which some types of counselors may be allowed to practice without state licensure. Groups commonly exempt from licensure might include students in graduate programs working under supervision, members of the clergy in the performance of their religious duties in connection with a religious denomination, and employees of federal, state, and local agencies acting in an official capacity. Again, it’s far more effective to ask your potential practitioner about their education and credentials than to assume based on the title alone. “Therapeutic goals include emotional regulation, improved interpersonal relationships, ability to connect with others, and stabilized mood,” says Francis. “Counseling goals include identifying triggers and coping skills, abstaining from substances, creating healthy lifestyle habits, and action plans such as steps to reach a goal, evaluating barriers, and creating strategies to address barriers.” Of course, these are generalizations and not true universally—some therapists may support clients on the latter set of goals, and some counselors may work with folks on the former. If your goal is to learn skills to cope with current and future-oriented life stressors, relationship issues, or self-esteem, you may want to consult with a counselor—or a therapist who works with more present-moment modalities. If you’re working through a period of grief and typically feel balanced in your mental health, you also might want to seek a counselor for this shorter-term need. (Often, counselors will have a specialty—e.g., grief counselor, addiction counselor, etc.) Francis recommends asking yourself questions to get clear on what’s best for your needs. For example: Psychotherapist Rachel Wright, LMFT, recommends doing free consultation calls with three different providers to see how each feels, how they work, and how you click. “Finding a therapist is like dating in the way that you sometimes have to go on a bunch of first dates (aka consults) to find one you want to continue dating (seeing as your therapist or counselor),” she explains. And as Guarino notes, “If you do not feel comfortable with your provider after one or two sessions, consider asking for a referral for a different provider or returning to your search for a provider that best fits your needs.” “You must also keep in mind that change, progress, and growth will not happen immediately,” Guarino adds. “It will take time to see results, so do not get discouraged if you do not feel better right away.” Achieving goals in counseling and therapy takes time and commitment. Remember to have patience with the process and with yourself. Focus on how comfortable you feel around the practitioner, your overall connection and rapport, and if you could see yourself being consistently vulnerable and honest with this person. Also, keep in mind that if you choose a certain counselor or therapist and it doesn’t end up working out, you can always transition to a new practitioner. Lastly, remember: Healing isn’t linear. Try to stay open-minded and gentle with yourself throughout the process of connecting with the right practitioner for your needs at the time.
