You finally decide to get help.
Then you start searching.
One therapist is a psychologist.
Another is an LMFT.
Another is an LPCC.
Then you see PhD, PsyD, counselor, therapist, psychotherapist…
And somewhere around your tenth browser tab, you’re thinking:
Okay, but who am I actually supposed to call?
Here’s the plain-English version:
In California, psychologists, LMFTs, and LPCCs can all provide psychotherapy.
Their paths to becoming licensed aren’t identical. Their training foundations can differ.
But the credential alone doesn’t tell you whether someone is the right therapist for your problem.
Imagine you discovered an affair three weeks ago.
You’re barely sleeping. Every conversation with your partner becomes another argument.
At that moment, you probably care less about which credential sounds most impressive and more about whether the therapist has actually helped couples navigate infidelity and trust repair.
The same principle applies elsewhere.
If your teenager has experienced trauma, ask about trauma and adolescent experience.
If intrusive thoughts are interfering with your life, ask how the therapist treats intrusive thoughts.
If ADHD is creating conflict in your relationship, look for someone who understands both neurodivergence and couples work.
Start with what made you look for therapy in the first place.
Then ask questions that get past the letters:
How often do you work with people dealing with what I’m dealing with?
What training do you have in this area?
What does a typical session with you look like?
And finally:
Can you imagine telling this person what’s actually happening?
Not the polished version.
The real one.
Read the complete article on my website → https://marinaedelman.com/blogs/psychologist-vs-lmft-vs-lpcc/