So, there are a LOT of different people out there who call themselves “therapists”; it’s a veritable alphabet soup!  There are LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, LCADCs, to mention a few.  What do all the letters mean?

As part of my “opening monologue” to a new client, I include information about Confidentiality (what you say here, stays here), Cancellations (give me at least 24 hours notice to allow for someone else to take your abandoned spot), and Illness (if you are sick, don’t bring it to me; I’ll gladly return the favor).   Additionally, I also include information about what I call “Goodness of Fit”. I encourage my new clients to take the time to figure out if I am a good fit for them.

It’s taken a while, but mental health is finally starting to be taken seriously. Celebrities talk openly about their struggles. Politicians specifically mention mental health in discussions on improving healthcare. And the idea of seeking therapy is no longer stigmatized the way it once was. More and more — particularly in the United States — there’s been a push to define mental health concerns as medical concerns. While mental health is an essential part of overall health — and mental illness is illness — selecting a therapist or mental health provider is not the same as selecting a doctor.