What does a License tell you about your therapist?

A state license tells you that your therapist has been professionally educated, trained, and supervised to provide mental health therapy, counseling, and services; and, your therapist is accountable to a State Board for their professional services and ethics by state and federal law. If your therapist is not a licensed mental health professional, they are not accountable by state law or state boards. What does this mean? It means a licensed therapist is required by law to protect your confidentiality and to follow ethical standards. If a licensed therapist does not follow professional standards and ethics, an individual can make a complaint to the appropriate licensing board which could result in the license being revoked. If a licensed therapist does not follow appropriate and relevant laws, an individual has access to the civil and, possibly, criminal legal process. If your therapist or counselor is not licensed, I would highly recommend that you find a licensed provider.

Who are “licensed mental health professionals”?

In Oklahoma, therapists who fall under the blanket term “licensed mental health professionals” are individuals who are Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). These are therapists who are educated, trained, tested, and held accountable to provide psychotherapy (also known as counseling, mental health therapy, talk therapy).

What about Psychiatrists?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have graduated from a medical school with a MD or DO degree and then specialized in the medical aspects of mental health. They can prescribe medications and diagnose a person from a medical perspective.

What about Nurses Practitioners or Physician Assistants?

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants have completed master degrees in order to be licensed medical providers. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants who have specialized in psychiatric care are able to prescribe medication like psychiatrists. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants diagnose a person from a medical perspective. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are licensed by state boards regarding medical licensing and have physicians who supervise their practice.

What about Psychologists?

The majority of people who are psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology and are licensed by a state board. Most psychologists are referred to as “Doctor” but are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medication. Psychologists often focus on psychological testing, assessments, and diagnosis. Other psychologists offer therapy similar to LCSW, LPC, and LMFT therapists. Psychologists are licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Psychology.

Read more in Part 2