Well+Being Holistic Mental Health
“Emotional Health & Wellness Tips From The Therapy Couch And Other Places”
Psychotherapist, Psychoanalyst, Psychologist, Psychiatrist: What’s The Difference?
As a Manhattan-based licensed psychotherapist in private practice, I get this question a lot. What do all these acronyms after last names actually mean? And what do you need to find the very best NYC therapist for you and your healing goals? You are struggling right now and need to find high-quality mental health care in New York City, but it’s all so confusing. Your search for the right therapist can be intimidating and downright overwhelming. Should you work with a private therapist or should you sort through the group practices to find the best therapist for you? All those acronyms; all those modalities—getting started with therapy should be easier!
I’m sharing with you a trend that I’ve noticed, that you may not be aware of. Many group therapy practices charge standard psychotherapy fees and even high fees, and place you with a therapist trainee. This practice should be disclosed to you so you are fully informed about your care. When you are assigned to a therapist, you have a right to ask about their training and experience.
All therapists in training (in my field that’s an LMSW, until they reach LCSW designation) will undergo nearly 3 years of supervision or about 3000 mandatory practice hours. If you’re assigned to an LMSW, you’re working with a therapist who is being supervised as they work towards their hours. After a therapist in training has met this requirement, they are autonomous and can then work in private practice without supervision. If you work with a therapist undergoing supervision, your therapist or counselor will need to discuss your case at weekly meetings with their licensed, supervising therapist.
Finding Therapy
You’ve finally made the decision to get help for your self or your relationship, but the process feels daunting and overwhelming. If you are contemplating therapy but confused by your many options, you might find the following article from The The Huffington Post helpful. While it is not a complete offering of the many types of therapies and schools of thought offered, it certainly gives a snapshot of the major types of therapy such as: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, CBT, Group Therapy, Family Therapy and DBT Therapy. The article also describes the types of therapy that are a good fit for the concerns you bring to counseling. For instance, if you are a couple in experiencing relationship distress, you will want to work with a couple that has relationship training. If you find yourself engaging in self-destructive, self-sabotaging behaviors, psychoanalytic therapy can help you gain insight into your unconscious that drives some of these behaviors. Websites such as Psychology Today lists many local therapists who offer brief, free consultations to help you decide and determine if the therapist is a good “fit” for your particular needs. Sometimes a paid consultation with a licensed psychotherapist or psychologist can help steer you in the right direction towards the kind of therapist and style of psychotherapy that would be the most useful for your individual needs. Ultimately, finding a therapist with whom you can