Finding the right provider to meet your needs can feel overwhelming. Did you know that those letters after his or her name can tell you a lot about how they were trained, how they work, and how they support others through the treatment process? Here is a short introduction to what you can expect from a provider just by looking at his or her credentials.

In order to become a licensed mental health provider, individuals must obtain an advanced level of specialized education that meets the licensure requirements in a particular state. When looking at a provider’s name, the first set of letters often indicates what level of academic degree they have attained. The second set of letters (after the comma) is often the abbreviation for the specific license they have in a particular state. Individuals who are still in training may also be able to provide therapy services under the supervision of an independently licensed provider.
Providers may also train under a wide variety of academic perspectives. These may include:
Psychology – explores the lived experience of the individual and how health/disease develops based on the impact of trauma, biological factors, and social factors.
Social Work – supports recovery by looking at the larger societal impact of systems on the individual.
Marriage and Family focus on the relationships between couples and/or larger family units to enhance the quality of life for all.
Mental Health Counseling – versed in basic understanding of the human condition and how to support recovery.
Addictions – Aware of the impact of various types of addictive behaviors on human interactions and functioning.
Faith-Based Degrees – incorporate faith-based beliefs/ideals into the views of health, wellness, and relationships.
At Cornerstone Family Counseling, our providers come from diverse academic backgrounds and hold several different types of licenses. Academic degrees include:
Masters of Arts (MA); Masters of Science (MS); Masters of Social Work (MSW) – earned in 2 years with both course work and practical experience being required. May be in psychology, counseling, other mental health field (MA/MS), or in social work (MSW)
Masters of Divinity (MDiv) – earned in 2-3 years at a School of Divinity often associated with a particular religious denomination.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - earned in 3-5 years, depending on the type of program and whether a master’s degree has been completed. It involves more extensive training in research than other doctoral degrees and the completion of a dissertation.
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) – also earned in 3-5 years, a Psy.D. focuses more on the how-to’s of therapy than Ph.D. programs and often requires more practicum/internship hours.
Depending on the emphasis of their academic training, a provider may then obtain either a temporary and/or independent license that comes from the same school of thought as their academic degrees. Our providers have one of the following types of licenses:
Licensed Psychologist (LP) – Will have a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree and have training in clinical or counseling psychology. This provider can practice independently.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) – Will have an MA/MS in psychology, counseling, or related field. These providers can practice independently.
Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT)/Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) – Both have completed a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. An LCMFT may practice independently while an LMFT is still required to receive clinical supervision.
Licensed Specialized Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW)—This provider has earned a master's in social work and completed all supervised hours to be able to practice independently. They may also have attained a Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC) – Specializes in the treatment of a wide variety of addictions such as alcoholism, substances, or problem gambling.
Other specialties may not require a specific license but may require additional training.
All of the above licenses are governed by the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) in Kansas (KS BSRB | Home). If a client or another provider has concerns about the care they have received from a licensed provider, they can contact the BSRB to report their concerns or obtain additional information about the specific requirements for a particular type of license.
If you have questions about where your provider trained or how they approach treatment, please ask. A good therapist should be able to tell you where they graduated from, what their degree is in, and when they were licensed in Kansas.