Counseling

Counseling and Hypnotherapy in Cincinnati Ohio

How Do I Choose An Experienced Counselor?

Getting counseling is often a difficult choice to make. Some contributing factors that make that choice difficult include determining if the person you’re seeing is ‘qualified’ to be a counselor, and what makes that individual ‘qualified’? Other factors are cost, talking to a complete stranger, revealing very personal things about yourself, and figuring out who you’re going to see. What if you get into counseling and don’t agree with, or don’t like the counselor? You, in that office, talk about the very personal issues and conflicts in your life. And how do you know the counselor knows what he or she is doing?

These are some very real, very legitimate concerns about getting into counseling, and there are a lot of people out there ready to take your money, and tell you what you want to hear.

There are several things you can do to help find a counselor who can be helpful to you. When questioning if the person you want to see is qualified, one of the first things to consider is the counselor’s credentials. In the state of Ohio you have to be licensed to practice counseling. There are several types, or kinds of licenses. These include counselors, social workers, psychologists, and medical doctors (psychiatrists).

Counselors and social workers have master’s (graduate) degrees, and are governed by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. This Board grants licenses, and lists everyone with a counselor’s or social worker’s license. The Board can also put on probation, suspend, or revoke the license of anyone who breaks the law, or violates the code of ethics governing how counselors and social workers conduct themselves professionally.

Psychologists have a doctorate (Ph.D, Ed.D, or Psy.D) degree, and conduct psychological examinations. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, and prescribe medication. Each of these has their own governing body that supervises their professions.

Once you learn that the person is licensed, the 2nd step is determining what kind of license the person possesses. Counselors and social workers have 2 types of licenses. For counselors it is PC or PCC (Professional Counselor, or Professional Clinical Counselor). Social workers have LSW and LISW (Licensed Social Worker or Licensed Independent Social Worker). Counselors or social workers with either a PC or LSW must have a clinical supervisor who is independently licensed to oversee their work. Independently licensed counselors have either PCC, or LPCC (Professional Clinical Counselor, or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor – the LPCC designation was shortened to PCC). Social Workers who are independently licensed have LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker). Only those independently licensed can see people without being supervised.

The 3rd question is, how long has the counselor been practicing, and what kinds of problems does the counselor see?

I am independently licensed, and have been working in the field since 1977. I've worked in "inpatient" treatment facilities, residential treatment facilities, managed care units, and as a clinical supervisor, to name a few jobs I've held. Some of my most rewarding work has been direct client care as a private practioner. I have worked successfully with people struggling with depression, anxiety, sexual issues, marital and relationship issues, unresolved grief, and those struggling with day to day issues.

Questions or comments?

Call 513-471-2250 or email me at Dennis@CincinnatiTherapyGuy.com