How To Verify A Therapist’s License: Understanding State Requirements
A therapist’s licensure shows that they have the education and experience necessary to work as a mental health professional, and learning how to check if a therapist is licensed can be important to ensuring that you get the best support. Here, you’ll learn how you can verify a therapist’s license, as well as what steps therapists must take to become licensed. By understanding the rigorous licensing process and how to check a therapist’s credentials, you can feel comfortable and confident as you make important decisions about your mental health care.
Why is licensure important?
There is a reason most therapists are required to acquire a specific degree, practice a certain number of hours, and pass various tests prior to becoming licensed to practice. Mental wellness can be a central component of overall health, and proper care can improve an individual’s life in a meaningful way. In a broad-based review of studies, researchers concluded that there is strong evidence to support the efficacy of therapy, specifically cognitive-behavioral therapy, when treating common mental health concerns.
Because accurately assessing and treating mental health concerns and social work can be such important services, mental health professionals must have a properly developed skillset. Additionally, the vast differences between the different fields a therapist can practice within dictate that they satisfy requirements specific to their area of expertise. For example, a marriage and family therapist may address concerns in a therapy session that are much different than those a child psychologist might treat.
According to a 2021 survey of practitioners, there has been a significant increase in the number of people seeking mental health care over the past few years. As more and more people pursue treatment, it is important that they have easy access to information about their therapists’ licensure.
License versus certification: Understanding the difference
It may also be helpful to understand the difference between certification and licensure. Practitioners may obtain certifications to demonstrate expertise or specialization in certain areas of mental health, such as substance use counseling or trauma therapy. Certification is voluntary, and these credentials are typically obtained through professional organizations.
Licenses, on the other hand, are the credentials that allow mental health professionals to practice legally. To gain a license, a counselor must go through a government-run licensing board, subjected to specific control. If an individual misrepresents a license, they would be subject to severe disciplinary action.
Understanding the licensing process
Therapists must satisfy certain requirements set by the licensing board of the state they’re operating in before they obtain a license for their specific field. This process involves obtaining a master’s degree in a field related to mental health, fulfilling supervised clinical hours, and passing a certification exam. To maintain licensure, therapists must also participate in continuing education courses and keep up with any other requirements determined by the licensing board.
There are a number of types of licenses available to mental health professionals, and these designations may vary by state. Some common examples include:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
Psychologists (PhD, PsyD)
Within these designations, a provider may further specialize (e.g., school counselors), which could require additional licenses and certifications as determined by the licensing board.
The licensing process may look different depending on the therapist’s area of expertise and the state in which they plan to practice. For example, licensed psychologists in the US are typically required to have between 3,000 and 6,000 total supervised hours, depending on the state. They’ll also need to obtain a doctoral degree from an accredited school and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), among several other strict qualifications.
Knowing that your mental health provider has gone through such a rigorous licensing process with oversight from a licensing board can provide you with confidence as you begin to receive care.
How to verify a therapist’s licensure
Now that we’ve outlined why licenses are important and how therapists obtain them, let’s discuss how you can verify a provider’s qualifications. The following methods can help you learn what license a mental health professional holds, when it was obtained, when it expires, and other useful information before you begin therapy.
Search licensing board sites
For example, the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council has a government website that allows visitors to search for licensure by name, license type, license number, city, and county. When you search the Council’s psychology board lookup page, you can see an individual mental health professional’s license type (e.g., licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist), number, and status (e.g., active, expired), as well as the date they were first licensed and the date their license expires.
You can do a Google search to find the specific licensing board for each state, or you can take advantage of the multiple nationwide, profession-specific service sites that cluster information on licensure. For example, if you’re looking for information on a psychologist and you know the state in which they operate, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) can take you to that state’s board license lookup site, where you can search for their credentials.
Below is a list of profession-specific associations that provide links to license information for the behavioral sciences:
Psychology: Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
Social work: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Professional counseling: American Counseling Association (ACA)
Substance use counseling: Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
Marriage and family therapy: Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB)
Psychiatry: Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Ask your therapist for their credentials
Many therapists display their license information publicly, and are typically willing to provide their license number upon request. If you're working with an online therapist, you may not be able to see their licensing information framed in a physical office, but you can request to see the license information through in-app messaging.
Verifying licensure doesn't have to be an uncomfortable conversation, and your therapist should be willing to provide their licensed verification, as they likely have it readily available in their records. They may also be able to inform you about any continuing education requirements they’ve fulfilled.
How to connect with a therapist online
Across a number of studies, common psychotherapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have been found to be effective. If you’re experiencing mental health challenges and would like to connect with a licensed mental health professional, you might consider using an online therapy platform that thoroughly vets their mental health professionals.
Online therapy platforms like BetterHelp are known to be just as effective as in-person therapy, and it may be easier to find a therapist who specializes in a particular area through such a website. What’s more, these platforms conveniently display therapist’s license numbers within the interface, allowing you to easily check their credentials.
Online therapy may be preferable in situations where transportation or cost are a concern, as online platforms tend to be more affordable and don’t require getting to and from appointments.
Takeaway
How do you ask a therapist for their credentials?
It is appropriate to ask a therapist for their credentials directly. They will likely provide information regarding their education, licensure, and any certifications they may have obtained. They may have diplomas or other documentation on display in their office (or on their profile if practicing online therapy), and the state board of licensing in their area may require that they have their license number clearly displayed. You may also be able to do an online license search using their name to confirm their credentials.
If a therapist refuses to show you their credentials or their claims do not align with the credentials on display (such as if they claim to be a clinical psychologist but their credentials indicate they are a licensed clinical social worker), you can consider filing a complaint with the licensing board of that state.
How do I know if my therapist is right?
Therapy often deals with gray areas, and it may not be easy or simple to determine if a therapist is right or wrong. For many issues, you are the only person who can adequately make that determination. Therapists may also use their clinical judgment to make recommendations, but it is up to you to decide if their guidance might work for you. The uncertain nature of therapy and mental health is one of the reasons why it is important to find a therapist who focuses on building a therapeutic rapport that aligns with you. If you don’t feel like your therapist “gets” you or that their approach to therapy doesn’t seem to fit you well, it is always acceptable to find a new therapist who can more easily connect with you as a person.
Can someone I know be my therapist?
Therapists typically avoid working with those they know personally. While doing so isn’t always expressly forbidden, engaging in multiple relationships (e.g., being someone’s personal friend and therapist) is often considered ethically dubious. The reason is due to the nature of therapy, which typically relies on creating a non-judgemental and accepting relationship between therapist and client. If the therapist is known to the client outside of therapy, the client may be less likely to be forthcoming and open during therapy sessions, which may substantially hamper their progress. Although someone you know is not usually a good choice for a therapist, they may be able to offer guidance and insight regarding how to find a professional who works well for you.
What credentials are best for a therapist?
Credentials vary based on the education and training a therapist receives, but no one credential is considered superior to others. Licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists, among others, are all qualified to provide psychotherapy. Many specialize in areas related to their training. For example, a social worker may prioritize clients who are experiencing challenges related to survival. While credentials may vary, as long as a therapist’s license is current, they are qualified to offer mental health services.
How do I know if someone is a clinical psychologist?
You can verify most mental health practitioners' credentials by looking up their licenses in the state where they practice. You can also use tools like the American Psychological Association’s psychologist locator to verify whether the individual is qualified to practice psychology. While practitioner lookup tools like the psychologist locator are helpful, practitioner participation is typically voluntary, meaning they may not contain all of the individuals licensed to practice in your state.
What are therapist red flags?
Perhaps the most significant red flag when trying to find a therapist is whether the therapist works with you to develop a productive therapeutic rapport. It is typically helpful for you to “click” with your therapist on a personal level. A therapist should make you feel comfortable, open to communication, and unjudged. If you feel that a therapist doesn’t make you feel heard, demeans your experiences, or is unwilling or incapable of seeing your point of view, it may be helpful to find another practitioner.
What is a psychologist vs therapist?
Psychologists typically have doctoral degrees, either a Ph.D. or PsyD, while therapists typically have a master’s degree in one of several disciplines. While many psychologists practice therapy and may refer to themselves as therapists, some psychologists do not practice clinically and instead focus their efforts on research, teaching, or advocacy. Both psychologists and therapists can adopt specialties or gain additional certifications to advance their knowledge. Psychologists also typically receive more training in psychological assessment and measurement than masters-level clinicians, meaning that some psychologists place more of their focus on conducting psychological evaluations.
Can too much therapy be harmful?
Too much therapy may lead to an over-reliance on mental health professionals rather than encouraging independent growth. Some people with complex mental health conditions may require lifelong therapy to manage their condition, while others may only need a handful of sessions to see improvement. Sometimes, a person may continue therapy after their initial concerns have been resolved. That isn’t always bad, but it may indicate that the person is struggling with other issues related to independence. Mental health professionals often work closely with their clients to establish specific goals and indicators that therapy is effective. Most therapists care deeply about their client’s well-being, and many work to encourage their clients to make a stronger effort to manage their concerns independently.
Is it okay to have two therapists?
Having two therapists may be okay, depending on the circumstances. The best way to determine if having two therapists is appropriate may be if the therapists know about each other. For example, a therapist who specializes in humanistic approaches might refer a client to a behavioral therapist for help treating a specific problem. The two professionals may coordinate and work together to best help their shared client. If, however, a person has multiple therapists who are unaware of each other, the chances of problems likely increase.
What if my therapist is wrong?
Determining if a therapist is right or wrong can be challenging due to the complex nature of therapy and mental health. All professionals, from therapists to lawyers to doctors, occasionally make mistakes, but it can sometimes be difficult to determine when a mistake has occurred. It is typically helpful to let your therapist know if you think they may be wrong. They may have missed a critical insight or misunderstood an important piece of information. Therapists are not mind-readers and cannot know everything about you relevant to your reasons for attending therapy. Therefore, it is often beneficial to communicate openly with your therapist about your concerns and let them know why you think they may be wrong.
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