Stuart L. Palmer & Associates Inc: A Counseling and Psychotherapy Practice

PhD   PsyD    LPCC    LCSW    LMFT 

       What do all those letters mean?

As you look for a therapist, understanding some of the abbreviations may be helpful. Here is a quick explanation of some of the common ones.

MD: Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists earn an MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health and is trained to treat mental illness through the use of medication and other biological means.

PhD or PsyD: Psychologist
Psychologists earn either a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology) or a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) the subtle difference is that a PsyD degree is more oriented toward clinical practice, the PhD is often more academically oriented (teaching or research).

LPCC: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
LPCC must earn a Masters degree (MA) in Counseling or related field. An MA Counseling degree emphasizes clinical counseling practice.

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
 LCSWs earn a Masters in Social Work. Their degree emphasizes social policy and justice.