Today's Blog Post
A 'question' and 'answer' post designed to help you understand the differences between a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) and a Colorado Registered Psychotherapist.
Q: What is the difference between an LPC, LPCC, and Registered Psychotherapist?
Q: What are the benefits of becoming a LPC, LPCC vs. Registered Psychotherapist?
A: A LPC holds the highest state required credentials, which allows them to work in all public and private mental health care facilities, schools, or other. They also have the legal authority to place clients on a 27-65 or M-1 hold (i.e., a mandated visit to the hospital). A LPCC is afforded the similar privileges, so long as their status remains active (i.e., they are working under supervised clinical hours). If working in a private practice, an LPC can accept all forms of payment, including insurance reimbursements.
For legal/liability reasons, 1) a Colorado Registered Psychotherapist is not employable at public and private mental health care facilities, and 2) cannot place clients on a 27-65 or M-1 hold, and 3) in a private practice setting, they cannot accept insurance reimbursement payments.
Q: Why would I work with a Registered Psychotherapist who has little or no academic experience or clinical training?
A: We believe the Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs (a.k.a DORA) offers a license as a Registered Psychotherapist because: Many people may have been trained in 'eastern' spirituality and philosophy, or other qualified disciplines. Even without 'western' academic/clinical training, their expertise as a therapist could be as good, if not better (i.e., there is more than one method to heal and grow). A perfect example of the law: If the Dali Lama moved to Colorado, he would qualify as a Registered Psychotherapist, but not as a LPC, LPCC, MFT, LCSW or other. Since you may not have access to the Dali Lama or others like him, we believe it is wise to work with professionals who posses the following:
A 'question' and 'answer' post designed to help you understand the differences between a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) and a Colorado Registered Psychotherapist.
Q: What is the difference between an LPC, LPCC, and Registered Psychotherapist?
A: Briefly: A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) holds a masters or doctorate degree, and has fulfilled all state and national requirements to hold a license. A Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) holds a masters or doctorate degree, and is in the final stages of obtaining full licensure (i.e., all that remains is client-clinical supervision hours). At a minimum, a Colorado Registered Psychotherapist only needs to pass the state jurisprudence exam, and is not required to have any academic or clinical training. For a full list of credential requirements for LPC, LPCC, Registered Psychotherapist, including MFT, LCSW and more, please visit: Colorado Mental Health Credentials Requirements
Q: What are the benefits of becoming a LPC, LPCC vs. Registered Psychotherapist?
A: A LPC holds the highest state required credentials, which allows them to work in all public and private mental health care facilities, schools, or other. They also have the legal authority to place clients on a 27-65 or M-1 hold (i.e., a mandated visit to the hospital). A LPCC is afforded the similar privileges, so long as their status remains active (i.e., they are working under supervised clinical hours). If working in a private practice, an LPC can accept all forms of payment, including insurance reimbursements.
For legal/liability reasons, 1) a Colorado Registered Psychotherapist is not employable at public and private mental health care facilities, and 2) cannot place clients on a 27-65 or M-1 hold, and 3) in a private practice setting, they cannot accept insurance reimbursement payments.
Q: Why would I work with a Registered Psychotherapist who has little or no academic experience or clinical training?
A: We believe the Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs (a.k.a DORA) offers a license as a Registered Psychotherapist because: Many people may have been trained in 'eastern' spirituality and philosophy, or other qualified disciplines. Even without 'western' academic/clinical training, their expertise as a therapist could be as good, if not better (i.e., there is more than one method to heal and grow). A perfect example of the law: If the Dali Lama moved to Colorado, he would qualify as a Registered Psychotherapist, but not as a LPC, LPCC, MFT, LCSW or other. Since you may not have access to the Dali Lama or others like him, we believe it is wise to work with professionals who posses the following:
- Qualified, accredited and documented eastern and/or western based psychotherapy training.
- Bachelors, masters, or doctorate degrees from accredited institutions.
- Colorado jurisprudence and national board exams.
- Advance training, such as EMDR, CAC, LAC, or other.
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