@Wotes-Most therapists will say they deal with trauma, but if you get a professional referral from within the therapist community, you may get much more competence. In my humble opinion, therapists are just not all created equal to begin with and are not all trained equally. As humans, they are driven to receive (choose) more training in specific areas of interest, just as any other profession. You don"t see a podiatrist for your heart. Someone who teaches kindergarden for 20 yrs and moves to teaching science to high schoolers does not have the experience of someone with 20 yrs of experience.
(In the United States) Counselors and social workers first must have a bachelor degree (4 yrs generally) in a background related to psych and core requirements met. Then they must score on a grad school entrance test to be accepted to a grad school program which is not usually too difficult depending on school. After about 3 yrs of school, including a practicum and internship (internship is 40 hrs per week for 1 semester), and they graduate from counseling or social work program with a masters degree, then they are eligible to apply to take exam.
In applying for exam, they must pay a fee, (apx $100 application and $250 exam fee), send all transcripts and records completed and signed by supervisor during practicum and internship. They must provide 3 professional references from others with at least a masters degree. Then they can sit for long exam after studying in 8 different practice areas including statistic which they may not even use. Once the exam is passed, they may go to work under the direct supervision of a board approved supervisor at low wages, they are not licensed still. They must work apx. 3000 hours of direct counseling (depending on state requirements). They must meet for supervision a specific number of hours per week. When this is all done, they can pay apx$250 (depending on state and board) to apply for full licensure. They have several other paper work items to complete as well. If in good standing, they will be approved. Generally they re-license bi annually and must pay license fee again along with documentation of continuing education credits. They can be lazy and get some on line for cheap with little real education, or they can travel and get face to face trainings that can be superior. They will need about 40 and they can cost between $2 per credit to $100 per credit.
Master level counselors (LPC) and social workers (LSW) are licensed to counsel in every state. Their salary is low 30's to start.
Years ago, due to need, states allowed anyone with a bacherlor degree to apply to be a social worker and some have been grandfathered in. Most states have different credentials for social workers, one for bachelor level and one for master level and the initials after name will reflect that by state. Still many states will hire a person, could be a counselor and give them a provisional social work license so they can do CPS work or other state work ONLY. All counselors must have masters degree.
Psychologist can take 1-2 yrs of additional school, much of which is education in the testing area and pay is significantly better. They do have a doctorate. Agencies often have few psychologists and more social workers and counselors as the psychologist does the testing and a lot of testing on kids. They write extensive psychological reports. They are approved for state medicaid and medicare where counselors and social workers are not but can bill under the staff psychologist.
Believe me, it is not paying 50 bucks and hanging a shingle in the United States. Now I have heard people say they are a counselor, such as a domestic violence or addiction counselor. That is something completely different that an educated counselor and the credentials are much different. Buyer Beware, It is up to all of us to ask when in doubt. Also, every practioner should have a statement hanging in their office with credentials regarding license and phone number to call to complain. It is state law. That statement will usually include areas of proficiency ie, that is areas that they passed that was included in exam (marraige and family, children and adolescents, addictions, abnormal psyc. etc) Other exam areas are stats, ethics, abnormal behavior, theory, pharmacology, cultural diversity, etc. As you can see, there are no courses in human sexuality and other specialties. Also, the areas that they have passed are a good foundation for a beginning, but the real experience comes from their work experience and nobody can do everything. You will not specialize in Autism, ADDH, Oppositional Defiant and other childrens disorder and also something of other extreme. If you work with kids, you will likely seek further training in that area or areas of interest where you would like to make a career move to.
One therapist is a licensed counselor and also certified in addictions and specialized in eating disorders as she suffers this herself. She can work with depression and anxiety and general stuff as well but not trauma, kids, and other specialties. Another therapist works with domestic violence primarily, both victims and perps, anger management, parenting skills, some addiction although she refers out for that when needed, and all womens issues and is open to sexuality issues as well as pro choice. While another therapist is a trauma specialist but is also christian counselor and is negative bias to LBGT and abortion issues. I know therapists that listen and never assist with any change or just recite what was learned in school.
I guess what I am getting at is that the therapist abilities is only as good as their Beliefs, Attitudes, Experience, and Education/Training.
