Does It Matter What Degree A Therapist Has?

[nic]

As I once again embark upon the search for a new therapist, I find myself wondering how important their degree is. I'm not talking about whether they graduated from Harvard versus community college or anything; I'm talking about the actual degree...you know, those abbreviations that follow a name--(MD, PhD, MA, LICSW, RN).

Typically, I am of the opinion that the professional degree is rather irrelevant. (Someone with a PhD can totally suck as a therapist, and someone with "only" a BA may be really good.) However, I still find myself hesitant to see someone with a "lesser" degree. For example, two out of the three possible therapists I've found are LICSW (social workers). When I think of a social worker, I think of someone who works for DSS and who pretty much just checks to see if there's food in someone's 'fridge and no bruises on the kid. I just don't know if they will have the expertise to help me with a ten-year-long case of PTSD.

That being said, I'm wondering what you all think. Does the degree matter?

 

[madjon]

i find qualifications arent always relevant, the person is relevant more than the degree, i met a psychiatrist with lots of senior qualifications and membership of professional institutes etc, he thought the tv was talking to me because i mentioned an episode of the simpsons and he hadnt seen it, though its been on for decade and more, he was completely out of touch with anything outside of academia and couldnt relate to people, one of the best psychs i saw was a lass and she had basic qualifications but was good at understanding and talking, so as long as they do have a real and recognised qualification, not one you can buy on the internet, the real thing which is relevant is do you get on,

 

[2quilt]

I'll give you a real-life example. From my own, poor life. I am married to a PhD is physics, his IQ has four digits it seems, and he is really a genius when it comes to sciences and mathematics. I can't do my own checkbook. The boy didn't marry 2quilt for her brains.

Things my Darling has learned in the past year:
1. That pink represents girls and blue represents boys.
2. What a stork in the front yard means.
3. What caller ID is, and how it works.
4. What call-waiting is, and how it works.
5. Why people don't wear open-toed sandals in the deep winter.
6. Why you should not use your washcloth on your butt first.


This man has actually taken a full shower with a new bar of soap, still wrapped, and never noticed that there was no suds. This man had 15 intimate minutes with that bar of soap, yet never actually looked at it to see that it still had the wrapper on it. This is the same man who can shave his entire face before realizing that the razor blade was covered the whole time.

I was in bed once, sick, and he offered to bring me something cold to drink. He came in with the glass, and because I could not sit up to drink it without a straw, he just poured the cold liquid on my face.

We are talking about someone who is "not working on all thrusters!"
The letters behind the name mean nothing if you have no common sense, people skills, or give a damn about the patient.

Choose the therapist who has natural talent and enjoys the job, cares about your health, and went to some schooling and a license along the way.
Hopefully you will find a balance there between common sense and genius.

 

[catjudo]

2quilt--thanks for the laugh :rofl:I, too, am married to a well-educated genius with little common sense and the most basic of life skills. I agree with your advice and love your way of illustrating it.

 

[brokenchild]

I've seen social workers and people with a Ph. D. Neither of them could help me. Try to find someone who specializes in trauma, no matter what the degree.

 

[linasmom]

2Quilt, that was hysterical! My husband is extremely intelligent, too, but has problems doing many basic things in life and it humors me.

Nic,

Personally, I prefer someone who has received their doctorate degree. Call me pretentious. But, that is not to say that someone who is simply a licensed therapist can't help you or any of us. It's only my personal preference. My last therapist had her doctorate and so does my current one.

I saw a licensed therapist for a few weeks and felt like I was talking to my high-school guidance counselor. I also love the fact that my current therapist is very involved in the community - his brother committed suicide and my therapist is very involved in that community and doing "walks" and such. He also attends various conferences and networks well within the psychological community here in Charlotte - he is involved in various groups.

I don't think that you have to "choose" a therapist in one visit. You can "interview" a therapist, there can be an initial visit with you to determine whether or not they feel that they can and want to take you on as a patient and you can decide if you want to continue seeing them. Don't feel forced to make that decision during your "initial visit".

I do recommend seeking out a therapist, doctorate or not, who has or is still currently specializing in trauma.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Best,
Rachel

 

[becvan]

C.T. stands for Clinical Traumologist. Try to find one of them. Usually they are M.S.W (Master of social work.) They specialize in treating trauma (most notably PTSD) and have experience and education even a psych or psychologist does not have.

bec

 

[reallydown]

Everyone I've talked to has at least a master's degree...SOme arebetter than others...I found that the best two were the two who challeneged me the most and with whom I was able to have an intelligent conversation (henever I strayed from whatever it was I was supposed to talk about) ...and one of those is a registered social worker (M.S.W)...

 

[Deleted member 93]

None. I have been screwed by the best with plenty of letters chasing the name. Had wonderful help from some who have minimal. I would caution be careful of those with minimal and pretend to know it all. Actually run from those. You get a feel who will help or will not. We have to learn to trust our gut one day.

 

[nic]

Thanks for the responses. I'm still struggling to find a new T. I just can't believe how hard it is to find someone. I live right in the hub of one of the best medical/hospital districts in the world, yet it seems impossible to find a trauma specialist who takes insurance (and has availability). I can't imagine what it must be like for some of you all who live in more remote areas.

I know this could be a whole other thread, but what can we do to change this? How do we get more trauma therapists out there?

 

[catjudo]

Oh, you want to find a trauma specialist AND you want them to take insurance. Obviously you just have unreasonable expectations. :rolleyes: (if this was in person rather than typed now is when you would note my obvious sarcastic tone)

I don't have a real answer to your question. I have insurance but I pay for my trauma therapist out-of-pocket. For my psychiatrist--I drive two hours each way to a smaller city (but it is a university town) and pay for my psychiatrist out-of-pocket as well. Sometimes I question why I even bother to have insurance.

What I have finally realized is many of the therapists and psychiatrists who are REALLY good don't accept insurance. They don't accept insurance because when they do they lose control over how they treat patients because the insurance company controls treatment by what they will/won't pay for. The doctors that I've come across that are really good at what they do have found they can't be as effective when there is insurance muddled into the equation. It sucks and I wish I knew how to fix it.

 

[Auburngirl]

I've seen someone who was near the end of a PhD in Psychology, and a psychiatrist and found the psychiatrist much more helpful, but I wouldn't come to any massive conclusions based on two people.

Knowledge of the physiological response (ie medical training) I did find to be helpful, but the most important is someone who knows how to deal with trauma and, in my case, dissociation.

Good luck!