An individual who is qualified to render mental health treatment is a licensed therapist. Therapist must have a graduate degree, and completed clinical hours towards licensure from an licensed board. Active therapist submit to their license board.
Credentials that are licensed to treatment mental health/emotional wounds include, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) LCAS (Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist), PsyD (Psychologist) LCMH (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Professional), LPC (Licensed Professional Counselors.
Mental health coaches, are not certified, trained or licensed to work with individuals who have a mental health condition. No matter how much they want to.
Christian Counselors: Can get "certified in six weeks for less." Remember all counseling is not mental health counseling. People that may want to consider getting "certified" are those in Christian professions that have a counseling component to it. (Example, pastors, apostles etc) Someone who has a certificate in Christian counseling ONLY is not qualified or properly trained to treatment mental illness. Other counseling persons that counseling but don't have a mental health background include: Licensed Pastoral Counselors, Licensed Clinical Christian Counselors, etc. Chaplain etc.
I am a therapist who is a Christian. I have been fully licensed as a licensed therapist in the mental health field for over 10 years. I have worked in the mental health field for almost 16 years. Don't covet the position, just get properly trained.
Schools that teach integration include:
www.liberty.edu
www.regent.edu
Colorado Christian University www.CCU.edu
Disclaimer I did not graduate from these schools.
There are other schools as well. I am not against coaches, Christian counselors, (many of them reference my work). I am against individuals not actually trained or licensed who think it is okay to change the name, but try to treat individuals with mental health conditions or emotional wounds. The reasons why people do these things is because they covet the position but don't want to submit to the process of being properly trained. There are spirit-led, deliverance ministers who also are LICENSED mental health therapist. Be Well www.samariacolbert.com www.Kingdomcreativecounseling.com www.transformingchristianleaders.com Samaria's training program for licensed therapist.
https://samaria-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/couches-and-conversations-inner-healing
For someone who may want to know whether or not they are seeing a real therapist. Always ask the professional who you want to see about their license, how they obtained it, what their licensed number is. How long did it take them to obtain it? If they don't let you know the graduate program or the two/three year licensure process you are not seeing a licensed therapist. All mental health therapist license are public record.
****I DO NOT SUPPORT THE USE OF NON CLINICAL PROFESSIONALS TREATING INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.****
