They stand for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. You can see all types of therapists out there…all with slightly different to very different disciplines. A psychologist (PsyD or Ph.D), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or LCSW are the more common types of therapists. Psychiatrists are medical doctors with a specialty in mental health—Generally they are focused on prescribing medications.
What’s makes an LCSW different from the others?
Schooling, difficulty with getting licensed, particular work-experience, and some differing perspectives on human behavior generally separate most types of therapists. LCSW’s have a Master’s Degree and have obtained 3000 hours of supervision. An LCSW is taught to focus on the person and their environment as separate but integrated systems. This perspective can help create many fluid variables…making it possible to find many potential intervention points for treatment. There is a heavy focus on the belief that change is possible with anyone through allowing each individual to discover and construct their own “core person” while interacting with others and the larger world.
ABOUT ME…
I graduated from the University of TN College of Social Work with a Masters of Science in clinical Social Work (MSSW) in 2012. I worked in Green Hills with Symmetry Counseling for many years. I developed a niche working with men who normally don’t feel comfortable with therapy and women who are suffering from complicated relationship problems. I have worked a lot with clients who suffer from disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, and autism spectrum. I have been particularly focused on sleep health, integrative health, and existential perspectives. I’ve worked in a wide variety of places to offer my services such as The Public Defender’s Office and a Kidney Transplant Clinic—Always searching for new ways to learn and apply behavioral health. My services are mostly in-person in my Spring Hill office but I also offer distance/telehealth sessions. Sometimes clients are looking for a letter from a mental health provider. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any official letters or certifications stating that a client may gain benefits (such as permission to have emotional support animals, returning to work from disability, legal punishment mitigations, etc) based on a prediction of mental health and behavior. What I can sometimes provide is a letter stating that a client has been attending sessions with me and, if appropriate, a mental health diagnosis based on the information in the sessions attended. The service being provided is mental health treatment based on the information at the first session with me. I look to provide help to those who are reaching out to me for this service.
I’m honored to have the chance to help and to serve the people in this community here in Spring Hill, TN!
