Many people may wonder about the differences between licensed and unlicensed therapists and whether it matters for counseling. Any person in the world can go into business as a “life coach” or “advisor” without having a minute of professional training. Many people do this and they charge the same fees as someone who has undergone rigorous education and training. There are dangers in working with a counselor or therapist-- licensed or unlicensed--who does not evidence deep knowledge, experience, and skill. Counseling is a very sensitive venture which deals with people’s vulnerabilities and central operating structures. Damage can be done by allowing an untrained person into your psyche, much as you might not let a drunk uncle tinker around under the hood of your car. Licensed counselors (LCSW, LPCC, LMFT, PhD, and PsyD are the primary licenses in California) have all earned Masters or Doctoral degrees in a field directly related to human psychology, sociology, and interpersonal functioning. They have also experienced several years of intensive, hands-on training under the supervision of a licensed clinician and most have experienced counseling and psychotherapy of their own. Most also obtain regular consultation with colleagues to ensure their practice is serving their clients fully. Furthermore, the counseling practice of licensed clinicians is overseen by a state agency (in California it is the Board of Behavioral Sciences), that monitors their work and behavior.  Consumers can make complaints against counselors whose practices are illegal or unethical. Clinicians who break laws in their personal life are sanctioned by the BBS and, in serious circumstances, can lose their license to practice. And this information is all public knowledge and can be accessed by any individual. Unlicensed counselors and coaches do not have any of the preceding requirements or governances and do not deliver professional and reliable services. Certainly, there are bound to be some unlicensed providers who can be helpful and supportive in many ways, but their skills have not been professionally developed and honed and there is no way of knowing in advance if their practice might be outright or subtly harmful.

Karen Kochenburg is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with twenty years of experience providing counseling to children, teenagers, adults, couples, and families. She has worked in the fields of mental and reproductive health, domestic violence, foster care, school counseling, and private psychotherapy practice.