What Is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker?
When you’re searching for a new therapist, you may be confused by the different letters next to everyone’s name: Psy.D, Ph.D, LMFT, LPC, LCAT, MD, PMHNP. You might see the initials LCSW, standing for licensed clinical social worker. In honor of March being Social Work Month, here is a primer on what exactly distinguishes an LCSW from other types of therapists.
What makes a clinical social worker unique?
Licensed clinical social workers attend social work graduate school for two years, followed by typically 3 years as an LMSW (licensed master social worker) where they are conducting supervised work under the license of a more experienced therapist. Then, they take an exam in order to provide therapy independently as an LCSW.
Social work as a discipline differs from other therapy training in that it offers a broader overview of the systems that impact human behavior. This is referred to as the “person-in-environment” philosophy. These systems encompass what goes on in our families, our neighborhoods, our communities, our workplaces, and larger institutions such as healthcare, education and the political system. This emphasis on our environment blends with training in therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, couples therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Additionally, social work education emphasizes experiential learning, placing students in internships at the beginning of the graduate program in order to get real-world clinical experience in providing therapy and counseling in different settings. These settings might be schools, hospitals, group private practices, the prison system, rehabilitation centers, or non-profit organizations. This gives social workers a unique attunement to how the systems people interact with make them feel emotionally and mentally.
In therapy with a social worker, you might find that your therapist asks questions about how your gender, race, sexuality, ability, and socioeconomic status influence your mental health. They often keep in mind the “systems” you are in or interact with when helping you to solve problems or make sense of how you’re feeling.
An LCSW might be a good fit for you
If you’re interested in bringing this attention to what is going on in your environment into the therapy room, or if you’re looking for a therapist who is interested in the intersections of issues like gender, race, class, sexuality, ability or identity, then meeting with an LCSW for therapy might make sense for you.
If you’re located in NY or PA, schedule a free consultation call to learn more about working with an LCSW as a therapist.
For providers outside of NY and PA, check out Psychology Today or Therapy Den to find an LCSW in your community.
Disclaimer: This blog post is not a substitute for therapy or other mental health treatment, and is intended for educational purposes only. Advice or recommendations outlined in this blog post may not be suitable for all.