What Is a Mental Health Counselor and How Do You Find One?

What is mental health counseling? 

Mental health counselors are licensed professionals who treat the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects of mental health and substance use conditions. They work with individuals, families, couples, and groups in a variety of settings.

Mental health counselors use a variety of techniques aimed at:

• promote healthy lifestyles
• identify personal stressors and levels of functioning
• preserve or restore mental health

Mental health counselors and psychologists may provide similar services, but there are distinct differences in education, training, and licensure.

Generally, mental health counselors hold an accredited master’s degree in counseling and have 2 to 3 years of supervised counseling practice. They may be qualified to help treat several conditions, including:

• depression
• anxiety disorders
• bipolar disorder
• eating disorders
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• substance use disorders
• phobias

How much you benefit from counseling may vary depending on the type and severity of the mental health condition, the type of treatment, and treatment adherence

What do mental health counselors do? 

Mental health counselors may work with people on many aspects of their mental health, whether that includes anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.

• they discuss symptoms and treatment options
• in some states, licensed professional counselors may diagnose mental health conditions, while in other states, they may not be allowed to make a diagnosis
• identify stressors
• teach them healthy coping and problem-solving techniques
• work alongside other types of medical professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and primary care doctors
• help people develop goals and a treatment plan
• possibly refer people to other relevant healthcare or social service professionals

Using talk therapy

In particular, mental health counselors may perform psychotherapy to help people understand their behaviors, emotions, and thoughts.

Also known as talk therapy, this type of quality therapeutic relationship is one of the most successful predictors of how successful someone’s treatment may be.

There are a few different types of psychotherapy:

1. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT): This is an evidence-based therapy that helps people recognize destructive thinking patterns, understand how those influence their behavior, and adopt healthier behaviors.
2. Psychodynamic therapy: This type of psychotherapy focuses on emotion and interpersonal relationships. With a professional’s guidance, clients use self-reflection and self-examination to uncover and work through problematic patterns.
3. Interpersonal therapy: A counselor may focus on the relationship between our personal interactions and psychological symptoms. This is a time-limited treatment that typically lasts 12 to 16 weeks.

Psychotherapy can help people manage their mental health, whether it’s used on its own or alongside other treatments that might include medication.

Where can you find a mental health counselor? 

There are several ways to find a mental health care professional near you.

You can ask your primary care doctor for a referral, do a general internet search for providers near you, or use one of the following resources:

• FindTreatment.gov
• Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Opioid Treatment Program Directory from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Remember that professional counselor designations may include LPC, LMHC, LCADC, and LPCC. When looking for a counselor, here are a few things to consider:

• How much do they charge? Will your insurance cover sessions? Does your insurance require a referral from a primary care doctor or psychiatrist?
• Do they specialize in certain treatment areas (e.g., substance use, eating disorders)?
• Do they offer telehealth appointments?
• Effective therapy relies on a good relationship between the therapist and client. Consider who you’d feel most comfortable opening up to: a certain gender, person of color, someone from your faith, etc.

The takeaway

The symptoms of an untreated mental health condition can interfere with your day-to-day life.

If you or a loved one needs support, reach out to a healthcare professional about treatment options and whether mental health counseling is right for you.