How to vet a practitioner

Master's in social work plus supervised clinical hours. Can diagnose and treat mental health conditions.

Master's in counseling plus supervised hours. Provides talk therapy, can diagnose depending on state.

Trained in systemic and relational therapy. Works with individuals, couples, and families.

Doctoral training in psychology. Can perform psychological testing and complex assessment.

Medical doctor specializing in mental health. Can prescribe medication and treat medical psychiatric conditions.

Advanced practice nurse who can assess, diagnose, and prescribe psychiatric medication.

Advanced practice nurse with graduate training. Scope varies by state and specialty.

Medical provider trained in the physician model. Can diagnose, treat, and prescribe in most states.

Specialized credential for substance use and addiction counseling. Licensure level varies by state.

Social work license requiring a master's degree. Clinical practice often requires supervised hours and an advanced license.

Graduate-trained therapist focused on couples, families, and relationships.

Pre-independent license requiring ongoing supervision. A valid route, but verify the supervisor.

Specializes in applied behavior analysis, often for autism and developmental differences.

National certification for counselors through NBCC. Not a state license; ask about state licensure.

Counselor specializing in disability, vocational, and rehabilitation services.

Doctoral-level psychologist licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions.

New York State credential for addiction counseling. Requires training, exam, and supervised experience.

State-specific designation for providers of community mental health services. Scope varies widely.

Social work credential at various levels of supervision and independent practice.

Master's-level counselor trained in diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders.

NASW credential for experienced master's-level social workers. Not a substitute for state licensure.

Advanced NASW credential for clinical social workers with significant experience.

Senior-level clinical social work credential from NASW.

New York State designation for LCSWs with additional experience; allows independent psychotherapy.

Credential for substance use counseling; requirements vary by state.

NAADAC advanced credential for clinicians with master's degrees and addiction specialization.

State-regulated in most US states. Look up their license on the state massage board.

Master's or doctoral training in Chinese medicine. NCCAOM board certification is the national standard.

Doctoral training focused on the spine and musculoskeletal system.

Nursing scope; some work in integrative or coaching settings.

Doctoral or master's-trained movement and rehabilitation specialist.

Helps people participate in daily activities through therapeutic interventions.

Trained in naturopathic medical school. Scope varies; not licensed in every state.

Highest credential in Chinese medicine in some states; includes acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Advanced practice nurse specializing in pregnancy, birth, and reproductive health.

Out-of-hospital midwifery credential through NARM. Legal status varies by state.

Food and nutrition expert with accredited education and supervised practice.

Advanced nutrition credential for clinicians managing specialized nutrition support.

National board certification for massage and bodywork. Not a state license.

Title used in some states for massage credentials; verify the specific state license.

Specialized massage training focused on neuromuscular pain patterns. Not a license.

Occupational or physical therapist with advanced hand and upper extremity certification.

Nurse practitioner focused on primary care for individuals and families.

Nurse practitioner specializing in adult and geriatric health.

Nurse practitioner specializing in reproductive and gynecological health.

Professional membership organizations, not government licenses. Useful for ethics, not oversight.

Bachelor's or master's in music therapy plus board exam through CBMT.

Master's in art therapy plus supervised clinical hours through ATCB.

Graduate training through ADTA. BC-DMT is the higher, supervisory level.

Graduate training in dance/movement therapy. Board certification is R-DMT or BC-DMT.

Earlier credential for board-certified music therapists; now typically MT-BC.

Intermodal arts therapy credential through IEATA. Combines visual art, music, dance, drama, and writing.

State-licensed art therapist in states that regulate art therapy separately.

New York State license for creative arts therapists (art, music, dance, drama).

Graduate training through NADTA. RDT and BCT are recognized credentials.

Credential through the National Association for Poetry Therapy. Not a clinical license.

APT credential for therapists using play therapy. Requires an underlying mental health license.

Specialized training in sandplay therapy through ISST or STA. Not a license.

ASGPP credential for action methods and psychodrama. Often sits under a clinical license.

Uses arts processes for coaching and personal growth, not clinical treatment.

Three-year training in Peter Levine's method. Not a license. Ask what license, if any, sits behind it.

Advanced EMDR credential built on top of an existing mental health license. Ask for the underlying license.

Recognized IFS Institute training. Level 1, 2, 3 indicate depth. Not itself a license.

Hours of yoga teacher training registered with Yoga Alliance. Baseline, not a therapeutic credential.

Lineage-based energy work certification. Standards vary widely by teacher.

Coaching credential with three levels. Coaching is not therapy and is not regulated as healthcare.

Advanced yoga therapy credential through IAYT. More specialized than RYT but still not a clinical license.

Yoga Alliance designations for experienced teachers and teacher trainers.

Health coaching credential through NBHWC. Coaching, not clinical treatment.

Training in David Berceli's trauma-release method. Not a license.

Training in Pat Ogden's body-based trauma approach. Verify underlying license.

Training in Hakomi mindful somatic therapy. Not a license.

Training in Sue Johnson's couples therapy model. Requires a mental health license for clinical use.

Training in Diana Fosha's transformation-based model. Requires a clinical license.

Training in the Gottman approach to couples therapy. Levels 1, 2, 3.

Training in Stan Tatkin's couples model. Requires a mental health license.

Specialized training in DBT. Not a license; verify the underlying clinician license.

Training in ACT. Often offered as a certificate program, not a license.

Structured mindfulness training. Often used by clinicians, not a license itself.

Training in trauma-focused CBT for children and adolescents. Requires a clinical license.

Evidence-based trauma treatment trainings. Should be delivered by licensed clinicians.

Training in Ayurveda. Not a licensed medical credential in the US.

Functional medicine training for licensed providers. Not a standalone license.

Hypnosis training. Standards vary widely; ask about underlying license.

Training in NLP techniques. Not a regulated mental health credential.

Unregulated field. Anyone can call themselves a coach. Ask for training and scope.

Graduate theological education plus clinical pastoral education (CPE) units. Broadly interfaith competency.

Typically 2-3 year formation program (e.g. through Spiritual Directors International). Not clinical.

Authorized by a specific tradition or denomination. Standards vary widely.

Authorized within a spiritual lineage. Ask who authorized them and how you can verify it.

Supervised training in spiritual care, often in hospitals. Units are a credential, not a license.

Advanced CPE supervisor credential for training chaplains and spiritual care providers.

Professional chaplaincy certification, often through a recognized board like APC or NAJC.

Professional chaplaincy board with certification and ethics standards.

Denomination-specific chaplaincy boards with certification requirements.

Centers for Spiritual Living practitioner authorized for prayer ministry and spiritual support.

Licensed spiritual practitioner within the Centers for Spiritual Living movement.

Teaching authority within a Sufi order (tariqa). Ask who authorized them.

Senior teaching authorization in a Buddhist lineage. Dharma transmission is a real but informal credential.

Combines theology and counseling. Some are licensed mental health professionals; some are not.

Recognized leader in a community or tradition. Authority is communal and informal.

Training in psychedelic facilitation. Most psychedelics remain illegal outside research and ketamine clinics.

Title with no standard regulation. Ask who trained them and what tradition they practice.

Energy-based modalities. Very diverse training standards. Not a licensed healthcare credential.

Training in reading the Akashic Records. Not a regulated or clinical credential.

Uses the tropical zodiac and planetary positions. Unregulated; some have formal training, many are self-taught. Not healthcare.

Uses the sidereal zodiac rooted in Indian tradition. Some study formally; no government oversight.

System synthesizing astrology, I Ching, Kabbalah, and chakra. IHDS offers certification levels; otherwise unregulated.

Based on the I Ching and human design. Training programs exist, but no central licensing board.

Unregulated field. Some complete certification courses; others are self-taught. Not healthcare.

No standard credentialing. Ask how they developed their practice and what their code of ethics looks like.

Interprets numbers and birth dates. Unregulated; some have formal training.

Reads hands and lines. Unregulated field with no central oversight.

A modern school of Western astrology emphasizing soul growth. Offered through specific schools, not a license.

Revival of ancient Greco-Roman astrology techniques. Taught in specialty schools; unregulated.

Claims to connect astrology with health. Not a medical license; should never replace licensed care.

Chooses auspicious times for events. Specialty within astrology; no government regulation.