Why I didn’t choose MFT or Social Work | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student 

Thank you so much for watching. Essentially they tell you all fields are similar but each program focuses on something else. I have found more info about social workers and how they can focus on micro or macro problems. They can also run certain types of programs that the other licensure can’t. For MFT they learn a lot about family systems, I took a family therapy class and it’s really interesting how to counsel a family unit vs couples groups or individuals. To conclude I’m happy I chose LMHC because it’s getting me where I want to go, and it aligns with my future goals. Keep me updated on how your journey is going.

Thanks for your feedback I’ve talked to a lot of MFT students and licensed professionals and they say the same thing. It’s a different focus for sure.

Yeah it is California is definitely different from what I’m hearing. All states are different. If you want to move and get a license in a different state you may have to do more hours. They are trying to work this out with the compact agreement within states

Thank you 🙏🏻

Congrats on getting accepted! That is truly awesome. I wish you the best in your journey. Keep me posted on your progress and let me know if you have any questions 😀

I’m glad it was helpful. We have some people in our program that we’re school counselors and now they want to be licensed. You can be a school counselor with the license but not the other way around.

That is a WONDERFUL idea. school counseling have great opportunities. I'm a MFT for about 4 years and I will complete the School psychologist next year for lot of reasons.

I agree but I think it depends what city your in and what you do. Especially if you work in private practice you can charge what you want

thank you!!!!! I am in FL.. I appreciate this.

I am assuming the 1500 hours is unpaid :(

@@nancydimaregordillo471 You can ask private practices to see if they have paid internships! Definitely check the requirements with your program and then email private practices in your area. Sometimes you get paid really well and it can help cover the cost of your master’s program ❤

@@JN_222_ thanks!!!! Will do :)

Thank you so much for the feedback. Congrats on graduating. How is your journey going ? Are you working for an agency or have your own private practice ?

@@kdcounseling it’s been an interesting journey to say the least. I’m currently a medical social worker servicing the geriatric community at an adult day healthcare center-I ultimately want to work with the LGBTQIA+ community as a mental health therapist. The private practice sector will probably be extra income. Yourself?

None of the MSW programs I looked at were flexible. Here in Massachusetts, the agencies are super picky even though you are working for free for 1000hrs. It is very frustrating. The fact the internships are spread out makes it very hard to do it if you have to work. While in mental health counseling you can do the internship at the end.

@@lolac1ark for MSW you can do an intense summer track

I did not feel like most of the CAL state programs were flexible at all. You can’t pick your internship, your internship can’t be your job, blah blah, have to be on campus or in class at a certain time instead of asynchronist.

Thanks for watching. I try to provide some insight into the different choices that I was not able to find while I was searching for the differences in each program. Watch the other one that talks about why I chose LMHC there is some good stuff in there too I remember I compare some things in that one as well. 😊

That’s good to know thanks. I didn’t understand the second half of the comment.

Hello, CACREP depends on what state you live in. I would definitely make sure your program is accredited by which ever body does that in your state. If the program does not meet certain standards you will have to prove you learned certain things to the licensure Board

In Florida, it will be necessary starting 2025

I’m glad it helped. I’m going to make a updated one in the next few weeks stay tuned. 😊

Hello! There are definitely differences in between states. The hours required to get licensed and the licensure you want to attain. I hear what your saying, yes in LMCH OR LPC or any other licensure which you can get you learn to work with families and couples. It is not the primary focus of the program though (in my program). I don’t think I was separating mental health and working with families and couples. That is just not the people I work with, and not the theoretical orientation I focus on. Again these videos are my experience and how I made the choice for myself. I like the example you used about social work and case management, In our program we go over every aspect of counseling just like you mentioned that is the cool part about grad school. Even though in my personal experience I got to explore working with different types of clients I still gravitate towards individual/ group therapy for adults. How is your journey going? Who do you work with most?

One question for you, so we can all have a better understanding. What does your LMFT program focus on that your LPCC doesn’t? Is it systems theory? To work with couples and families? From my understanding LPCC/LMHC/LPC work with clients that come with issues that stem from familial issues but don’t work with the family. Correct me if I’m wrong 😊

@@kdcounseling Actually, there was not LPCC focus, so to speak. I had to take two additional classes, psychopharmacology and Sexuality Counseling and Consultation (I think that was the 2nd course). Most MFT grad students at my alma mater, SFSU took the additional LPCC courses because we were told that it had better portability if we practiced outside of California. I work almost exclusively with adults with substance use disorders and dual mental health diagnoses. To a lesser degree, I work with the significant others, children, and other family members to help them better understand my client or to help resolve intra-family issues. Now, both MFT and PCC registrations allow me to do this, however, my particular agency allows me to exercise more control over using multiple methodologies to address client issues.

@@kdcounseling At my agency, there are MFT's, LPCC's, and LCSW's and we basically serve the same type of clients and perform the same responsibilities. However, I notice that myself, my fellow mft's , and lpcc's focus more on mental health than the lcsw's. I consider substance abuse disorders a mental health issue. Thank you for responding and I really understand what you're saying. It's interesting that you remind me that I personally differentiate between the program's focus and my focus and theoretical orientation. My ultimate goal is private practice and I feel that I can accomplish my goals within the framework of my competencies that will ultimately go beyond my grad school coursework. So glad I found your channel.

What is EAP?

​@@kdcounseling Employee Assistance Program, which you referenced in the video here. Typically implemented with huge conflicts of interests, though technically legal and technically ethical, at least on paper. I worked for a fortune-50 whose doctors would contrive an excuse to declare employees who complained about unsafe working conditions as 'medically unfit,' forcing them onto disability, and would compel these employees to participate in the EAP program as a condition of continued employment on disability status, and would compel employees to comply with any EAP treatment recommendations as a condition of receiving disability pay, thus coercing employees to take medication prescribed by the independent shrinks who worked with the EAP program... the employer's HMO would help with funneling employees towards nominally independent but actually corrupt psychiatrists who established a pattern of collaboration with the EAP... meanwhile the 3rd party EAP counselors were de-facto agents of the employer, maintaining an on-site office immediately opposite the on-site doctors who were literally employed by the employer... I got caught in this system, but I beat it by shopping for a different shrink in my HMO until I finally got a shrink who refused to work with the EAP, he said it would be unprofessional for him to make recommendations to any third party, said I would need a forensic psychiatrist for that. This created a stalemate with my employer's doctor who had to finally back down and let me return to work, lest I remain on disability indefinitely. I was savvy enough to recognize what was going on and leverage my right to choose a different shrink via my HMO insurance, but I could see most employees would not be so savvy and would be manipulated and coerced by this system. My workplace UAW union would do nothing for employees caught in this system because a doctor's orders always trumps any arguments by a union rep. EAP programs are specific legal constructs that savvy employers use as part of a larger legal strategy in controlling workers and reducing influence of unions. Of course some employees do need counseling treatment, but a properly implemented EAP program will be designed to lower the barriers to medicalize behaviors of employees, and facilitate the creation of a paper trail that can ultimately be to the employer's benefit in legal disputes with the employee. I imagine that a social worker education would best prepare one to understand and navigate the EAP system, but to the extent that one does understand the EAP system and operate per ethical standards, one will be shut out from and incompatible with many EAP practices. The employer will call the EAP agency and complain about non-cooperative or under-performing EAP counselors until that particular counselor is assigned to a different client employer.

Message me on Instagram I’ll tell you all about it !!

I thought they were the same. Because a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will give you access to a LPC license. Each state does is differently. In Florida I have a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health counseling and my full license will be Licensed Mental Health Counselor not Licensed Professional Counselor. Also each state has a different test for their licensure as well.

What are the websites ? I’ll look at it

@@kdcounseling Thanks for responding, I spoke with a school counselor and they answered it for me. I think I was just confused by the wording but one program was a hybrid MFT/LPC program and the other focuses on helping you achieve a LPC license specifically in my state. I hate all these acronyms lol

@@jacobadkins6441 what I know about MFT is they learn systems theory which is cool. I would do both if possible

I would say yes. I had a person in my program that graduated before me go straight into that role. It depends on what the school is looking for and willing to pay 💰

Hello Said Ali, I would have to see what type of program it is. If you want to DM me on Instagram and I can look up the program

I am uploading a new video today I explained this in the beginning if you want to watch it later.

I’m glad you found value in my insight 😊

I don’t share that online. You can DM me on instagram I’ll be more than happy to chat with you about this. Are you looking for programs online or in person ?

1500 hours and it can’t take less than 2 years

@kdcounseling Thank you for the quick reply. I did have one more question. After seeing some of your videos, I understand that you are interested in having a private practice (I am as well). Concerning Florida, you would have to complete your 1500 hours and become licensed before starting a private practice, correct?

@@ruiz0369 Yes 1500 hours is what you have to have plus passing the test than you will be “fully licensed” right now I have a license it’s good for 5 years

@kdcounseling OK, thanks. So, can you begin a private practice, pre-1500 hours? I know you would have to already have clients and such, but just trying to know the rules before I move our family to Florida. Your current 5-year license is as a "registered counselor, and not a "licensed" one? Sorry to bug, but thankful for your responses.

No I’m in southwest fl

Hi! I don’t disclose the school I went to for privacy reasons. I don’t fully understand your question. Yes you can do marriage and family therapy and work on substance abuse with the degree I have. In the program you have classes on both.

Perfect!! Thanks and I respect that! :)

@@nancydimaregordillo471yes she can do family marriage and substance abuse but the FOCUS is different MFT Is focused on relational aspects clinical mental health focused on the clinical aspect of mental health and disorders like she mentioned the focus is diffferent

Thanks!@@briannaramirez7873

Same thing. Different states will require more or less hours :)

@@kdcounseling oh, so would I only need one of those two?

@@luiscarlos-mn5rk If I moved to your state I would be applying for that license. Each state has their own exam and license type - name

@@kdcounseling ok, thank you. Now i have a clear idea of what I need to do.

No. But you can do school counseling with a LPC/LMHC.

Hello, thank you for the feedback. Let’s not forget I am talking about my thought process and experience in making this decision. Just like you can become a mental health counselor, we can do the same with MFT. You learn about systems and other specialties that have to do with families. I totally agree with you on that. Thank you so much for your thorough explanation. I hope it helps people who are looking for information. Have a good day 😊

Do you feel like with LPC, you will have the same luxury to deal with marriage and family sessions as well?

@@tru1dheep Same luxury? Yes you can work with individuals or families.

I think it does. I think what I said is for me it made more sense to do LMHC

In the video ?

I think it’s the air conditioner in my car

@@kdcounseling ah yes, the air vent. That's it. Other than that it's surprisingly good audio quality for just being, I presume, a smart phone. I replied to your question re: EAP. Might take a day or two for my reply to show up. RU-vid sometimes rate-limits and/or soft-blocks comments.