Personal or family counseling

We are here to help guide you!

If you are seeking personal or family counseling, there are many types of psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors. We want to help you understand your options in choosing the type of counselor most suited to your needs. Below, you can find the various specialties, the types of academic degrees, and the various approaches to therapy that are available.

Types of Counselors

Here are the types of psychiatrist, psychologist, and counselors you can choose from and their various specialties.

Psychiatrist:

  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Board Certified Psychiatrist.

Clinical Psychologist:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in clinical psychology (6-year doctoral degree).
  • Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) (5-year doctoral degree).

Clinical Social Worker:

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W.) (Master’s degree).

Family Counselor (couples, children, family):

  • Marriage and Family Therapist (M.F.T.) (Master’s degree).
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (L.M.F.T.) (Master’s degree).

Clinical Counselor:

  • Professional Clinical Counselor (P.C.C.) (Master’s degree).
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (L.P.C.C.) (Master’s degree).

Pastoral Counselor:

  • Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.). For counseling, they also should have completed additional studies in clinical psychology, and marriage/family counseling.
  • Master of Divinity (M.Div.). For counseling, they also should have completed additional studies in clinical psychology, and marriage/family counseling.
Many different approaches to counseling

Types of Therapy

There are many approaches to counseling and many forms of therapy that psychologists and therapists may draw upon. The most common therapy tools are listed below, but there are many others also:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): learning thought management.
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): learning emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal skills.
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): learning acceptance of distress in the moment paired with a commitment to value-directed living.
  • Social Rhythm Therapy (SRT): stabilization of sleep, wake, meal times.
  • Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): learning communication and relational skills.
  • Insight Therapy: A type of psychotherapy involving learning to understand how beliefs and past actions affect our present behavior and relationships. Therapy aids the person toward insight into cause and effect of past thoughts and choices on their present emotions. Group discussion can be another form of Insight Therapy, such as among members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

All of the above forms of therapy can be of great value to most every person, and are all truly excellent forms of help. Counseling that also includes goal setting and homework will provide the greatest benefit. There are a multitude of counseling centers, group education centers, recovery treatment centers, detox treatment centers, and both inpatient and outpatient hospital recovery and counseling programs available.

High Path International Referral Services

If you are a licensed counselor serving in the San Diego, California, area, and would like to receive referrals for clients seeking a Christian counselor, please contact us at info@highpath.co. All counselors must maintain an active California license to be included in the referral system.