Why Therapist Credentials Matter

When you see a therapist’s credentials online or on the office wall, what is that supposed to mean to you?

Ideally, it should mean that you are working with a professional who has proven that he or she didn’t just happen into this field. It should mean that they are working based on experience and knowledge.

Recently, I earned my certification for advanced drug and alcohol counseling. It’s known as the  ICAADC, a credential recognized around the world. In fact, only 5,000 professionals globally have earned this distinction.

I have also been licensed in two of the states where I work most often, my home state of Michigan and also New York.

Not every psychologist chooses to attempt credentials at this level, but I feel like to best work with my clients, I need to stay current. It’s also important to maintain standards that can be consistent with colleagues I respect. I want to understand the latest research.

More than anything, I believe I have an ethical responsibility to my clients to ensure compliance with all licensing and certification requirements.

With this credential and my licensure as a psychologist, I am now certified to diagnose and see both co-occurring complex psychological disorders and addiction. This fully empowers me to help patients across the substance abuse spectrum with addiction and/or psychological disorders. 

The credential should not be just a set of letters. It should be a promise that the level work put into passing exams should be the same as working with clients. That is what you should expect from a credentialed therapist.