The approaches you will see listed, in plain words

When a therapist lists an approach on their profile they are naming a way they say they work. That name can tell you about typical session focus, structure and methods.

It does not, on its own, prove formal training or a particular outcome. A listing is not a guarantee of expertise in every part of an approach. You can and should ask a therapist what training, supervision or experience they have in any approach they name.

Structured or goal-focused approaches use specific steps or exercises in sessions. Examples you will see include cognitive behavioral work and solution-focused techniques.

Sessions labeled this way often involve setting a target to work on, trying out concrete skills between sessions, and reviewing progress. The work tends to be time-limited and practical in focus, though therapists vary how strictly they follow a structure.

Person-centered work emphasizes your experience in the moment and the quality of the relationship with the therapist. A therapist naming this approach is signaling a focus on listening, acceptance and exploring your priorities without a fixed step-by-step plan.

Mindfulness-based approaches teach ways of paying attention to the present moment. You may see breath work, guided attention exercises or practices meant to change your relationship to thoughts and feelings. Therapists often combine mindfulness with other methods.

Psychodynamic approaches explore patterns in relationships and feelings that may have developed over time. The work often looks at repeated reactions and the meanings you give to events, sometimes tracing those patterns back to earlier experiences.

Trauma-focused work concentrates on experiences that were overwhelming or harmful. Therapists who list trauma-focused approaches may use methods intended to reduce the intensity of traumatic memories or to help you manage strong reactions. Naming a trauma focus does not mean the therapist uses any single method. Ask what specific trauma-informed training they have and how they manage safety in sessions.

Many therapists combine elements from several approaches rather than sticking to one model. A session might include practical skill building, reflective listening and attention practices all in the same meeting.

Profiles often list multiple approaches for that reason. If you want to know how a therapist blends methods, ask for examples of how that looks in a typical first few sessions.

Every record in this directory shows an LCPC licence and an NPI. LCPC means Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a state-issued clinical counseling license. Many states use the name LPC for the same license. Illinois and Maryland call it LCPC, and many therapists in this directory are licensed in one of those two states.

Both the licence and the NPI are printed on each profile and are checkable by you with the relevant state licensing board or national provider index. Profiles also list approaches, but that naming is not itself verification of training. You can use the profile to find therapists and then contact them to ask about training, supervision, session length, formats and fees.

For more descriptions of therapy types see /therapy-types/ and to browse profiles see /therapists/. When you contact a therapist, ask clear questions about how they use any approach they name and what experience they have with concerns like yours.

If you are feeling distressed that matters and is worth attention. If you are in immediate danger call 911.

If you are thinking about harming yourself or are in a mental health crisis call or text 988 for immediate support.