What’s the difference between a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed clinical professional counselor. There are a variety of similarities:
- both professions require a master’s degree at minimum
- state certification is required
- both tracks can lead to private practice
However, there are some differences between the two professions, which will be addressed below, along with a brief introduction into both of these specialties.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) is a professional who works in the social work profession to provide their clients with mental health therapy. They are highly skilled individuals. They work tirelessly to ensure that their clients are given the best therapy possible to move forward in their lives. Most of these professionals work in the foster care system with:
- children
- adolescents
- families
they may also work in schools or in juvenile workplaces to provide a balanced perspective on an individual’s well-being.
Licensed Professional Counselor
A licensed clinical professional counselor (LPC) is a professional who works in the psychology field. They provide their clients with a variety of mental health therapy practices that are designed to improve their lives. They are well-educated professionals who must undergo a lengthy process to become licensed in their state. They can work in both private practice or as part of a workplace setting, such as a hospital or in the correctional system. They are tasked with providing individuals and groups with personal attention. At times there is legally required therapy to help them overcome problems and lead productive lives.
Practice
The main difference between a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed clinical professional counselor is their practice. It is possible that an LPC may provide their clients with reports and suggestions in terms of a legal case or as part of addiction and recovery situations.
They are less likely to be directly involved with issues that pertain to legally mandated changes in personal lives.
An LCSW works in the social work field. The LCSW is often empowered by the court to either provide children and adolescents with court-mandated therapy or to make the decision to remove a child from the care of their parents. This is the biggest difference between the two professions and one that must be considered by any student who is looking to become a part of either field.
Applications
Another major difference between LCSWs and LPCs is the application of their profession. Simply put, a licensed clinical social worker has fewer mental health therapies at their disposal than a licensed clinical professional counselor. This is due to the difference in fields. Social workers tend to work mostly with children. Counselors work with a variety of individuals. Because the latter works primarily in psychology, they are trained in more forms of therapy than a social worker.
The social worker’s primary goal is to protect and mandate changes in children’s lives.
Related Resource: 10 Best Deals on Online Master’s in School Counseling Degree Programs
There are many similarities between the LCSW and the LPC, including salaries. Forbes notes that both professions can bring in six-figure salaries once a professional has at least 15 years of experience. But for all of the similarities, they are distinctly different career courses. Students will need to choose one track over the other as early in their education as possible. That way they can begin training in their chosen field.