Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Social workers attend graduate school in social work, earning an MSW (master of social work) or LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) degree. Training typically includes two years of coursework and practical experience working at agencies in the community. The primary goal in clinical counseling is to help individuals, couples, and/or families overcome specific behavioral and mental health challenges using the tools of psychotherapy and other counseling methods. Licensing in clinical social work is required by states for social workers who provide clinical counseling services independently and are thus not subject to the direction and/or supervision of an LCSW. In general, social workers can provide clinical counseling services even if they are not licensed, as long as they do so under the supervision of an LCSW. Psychotherapeutic counseling is just one of many tools employed by social workers, who are trained to focus on the social, economic, and environmental factors that affect the mental and physical wellbeing of their clients. In addition, social workers are strong advocates, trained to help individuals, families, and communities obtain social services through welfare agencies, government assistance programs, healthcare providers, and networks and institutions that fall beyond the general purview of mental health counseling.