Frequently Asked Questions

"Counselor" and "Therapist" are general titles to describe professionals who provide assistance to people in many aspects of their lives. In the mental health treatment field, these titles mean that they provide mental health counseling. You could also call it mental health therapy or psychotherapy. These terms may apply to licensed mental health professionals or unlicensed individuals such as life coaches and case managers.

You should always choose a mental health professional who is licensed at the state level. This ensures that your therapist is skilled and that your privacy is protected.

Mental health licenses in North Carolina include:

Licensed Psychologist

Licensed Psychological Associate

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Providers that prescribe psychotropic medication:

Psychiatrist

Physician's Assistants

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

Psychologist vs Psychiatrist: Psychologists diagnose and treat mental disorders with therapy. They may also do psychological testing. Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental disorders with medication and, less often, therapy.

Therapist vs Psychologist: A psychologist can be a type of therapist, but not all therapists are psychologists. Therapist is a more general term and can apply to any mental health counselor or even non-mental health professionals like physical therapists or speech therapists. Therapists may or may not be licensed.

Counselor vs. Therapist: In mental health, these are equivalent and general terms to describe professionals who provide psychological support, guidance, and treatment.

About NC mental health licenses:

Licensed Psychologist: A Licensed Psychologist must have a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology. This involves four years of undergraduate study and then four to six or more years of graduate study. A Ph.D. requires a dissertation, which is an original piece of research in the field of study. Not all people with doctorate degrees in a mental health field are qualified to pursue a North Carolina license as a psychologist. A licensed psychologist must have completed an approved doctoral program with specific coursework and training, an internship and postdoctoral residency, and successful completion of state and national board examinations. The title of Licensed Psychologist in North Carolina is a protected term that describes only individuals with that specific state-issued license. Licensed Psychologists diagnose mental disorders and conduct psychotherapy, psychological evaluations, and psychological testing. The main factors that separate licensed psychologists from other mental health professionals include additional training in psychology, research experience, and heavy training in psychological testing and assessment.

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC): Requires at least a master's degree in mental health counseling or a closely related field, has completed an internship, intensive supervised practice, and has passed a licensing examination. LCMHCs are well-trained in providing psychotherapy from a variety of theoretical perspectives. A therapist in this field who has a master's degree and all required training but are still under supervision and working toward full independent licensure are known as LCMHC-A (associate).

Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA): Similar to an LCMHC, an LPA has at least a master's degree in mental health counseling or another similar field. They also completed an internship, intensive supervised practice, and have passed a board examination. LPAs in North Carolina are supervised periodically throughout their careers by licensed psychologists, but they are well-trained and competent therapists. Some LPAs also provide psychological testing. Our LPAs offer ADHD testing, learning disability testing, psychological evaluations, and other kinds of mental health testing.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): Requires a minimum of a master's degree in social work, internship, a period of supervised practice, and passing a board examination. LCSWs are also adept at psychotherapy. They are well-qualified to provide mental health counseling for children, teens, and adults like other licensed counselors. Individuals in this field who have all their education and training but are still under supervision and working toward independent licensure are known as LCSW-A (associate).

More details about providers that prescribe psychotropic medication:

Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D.) whose specialty is in mental health medicine. Psychiatrists diagnose mental disorders and prescribe psychotropic medication when needed. Although not as heavily trained in counseling techniques, some psychiatrists do offer psychotherapy.

Some primary care physicians prescribe some psychotropic medications, like antidepressants, antianxiety medications, and ADHD medications. There are also physician's assistants that prescribe mental health medication as well as psychiatric nurse practitioners.

No two mental health professionals are alike!

Even among clinicians with the same degree and license, there are many differences in expertise and specialties. Some clinicians specialize as child therapists or child psychologists and do not treat adults at all. Others specialize in psychological evaluation or neuropsychological testing only and do not do counseling, but they likely do not offer all types of evaluations.

Your clinician will tell you if they feel that they do not have the expertise needed for your situation and provide you with referrals to clinicians who may be more helpful.

People look for therapy for many reasons. At Etheridge Psychology in Cary, North Carolina, we work with clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief, relationship problems, work stress, obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and life changes such as divorce. Some people cannot pinpoint exactly what feels wrong—they just know they are unhappy, overwhelmed, or stuck and want to figure out why. You do not need to have a mental illness to benefit from counseling. Therapy can help you feel more grounded, improve relationships, and find clarity in your life.

Your first counseling session is a mix of conversation, assessment, and connection. Some clients are in crisis and need to focus on managing strong emotions right away, while others use the first session to describe what brought them in and talk through their background. We also review practical details like fees, confidentiality, and policies before turning our attention to your goals and immediate concerns.

We usually recommend weekly therapy sessions to start, so you can build momentum and consistency. As progress develops, sessions often taper to every other week and later to monthly check-ins. Some people only need a few sessions; others find that longer-term therapy gives them space for deeper growth. You are always welcome to return for additional sessions if life circumstances change.

Our approach to therapy depends on your age, goals, and needs. Child therapy often involves play and art activities, while teen and adult counseling focuses more on insight, problem-solving, and emotional skills. For young clients, our child therapists work closely with parents to support progress at home.

At Etheridge Psychology, we offer several evidence-based therapy approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed therapy such as EMDR. Our therapists specialize in areas such as anxiety treatment, OCD therapy, grief counseling, and ADHD therapy. When you reach out, we help match you with the counselor best suited to your needs and personality.

Our Cary counseling office is convenient to Raleigh, Apex, and Morrisville, and we also offer online therapy across North Carolina. Whether you are searching for “therapy near me,” “anxiety therapist in Cary,” or “counseling for depression in Raleigh,” our experienced clinicians are here to help you move forward with confidence and support.

The first session of a psychological assessment is focused on gathering background information about you. Your psychologist will ask questions about your childhood and family history, education and work experiences, mental health and medical background, trauma history, and alcohol or drug use. The goal is to understand your full picture and the questions you want answered through testing. Sometimes, a second appointment is needed to finish this information-gathering process. Based on your goals, your psychologist will select the psychological tests and assessment tools that best address your concerns.

Testing may be completed the same day or scheduled across multiple appointments. Some assessments involve filling out questionnaires on your own, while others require the psychologist to administer tests directly. We may also review previous medical or mental health records to provide additional context. Once all testing is complete, your clinician will prepare a comprehensive psychological report summarizing your history, test results, diagnoses (if applicable), and treatment recommendations. The psychologist will review these results with you during a final feedback session, where you can ask questions and discuss next steps.

Psychological evaluations typically require one to four or more appointments, and the process may take anywhere from a week to several weeks depending on the type of testing involved. You are always welcome to request updates at any time throughout the process.

People seek psychological evaluations for many reasons. Some want to better understand symptoms of depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, or other mental health concerns. Others need learning disability testing, such as dyslexia or gifted assessments, or IQ testing for school placement or educational planning. We also provide ADHD testing for children, teens, and adults, neuropsychological testing for memory and cognitive concerns, and early entry to kindergarten testing for young children.

At Etheridge Psychology in Cary, North Carolina, we also perform pre-bariatric surgery evaluations to help determine psychological readiness for surgery and forensic psychological evaluations. Our office is convenient to Raleigh, Apex, and Morrisville, and we offer in-person and online psychological testing for clients throughout North Carolina.

If we meet with you and determine that your situation would be better served by a different specialist, we will do our best to connect you with a psychologist who matches your specific needs.

All of our mental health providers are in-network with most BCBS plans in North Carolina. We cannot guarantee that your insurance will pay for services, because that's controlled by your insurance company. We will try to verify your benefits and give you an estimate of the cost of your evaluation or treatment, but we recommend you also contact your insurance company through the phone number on the back of your card to ask about your benefits and what's covered.

Some of our clinicians are in other insurance networks like Tricare, Aetna, and Medicare, but not all, so please ask. You can also contact your insurance company to get a list of providers in your network.

Finally, even if the clinician you want to see is not in your network, you may have out-of-network insurance coverage. Patients may pay a bit more when they see an out-of-network provider, but some patients have excellent coverage and pay very little.

If you are looking for an in-network therapist, please contact Etheridge Psychology in Cary, NC. We are happy to check your benefits for you.

Yes!

At Etheridge Psychology in Cary, NC, our licensed clinicians, including psychologists, LPAs, LCMHCs, and LCSWs, are qualified to diagnose mental health conditions. Many concerns, such as anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, and OCD, can be diagnosed through a clinical interview without additional testing.

In some cases, your therapist may recommend psychological testing to clarify your diagnosis or better understand how your symptoms affect daily functioning. If testing is needed, your therapist will explain why and help you access a qualified evaluator.

Will a therapist tell me my diagnosis?

Absolutely. You have the right to know your diagnosis if one is made. Some therapists do not always volunteer this information, so you can and should ask directly if you are unsure. At Etheridge Psychology, we value transparency and make sure clients understand their diagnostic results and what those results mean for treatment and recovery.

Can I self-diagnose autism or another mental disorder?

It is easy to find the DSM-5 criteria for mental disorders online, but meeting a list of symptoms does not necessarily mean you have that disorder. Diagnosing mental health conditions is complex and involves much more than checking boxes. Licensed mental health professionals receive extensive training in assessing not only symptoms, but also their severity, context, and possible causes.

A skilled clinician must also consider other explanations for your symptoms such as medical conditions, the effects of trauma, substance use, stress, or cultural factors before confirming a diagnosis.

If you think you might have ADHD, PTSD, OCD, autism, or another mental health condition, it is best to schedule a professional evaluation. The cause of your symptoms may be different from what you expect, and an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward the right kind of help.

Our office in Cary, NC is convenient to Raleigh, Apex, and Morrisville, and we offer both in-person and online mental health evaluations for clients across North Carolina.