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Lukin Center for Psychotherapy

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Understanding Psychological Degrees (Ph.D. to LPC and More)

Congratulations! You decided you would benefit from therapy. In and of itself, this is no easy feat, which requires a great deal of self-reflection and curiosity into your own mind.

You google “therapists near you” and a bunch of letters and degrees come up: MD, Ph.D., PsyD, LPC, LCSW…the list goes on. Truly, it is ridiculous that a person outside of the field of psychology is expected to know what each of these degrees and modalities mean without several hours of research. So here are some short cuts to help you.

Ph.D.: This is a doctorate degree. Most therapists will have this degree in clinical or counseling psychology if they are a practicing clinician. What this means is that they went to school for approximately 5-7 years, studied both research and clinical practice, wrote a dissertation, and participated in a number of clinical rotations to prepare them for graduation and licensing. This person should not only have knowledge of the current field of practicing clinical psychology, but also the current research in the field and how to interpret and implement that work, for example through a variety of evidence-based practices.  

MD: This is also a doctorate degree, but also a physician. This person went to medical school. Most MDs in the mental health field are psychiatrists, and are allowed to prescribe psychotropic medication which may or may not be helpful in supplementing therapy. There are some psychiatrists who also do therapy, but this is not necessarily the norm. Most psychiatrists hold shorter appointments than that of a psychologist, and may meet with you less frequently.

Read the Full Article on Psychology Today

Author

  • Dr. Konstantin Lukin, Ph.D.

    Dr. Konstantin Lukin is a psychologist, author, speaker, and researcher specializing in men’s issues, couple’s counseling, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He is the Director and Co-Founder of the Lukin Center, northern New Jersey’s premiere evidence-based psychotherapy practice. The Lukin Center emphasizes evidence-based treatments such as emotion-focused therapy for couples, and cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies for children, adolescents, and adults. Since its inception, the Lukin Center has grown to include testing and assessment as well as medication management services.

    As a therapist, Dr. Lukin focuses on providing support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. He integrates complementary modalities and techniques – including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), schema-focused therapy, and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) – to offer a personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, he works with his clients to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth to which they are committed.

    Dr. Lukin has extensive experience in private practice, conducting outpatient therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. He also has extensive clinical and research experience with people of all ages and their families, including those diagnosed as severely and persistently mentally ill, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He has co-led groups for children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with OCD in an outpatient setting. He is trained and experienced in administering a variety of psychological test batteries including neuropsychological, cognitive, and personality assessments, and he has conducted diagnostic and intake interviews and prepared evaluation reports.

    Dr. Lukin is a graduate of the Honors College at SUNY at Stony Brook, and earned his doctorate from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

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