LMFT stands for a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Most people are familiar with LPC, a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Similarities of LMFT and LPC:

• Hold a master’s degree in a mental health field.
• Qualified to evaluate, diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders.
• Trained to work with individuals, couples, groups and families.

Differences in LMFT and LPC:

LMFT’s:

• Look at a problem or behavior from a social and relational context. A person’s well-being is impacted by their setting and groups, such as family, work, school and social networks. Most people do not exist in a social vacuum.
• Help the client explore how their thoughts and actions are influenced by others.
• Identify problems from past and present relationships.

LPC’s:

• Operate with a broader lens, treating clients from an individual development standpoint.
• Focus on the client’s social and psychological development, identifying the challenges that prevent personal growth and may cause mental health challenges.
• May specialize in career-based counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling.

If you are interested in pursuing a holistic perspective to your health care and want support with the overall, long-term well being of yourself or your family, then working with a LMFT would be a wise choice.