Therapists for anger and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

A Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) is a state-licensed mental health professional who has completed graduate training, supervised clinical hours, and a licensing exam to provide psychotherapy. Browse verified LPCC therapists below to review their specialties, approaches, languages, and professional credentials.

What Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) means

Understanding the credential

A Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, often abbreviated as LPCC, is a title that indicates a clinician has met a state's requirements to practice psychotherapy and clinical counseling. In most states, the LPCC credential is granted after you earn a master’s or higher degree in counseling or a closely related field, complete a defined number of supervised clinical hours, and pass a state-recognized licensing exam. The credential signals that the counselor has met regulatory standards intended to protect the public and that they operate within a defined professional scope.

Because licensure rules vary across states, the specific title and exact pathways can differ. Some states use slightly different license names for functionally similar credentials. When you look at a therapist’s profile, the LPCC designation tells you that the clinician holds a state license to offer clinical counseling services and that they report their professional qualifications to a licensing board.

Education and supervised experience

What the path usually involves

Your prospective LPCC will typically have completed graduate-level coursework in counseling theory, assessment, ethics, and clinical interventions. Beyond the degree, most licensing frameworks require a period of supervised clinical practice, often involving hundreds or thousands of client contact hours under a supervisor who holds an appropriate license. This period of supervised experience is intended to help new counselors develop clinical judgment and therapeutic skills in real-world settings. After completing supervised hours, candidates usually pass a national or state licensing exam before they can use the LPCC title.

Continuing education is commonly required to maintain the license. That means an LPCC is expected to engage in ongoing professional learning as part of keeping the credential active and in good standing with the licensing board.

What an LPCC therapist is qualified to do compared to other license types

Clinical roles and scope

An LPCC is qualified to provide assessment and psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups, depending on their training and experience. Many LPCCs work with mood concerns, anxiety, anger issues, relationship difficulties, and life transitions. In contrast, psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication and may treat conditions through a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacology. Psychologists typically hold doctoral degrees and may offer psychological testing and assessment services in addition to therapy. Licensed clinical social workers often focus on connecting people to community resources and addressing social systems as part of treatment. The exact scope of practice for an LPCC, and what services they are authorized to provide, can vary by state and by the individual clinician’s additional skills and experience.

When choosing a clinician, you may value the combination of a counseling-focused education and extensive supervised clinical hours that an LPCC often brings. If you need medication management, you would consult with a prescriber and may coordinate care between an LPCC and a medical provider.

Common specialties and treatment areas for LPCC therapists

Where LPCCs often focus their work

LPCCs commonly work with a wide range of concerns. Many list areas such as anger management, trauma, anxiety disorders, depression, relationship conflict, grief, workplace stress, and life transitions among their specialties. Some LPCCs focus on particular populations, including adolescents, adults, older adults, couples, or families. Others note that they work with clients experiencing behavioral concerns or adjustment difficulties related to major life events.

Therapists may also describe their preferred approaches on profiles. You will see clinicians who list cognitive-behavioral approaches, psychodynamic approaches, humanistic methods, mindfulness-based strategies, and other modalities among their approaches. You may also find clinicians who list EMDR among their approaches or who note experiential or body-centered methods. Those descriptors indicate what the therapist commonly draws on in practice, not an external endorsement of training or certification.

How to verify a LPCC credential

Checking license status and history

To confirm that a counselor holds an active LPCC license, you can search the relevant state licensing board's online database. Most state boards provide a public lookup where you can enter the practitioner’s name or license number to view current license status, expiration date, and any public disciplinary actions. The board entry often lists the date of initial licensure and may include the issuing jurisdiction. If you find unclear or inconsistent information, the licensing board can usually provide further clarification by phone or email.

Additionally, review the therapist’s listed education and professional biography. A profile that includes a graduate degree in counseling or a related field, supervised practice information, and a license number aligned with a state board lookup helps you corroborate credentials. Keep in mind that license titles and scopes vary by state, so a counselor may hold an LPCC in one state and a similarly named license in another. If you need assistance interpreting what you find, calling the licensing board is a reliable step.

Benefits of choosing an LPCC therapist and tips for finding the right one

Practical considerations when you search

Choosing an LPCC can offer a counseling-oriented approach with training that emphasizes psychotherapy and clinical intervention. When you search for a therapist, consider how closely a clinician’s specialties match the concerns you want to address. If anger is your primary focus, look for LPCCs who describe experience or interest in anger-related work, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation methods on their profiles. If relationships are central, seek clinicians who list couples or family work and who describe an approach that fits how you prefer to engage in therapy.

Language, cultural background, and experience with particular populations may matter to you. Many therapist listings indicate the languages a clinician speaks and the populations they commonly work with. You can also look for descriptions of the therapist’s theoretical approach if you prefer a certain style of therapy. An initial consultation or introductory message can help you get a feel for how a counselor communicates and whether you feel comfortable with their style and goals for therapy. Practical questions about session format, fees, and whether the clinician accepts your insurance or offers a sliding scale are also important to address directly with the clinician. Over time, you will be able to evaluate whether the working relationship and the methods being used are helping you move toward your goals.

Finding the right LPCC often involves balancing credentials, clinical focus, approach, and how you experience the therapist’s interpersonal style. Use licensing verification as a baseline for professional standards, and then weigh specialization, communication, and cultural fit to identify a clinician who is a good match for the work you want to do.