Choosing a therapist means trusting someone with the parts of your life you may not have shared with anyone else. It is reasonable to want to know exactly who that person is before you book: what training they have, who holds them accountable, how they think about faith, and what kind of person they are in the room. This article answers those questions as plainly as we can.
Every Heal.online Therapist Is Licensed
Every therapist at Heal.online holds an active and clear, license from the State of Florida as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or be approved by the State as telehealth only out of state providers. Heal.online does not hire Registered Interns. That matters because licensure is not just a title. In Florida, these professions are regulated under Chapter 491 of the Florida Statutes and overseen by the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, which sets requirements for graduate education, supervised clinical experience, examination, and continuing education, and which investigates complaints against licensees (Florida Department of Health, n.d.).
No one has to take our word for any of this. Florida offers a free online license lookup through the Department of Health, where anyone can confirm that a clinician’s license is active and see whether any public disciplinary action has been taken. We encourage every client to look up their therapist before the first session. A practice that welcomes that kind of verification is one worth trusting. The same is true anywhere a person seeks counseling: a counselor who is reluctant to say what license they hold, or whose license cannot be found, should be treated as a serious warning sign, however warm and sincere the counselor may seem.
Some of our clinicians also hold the Qualified Supervisor designation, shown as “QS” after a license, which means the state has approved them to supervise and train clinicians who are working toward licensure.
Licensed Where the Client Lives
Because Heal.online sessions take place online, where the client is located during a session matters. Therapists are generally required to be licensed in the state where the client is physically located, not just where the therapist lives. Florida’s telehealth law sets the standards for providing telehealth services to patients in Florida, including requirements for out-of-state providers (Florida Statutes § 456.47, 2019). Clients who travel or move should let their therapist know, since it may affect whether sessions can continue during that time.
Clinical Training First, Faith Throughout
Our therapists are trained in established, evidence-based approaches; for example cognitive behavioral therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, EMDR or other trauma-focused treatment, or family systems therapy. Each therapist also brings an active, personal Christian faith and some have specific theological training and training in integrating faith with clinical care. All Heal.online’s therapists agree to its statement of faith found on the website and have agreed to work within that context.
That combination means a Heal.online therapist can treat a panic disorder, help a couple break a destructive conflict cycle, or walk with a trauma survivor through recovery, while also being comfortable praying with a client, discussing Scripture, or sitting with the hardest questions about God. And because faith integration is guided by client consent, the therapist will ask what each client wants rather than assuming. Some clients want faith at the center of every session; others want it present only quietly. Both are honored.
More Than Credentials
Credentials show that a therapist is qualified. They do not show what it will feel like to sit across from them. Henri Nouwen, in his classic reflection on Christian ministry, described the minister as a “wounded healer,” someone whose own acknowledged struggles, rather than being hidden, become a source of compassion and understanding for others (Nouwen, 1972). The best therapists we know carry something of that posture. They do not pretend to have life figured out. They have done their own work, and they meet clients with humility rather than superiority.
Peter’s instruction captures the spirit we hope every Heal.online therapist brings: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV). Clinical skill is one of those gifts; so is patience, warmth, and the willingness to listen well.
Meet the Team
Heal.online is a program of 4KIDS, a ministry with nearly 30 years of experience providing Christian homes for children removed from their families due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Choosing the Right Therapist
When looking through therapist profiles, it helps to start with the main concern and look for someone with specific experience in it, and to notice whose description of their approach resonates. Some people prefer a therapist close to their own age or life stage, or of a particular gender; those preferences are completely valid.
At Heal.online potential clients do not have to worry about choosing the “right” therapist because our proprietary matching process takes the issues of concern and the client’s preferences identified in the Request for Services. Background, experience, training, demographics, even therapy methods can all considered depending on the information provided. As described above, if for some reason there doesn’t seem to be a fit, other therapists are available to be considered as well.
Paul urged believers to look “not to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:4, NIV). That is the posture we ask of our therapists, and it is also why we encourage clients to speak up if a match is not working. A client’s well-being comes before anyone’s schedule or ego.
Common Questions About Our Therapists
Can clients request a specific therapist? At this time, based upon each client’s identified preferences and the needs defined in the Request for Services, Heal.online’s proprietary matching process determines the specific therapist available to serve a specific client.
Do all Heal.online therapists pray with clients? All of our therapists are comfortable praying with clients who want that, and all of them respect clients who do not.
What if a client wants to switch therapists? We simply ask the client to consider sharing any concerns with the therapist upfront, and allow them to make any adjustments that are appropriate if they can. If the client does not care to do that or they do and they still have concers, they just let us know and we are happy to help them find a better fit. Changing therapists is a normal part of finding the right fit, and no one will take it personally.
Are Heal.online therapists supervised or reviewed? Every licensed therapist is accountable to their state licensing board and to professional ethics codes. In general, Licensed therapist are not required to work under supervision of another therapist unless there are concerns or the structure of the workplace requires it. Though it is not required, many participate in peer review and peer support networks. Heal.online provides a peer support network to encourage and support therapists by facilitating connections for longevity and professional collaboration. This type of support often results in a deepening and broadening of the skills for therapists. Additionally, Heal.online does provide a review of quality measures for each therapist to ensure services meet professional excellence.
A Closing Word
Every client deserves to know who they are trusting with their story. At Heal.online, that person is a licensed clinician, accountable to the state and to professional ethics, trained in evidence-based care, and committed to honoring and encouraging a client’s faith journey consistent with the client’s expectation. Looking up a license, reading a profile, and asking questions are all part of a wise decision. When a person is ready, we would be glad to help them take the next step.
Tim Putman, LMHC-QS, MAMFC, MARE
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Sources cited:
Florida Department of Health. (n.d.). Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling.
Florida Statutes § 456.47. (2019). Use of telehealth to provide services.
Nouwen, H. J. M. (1972). The Wounded Healer. Doubleday.
Educational Only. Not Professional Advice. This article is provided by Heal.online for general educational and informational purposes and reflects our Christian perspective. It is not medical, psychological, psychiatric, or counseling advice, does not create a therapist-client relationship, and is not a substitute for individualized care by a licensed professional. Reading this article does not enroll you in our therapy services, which are provided under a separate client agreement. If you or someone you know may need care, please consult a licensed professional. In an emergency, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988. For domestic violence, call 1-800-799-7233. To report suspected abuse in Florida, call 1-800-96-ABUSE. Full disclaimer and legal notices. Information about our therapy services.
