Plain-language definitions
Therapy & licensure glossary
The words that actually matter when you're choosing a therapist — licensure, cross-state telehealth, what verification means, and how care is paid for — defined plainly and sourced.
Telehealth & compacts
- PSYPACT — PSYPACT (the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact) is an agreement among participating U.S. states that lets a qualified psychologist provide telehealth across state lines without holding a separate license in each state.
- APIT (Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology) — An APIT is the specific authorization, granted by the PSYPACT Commission, that allows a psychologist to legally provide telehealth to clients located in other PSYPACT states.
- Counseling Compact — The Counseling Compact is an interstate agreement that lets a licensed professional counselor (LPC) practice across state lines by obtaining a privilege to practice in other participating states.
Trust & accuracy
- Ghost network — A ghost network is a provider directory full of listings that look available but aren't — therapists who are not accepting new clients, no longer at the listed practice, or not actually reachable.
- Ghost listing — A ghost listing is a single directory entry for a therapist who can't actually be booked — the individual-listing version of a ghost network.
- Primary-source license verification — Primary-source license verification means confirming a clinician's license directly with the issuing authority — the state licensing board and federal registries — rather than trusting a self-reported claim.
- Last-verified date — The last-verified date is the timestamp showing when a profile's license and availability were most recently confirmed against their sources.
- NPI / NPPES — An NPI (National Provider Identifier) is a unique federal ID for a U.S. healthcare provider, listed in the public NPPES registry; matching it confirms a clinician is who they claim to be.
License classes
- Psychologist — A psychologist is a doctoral-level clinician (PhD or PsyD) licensed to provide psychological assessment, testing, and therapy.
- LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) — An LPC is a master's-level licensed counselor who provides talk therapy for a wide range of concerns.
- LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) — An LCSW is a master's-level clinical social worker licensed to provide therapy, with added training in how systems and environment affect mental health.
- LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) — An LMFT is a master's-level therapist licensed with specialized training in relationships and family systems.
- PMHNP (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) — A PMHNP is an advanced-practice registered nurse who can assess, diagnose, and — in most states — prescribe psychiatric medication.
- Pre-licensed associate — A pre-licensed associate is a clinician who has finished their graduate training and is practicing under the supervision of a fully licensed clinician while accruing hours toward independent licensure.
Cost & insurance
- Sliding scale — A sliding scale is a fee structure where a therapist adjusts their session rate based on a client's income or ability to pay.
- In-network vs out-of-network — An in-network therapist has a contract with your insurance plan to accept its negotiated rate; an out-of-network therapist does not, so you typically pay more or seek partial reimbursement.