The best counselor for you is licensed, experienced with what you are facing, and easy to be honest with. In Colorado, look for an LPC, LCSW, LMFT, or licensed psychologist (PhD or PsyD), confirm the license on the state DORA lookup, ask direct questions on the first call, and judge fit in the first sessions.
Key takeaways
- Check the license first. Colorado licenses counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists through the Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) at DORA.
- Candidates (LPCC, SWC, MFTC) are fully trained graduates completing supervised hours toward full licensure. They can be an excellent choice.
- Ask about experience with your concern, their approach, cost, and availability before you book.
- Fit matters. According to NIMH, treatment works best when you have a good relationship with your mental health professional.
What Credentials Should a Therapist Have in Colorado?
Colorado regulates mental health professionals through separate state boards. These are the credentials you will see most often after a therapist's name:
- LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). A master's level counselor who has completed at least 2,000 hours of supervised post degree experience, which Colorado says cannot be completed in less than 24 months.
- LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). A clinical social worker licensed by the State Board of Social Work Examiners.
- LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). A marriage and family therapist licensed by the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners.
- Licensed Psychologist (PhD or PsyD). Colorado requires a doctoral degree from an APA accredited program, or an equivalent program, for licensure as a psychologist.
You will also see candidate credentials: LPCC (Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate), SWC (Clinical Social Work Candidate), MFTC (Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate), and Psychologist Candidate. A candidate has finished graduate training and holds an active Colorado credential, and is completing post degree hours under the supervision of a licensed clinician. In our experience, candidates often bring current training, real energy, and more open schedules.
Two more letters worth knowing. NCC (National Certified Counselor) is a national, exam based certification from the National Board for Certified Counselors. It is a mark of commitment, but it is not a Colorado license, so still look for the state license beside it. And Colorado keeps a separate Unlicensed Psychotherapist registration (formerly called Registered Psychotherapist). That is a registration, not a license, so ask what license a provider holds.
How Do I Check Whether a Therapist Is Licensed in Colorado?
Use the free DORA license lookup from the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations. Look up the therapist, then confirm two things: the license type matches what they told you, and the license is active. It takes a couple of minutes, and a good therapist will be glad you checked.
What Should I Ask a Therapist on the First Phone Call?
A first call is usually 10 to 15 minutes. You do not need to tell your whole story. Share one or two sentences about what is going on, then ask:
- What license do you hold, and are you a candidate under supervision?
- What experience do you have treating someone with my issue?
- How do you usually treat it, and what does the research say about that approach?
- What would our first few sessions look like, and how long do you expect treatment to last?
- How will we know it is working?
- What do you charge, how long is a session, and how does payment work? If a practice does not bill insurance, ask whether it provides out of network documentation you can submit yourself.
- How soon can I be seen, and what times do you offer?
- What are your confidentiality policies and their limits?
- What happens if we are not a good fit?
Several of these come straight from the National Institute of Mental Health, which recommends asking about experience with your issue, how the provider usually treats it, how long treatment may last, and cost. If you think medication may be part of your care, ask how the therapist coordinates with your physician, since prescribing belongs with your doctor.
How Do I Find a Good Therapist for Anxiety as an Adult?
Start with the same license check, then get specific. Ask how many adults with anxiety the therapist works with and what their approach looks like week to week. According to NIMH, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a research supported type of psychotherapy, is commonly used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, and NIMH calls it the "gold standard" choice for psychotherapy. A strong anxiety therapist should be able to explain in plain words how sessions will help you notice anxious thinking patterns and practice new responses. Our anxiety therapy team in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor uses CBT alongside other approaches matched to the person.
How Do I Know a Counselor Is the Right Fit?
Credentials get a therapist on your list. Fit decides whether therapy works for you. NIMH notes that rapport and trust are essential, and that it is important to feel comfortable with your therapist and have confidence in their expertise. After the first session or two, ask yourself:
- Did I feel heard, without being rushed or judged?
- Did they explain their approach in a way I understood?
- Did we agree on what we are working toward?
- Would I be willing to say something hard in the next session?
If the answers are mostly no, that is useful information, not a failure. Switching therapists is normal. At Foundations Counseling, our Counselor Match Guarantee means you can meet with as many of our counselors as you need, with a new free consultation each time, until you find the right one.
Checklist: Choosing a Therapist in Colorado
- Write down, in one or two sentences, what you want help with.
- Shortlist two or three therapists who list experience with that concern.
- Look up each license on the DORA lookup and confirm it is active.
- Book a free consultation or first call with your top choice.
- Ask the first call questions above, including cost and availability.
- Attend one or two sessions and check the fit questions honestly.
- If it is not a fit, say so and ask for a different match.
How Foundations Counseling Helps You Find the Right Counselor
Foundations Counseling has served Northern Colorado since 2007, with in person offices in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor. Our counselors include LPC, LCSW, and supervised candidate (LPCC and SWC) credentials, all of which you can look up on DORA. We are a private pay practice: sessions are about 200 dollars, your first consultation is free, and we can provide out of network documentation if you want to seek reimbursement on your own. See our guide to private pay vs insurance therapy for how that works. Most new clients have their first appointment within about 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credentials should a therapist have in Colorado?
Look for a Colorado license: LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), or Licensed Psychologist, which requires a doctorate such as a PhD or PsyD. Candidates (LPCC, SWC, MFTC) are trained graduates practicing under supervision while they complete hours toward full licensure.
What is the difference between an LPC and an LPCC?
An LPCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate: a counselor with a completed master's degree who is practicing under the supervision of a licensed clinician. An LPC has finished the supervised requirement, which in Colorado is at least 2,000 hours of post degree experience over no less than 24 months.
How do I check if a therapist is licensed in Colorado?
Look up the therapist on the free DORA license lookup run by the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations. Confirm that the license type matches what the therapist told you and that the license is active. It takes a couple of minutes, and a good therapist will welcome the check.
What should I ask a therapist on the first phone call?
Ask what license they hold, what experience they have with your concern, how they usually treat it, how long treatment may take, how you will know it is working, what sessions cost, how soon you can be seen, and what happens if you are not a good fit. Ten to fifteen minutes is usually enough.
How do I find a good therapist for generalized anxiety as an adult?
Verify the license, then ask how many adults with anxiety the therapist treats and what approach they use. NIMH describes cognitive behavioral therapy as a research supported psychotherapy commonly used for generalized anxiety disorder. A good fit can explain in plain words how sessions will help you respond differently to anxious thoughts.
What if I do not click with my therapist?
Say so, and ask for a different match. Switching is normal and does not mean therapy failed. At Foundations Counseling, the Counselor Match Guarantee lets you meet with as many of our counselors as you need, with a new free consultation each time, until you find the right one.
How much does therapy cost at Foundations Counseling?
Foundations Counseling is a private pay practice. Sessions are about 200 dollars, and your first consultation is free. We do not bill insurance, but we can provide out of network documentation you may submit to your plan on your own. Most new clients are seen within about 48 hours.
About this guide: written by Chris Berger, M.A., LPC, NCC, founder of Foundations Counseling. Colorado credential details were checked against the Division of Professions and Occupations and the Code of Colorado Regulations in September 2026. Clinically reviewed by Chris Berger, M.A., LPC, NCC.
Ready to find your counselor? Tell us what you are working on and we will match you with someone who fits. Your first consultation is free. Schedule your free consultation or call 970.227.2770.
If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, do not wait for a consultation. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24 hours a day.
