Of the therapists that I have been to, I think one was an LCSW (the very first one, and he didn't get anywhere - told me that my problem was homesickness and that getting married would cure it). Most of the rest were psychologists (besides one who was a student in a psychology program, and she was clueless but I think mostly very inexperienced - I was probably her very first real client). I've had struggles with pretty much all of my therapists. It was the last two (both clinical psychologists) who started to understand what my real problems were. The first of them because he started with formal testing and found stuff that nobody else did before, and the last (current), I think because she is very perceptive and won't let me get away with anything. All have made mistakes in one way or another, I think.

I have worked with LCSWs professionally who I think are pretty good, and if I were to change therapists in the near future, the one I would go to is an LCSW/DSW (doctorate in social work) that I took a class from and I was impressed with her. You do also have to consider what they have experience and training in. Both my current T and the DSW I would consider have a lot of experience with trauma work. The DSW has more focus on childhood and how childhood events affect development on all levels (or at least that's what the workshop that I took from her was about, and she knew her stuff).

There are some significant differences in training. Social workers are trained to focus on the environment and on the individual within society and social problems. Their approach is to fix what is wrong in the environment, or at least how you cope with the environment. Psychologists are trained rather specifically to look for and treat psychopathology. Some focus there, while others do branch out and look at things from other perspectives too. And the same can be said of anyone - individual differences are often more significant than the differences between groups.

Another related profession to consider is counselors, who often are master's level, but also can have a Phd in counseling. That's what I'm getting my master's degree in. Counselors are trained in the wellness model, so the orientation is to promote growth and development, recognizing the potential in the individual. Counselors often are licensed as LPC (licensed professional counselor), but there are other variations in licensure too, or in terminology.

Psychologists have a minimum of four years of graduate training plus one year internship before they can be licensed. Master's level counselors and social workers have about two years of graduate school, a year of internship, and two more years after that of supervised work experience before they can be licensed. Master's level therapists who are not licensed but working under supervision are probably in that category, still working toward licensure. IMO, it works out to about the same amount of training before licensure, just that psychologists get more classroom training (with practicum as they go along), while the others have a longer period of experiential training (and our classroom work includes experiential stuff and practicum also).

You might also ask about theoretical orientation. Therapists from any background can be using any of the various theories and approaches that are out there. Since in an earlier thread you said you wanted unconditional acceptance, and that just knowing that your T accepts you as you are and believes what you say would enable you to change on your own, you might want to look for a T who uses Humanistic or Client-Centered counseling. Another term for the same thing is Rogerian, since that theory was originated by Carl Rogers. If you google any of those terms you will find lots of information. It's hard to find therapists who are purely Humanistic these days, as most are ecclectic, but you can specify that you would like a therapist who is as Rogerian as possible.

Good luck!
Rap