In my training as an LMHC we are encouraged to use the term client. The Counselling profession takes a "wellness" approach rather than using the medical model. Since the term patient implies the presence of an illness, we are taught that client is preferable. I prefer this myself since LMHCs (or LPCs) and social workers, unless they work in an inpatient or hospital setting, are not medical professionals. I'm not a fan of calling anyone without an MD "doctor" in a medical context. So PhDs referring to themselves as a doctor and calling clients patients kinda rubs me the wrong way. That's just my own stuff though and probably not how a lot of others think.