Which of the following best describes a licensed mental health professional?

A licensed mental health professional is someone who has fulfilled the educational, training, and licensure requirements set by state law, allowing them to provide mental health treatment. This designation ensures that the individual possesses the necessary qualifications to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues safely and effectively. Becoming licensed typically involves completing a relevant degree, acquiring supervised clinical experience, passing a licensing examination, and adhering to continuing education requirements to maintain the license.

In contrast, simply having a degree in psychology does not automatically qualify someone as a mental health professional since licensure depends on additional steps. Certification in psychoanalysis, while valuable, does not encompass the broader range of qualifications needed for licensing in mental health. Offering therapy based solely on personal experience lacks the structure and safeguards inherent in licensing, which can lead to ethical and legal issues, as it does not ensure the therapist has the requisite training and knowledge to support clients effectively. Thus, option C correctly captures what it means to be a licensed mental health professional.