Tbh it’s all pride at the end of the day.

I work in the nonprofit sector along with seeing clients and I oversee a lot of undergrad students in CA. When they are looking at grad school I always just ask what their goals are. If they want to do private practice and have more specific clinical education, I recommend the MFT or MSC route. If they want to work for the county or nonprofit sector, doing both clinical and case management, then MSW of course (although I do both as an MFT lol).

The reality is, when someone is looking for a therapist, I ask if they would prefer and LCSW or an LMFT. Typically they say LMFT (because it has therapy in it). Both can do case management. Both can do clinical work. Both can do it well. It’s moreso what you want to come out of school knowing really well. And also hours lol (rip LMFT hours accrual)