Choosing the Proper Mental Health Professional for You!

Do you know the difference between a counselor and a therapist?
The difference between a psychologist and a marital and family therapist? Most people don’t, which makes choosing a mental health professional a confusing and potentially expensive task.  Here we have outlined some key differences between the mental health professions that can help you choose the best person to help you:

Psychiatrist

A Psychiatrist is a physician (M.D.) who specializes in mental health disorders.  Psychiatrists deal primarily in diagnosis and prescribing psychiatric medications.  Psychiatrists are the only mental health professionals who can prescribe psychiatric medication.   Psychiatrists can also run medical tests to look for physiological causes of mental disorders.  Psychiatrists may also provide psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. (The difference between psychotherapy and psychoanalysis is academic – the most basic explanation is that psychotherapy implies a brief working relationship focused on a specific problem and psychoanalysis is more long term and focused on the pathology of a problem).

Psychologist

Psychologists are clinicians who have a doctorate degree in psychology (PhD or PsyD) and maintain a clinical license to practice psychology.  There is one exception – a school psychologist is a specialty and thus only may require a masters degree.  Typically school psychologists do not practice outside of the educational setting.  Psychologists often administer and interpret psychological tests, such as those used to find learning disabilities.  Psychologists also provide psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.  

Marital and Family Therapist

Marital and Family Therapists (MFT)s hold at least a masters degree (M.S. or M.A.) and maintain a clinical license to practice therapy.  MFTs focus on relationships and family systems rather than individuals.  MFTs provide psychotherapy to couples and families, and individuals who are looking for relationship-related therapy.

Counselor

The term “counselor” can refer to a broad range of professionals with widely varied levels of education.  In general, counselors do just what the name implies – they counsel people.  A lot of counselors specialize in one area such as substance abuse or grief.  Here is a rundown of the types of licenses and education a counselor may hold:

·         Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) – this is the newest field of counseling and requires at least a masters degree (M.S. or M.A.).  A LPCC must hold a clinical license and can offer counseling in any setting.

·         School Counselor – School Counselors are required to have a masters degree (M.S. or M.A.).  School Counselors work in an educational setting and typically counsel students on topics such as college/career planning, behavioral issues, and social problems.

·         Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors – These counselors are not required to have any formal education aside from the Drug and Alcohol education required for certification.  The highest level of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors are the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LAADC), followed by the Certified Alchohol and Drug Counselor (CADC II and CADC I), the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Associate (CADCA), the Registered Recovery Worker (RRW), and the Registered Student (RS).  Each level requires a certain amount of field experience, education, and an exam before you can move to the next level.

Social Worker

Social Workers are typically licensed professionals such as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who hold at least a Masters Degree (M.S. or M.A.).  Social workers typically assist people who are in the social system (ie…prison, persons seeking social services).  Social Workers help navigate the complexities of the social system as well as offering counseling and case management.

It is important to note that within each mental health field, you will come across varying degrees of licensure as persons work toward the final licensure.  This means you may run into an intern, a trainee, or an associate of some kind.  This typically means that this person is a student or is working to complete the licensing requirements.  Don’t be afraid to work with such an individual as many of them have substantial hours of experience under their belts and may be cheaper than a licensed counterpart.  You can check the licensing board to determine how much experience the person has and if they are qualified enough to satisfy you.