There are hundreds of thousands of mental health providers currently licensed in the United States. From counselors to social workers, and from psychologists to psychiatrists, there are many different types of providers who specialize in addressing mental health concerns. You’ve probably heard a lot of acronyms and terminology, but may not know the differences between them all. When it comes to psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), psychiatrists, and more, there are a few similarities and differences to keep in mind to help you better understand what types of mental health providers are available to help you meet your treatment goals.
Types of Mental Health Professionals
There are dozens of unique specializations, credentials, and titles that you may come across when researching different mental health providers. The word therapist is a general term for a mental health provider. This is a very broad category. Providers can focus their education in a variety of disciplines and can have different levels of training and experience. In most cases these clinicians are either licensed or currently in training to obtain licensure.
A pediatrician or primary care provider is often the first person you will consult with regarding mental health treatment. These providers can offer basic medication management, but rarely therapy. For more complex challenges, they will refer you to a mental health professional for specialized care and ongoing support:
- Master’s Level Clinicians. These therapists have completed standardized educational and training programs, typically two or three years in length. Someone who graduates from a master’s program can become a licensed mental health professional, but they do not have the title of doctor. Common titles include licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed marriage & family therapist (LMFT), or board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), among many others. Therapists may also pursue specialized educational tracks, such as art therapy (ATR), music therapy (MT-BC), or dance/movement therapy (DMT) to incorporate other disciplines into their treatment approach.
- Doctoral Level Clinicians. These therapists have completed more intensive graduate studies, often lasting four to six years. Doctoral level
clinicians typically earn their master’s degree and then continue with additional coursework, supervised clinical work, and complete a dissertation. Common doctoral degrees include clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, and neuropsychology. Their credentials can include PsyD or PhD. Upon completion of their doctorate, they may also complete a one or two year post-doctoral fellowship to further specialize in specific areas such as working with children or anxiety. After obtaining their license, these clinicians are referred to as psychologists and have the title of doctor.
clinicians typically earn their master’s degree and then continue with additional coursework, supervised clinical work, and complete a dissertation. Common doctoral degrees include clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, and - Medical Doctors. Psychiatrists, neurologists, and developmental pediatricians are all medical doctors. When it comes to mental health support, their expertise is in prescribing and managing medications. Some medical doctors provide therapy, but they typically do not have the same level of training in it as a psychologist.
- Alternative Providers. Some types of providers, like life coaches and wellness influencers, are not required to have professional training or formal credentialing. These types of providers may be considered therapists by some standards, but legally speaking, they are not mental health professionals in the way that a psychologist, social worker, or other clinician is. These types of disciplines are not as carefully regulated and do not have rigid education or training requirements. This lack of structure and oversight means that the quality of their training is more variable.
To ensure that you are receiving high-quality care, it is recommended to seek out a licensed professional who practices evidence-based treatments. The term evidence-based treatment (EBT) refers to a therapy that has been scientifically tested and has been shown to work through research studies. When a therapy hasn’t been scientifically tested, there aren’t clear guidelines to help ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. This can result in a more frustrating and less productive experience. Choosing an evidence-based approach can make a big difference in both the quality of the care you receive and the results you see.
Understanding Education and Training Requirements for Psychologists
In order to practice therapy professionally in the United States, a therapist must complete standardized education and training requirements. These requirements can vary between states. Upon completion of these requirements, the therapist must then be approved to receive the license they are seeking. Different titles, like LPC and psychologist, are approved by that title’s specific board of examiners for their state.
Each type of therapist pursues a different educational track and their unique degree program will have lessons and training tailored to the specific approach they plan to take as a therapist. The type of program and at which university your therapist completed their education may be factors you consider when searching for a provider who will be the right fit for your needs.
In order to obtain a license and practice independently as a psychologist, a clinician must complete a number of requirements. These include:
- Bachelor’s Degree. This is an undergraduate degree which will cover required courses and specialized courses related to their field of study. This may be in counseling, psychology, or a different specialized therapy.
- Doctoral Program. This is a graduate program that takes longer to complete than a master’s program and involves specialized training in the field of psychology. This degree must be pursued through an APA-accredited program. It will include intensive coursework and hands-on training through a practicum and internship placements.
- Postdoctoral Fellowship. After receiving a PsyD or PhD degree, a postdoctoral fellow will provide clinical care to clients while receiving supervision from a licensed psychologist.
- Final Exams. In addition to completing required training hours, an individual must pass two exams, the EPPP and jurisprudence exam. Upon successful completion of these exams, an individual can submit an application to their state’s board of psychological examiners to obtain their license to practice psychology.
A psychologist will typically spend about 8 to 11 years or more in higher education and training in pursuit of licensure. In New Jersey, the Board of Psychological Examiners stipulates a requirement of at least 3,500 hours of professional experience, half of which are completed at the postdoctoral level. This, among other standardized requirements, have been developed to ensure that all psychologists have completed extensive client contact, supervision, and other work-related activities to ensure they are prepared to practice independently as a licensed psychologist.
Finding the Right Fit
When it comes to choosing a provider who feels like the right fit for your needs, consider what you are seeking treatment for. Do you need support to address common mental health challenges, like anxiety or depression? There are many providers with different levels of training who provide treatment for these types of concerns. Do you need a targeted intervention for another specific issue, like OCD, BFRBs, or Tourette syndrome? Then it may be best to seek a specialist in that field with more extensive training. Or, if you are in need of specialized assessment, like an evaluation for disability or forensics, those types of services can only be provided by a licensed psychologist with that particular training.
It’s also important to consider what kind of treatment approach you are looking for. An insight-oriented therapist can help you learn more about your past experiences and how they have impacted your development. A goal-oriented treatment approach, like CBT or DBT, can teach you different skills and strategies to help you take actionable steps toward reaching a specific goal. Depending on the challenges you are looking to address, a combined approach may be beneficial. There are many different factors to weigh when researching which clinician will be the right fit to support you in therapy.
Creating a Care Team
Finding a therapist to support you in your mental health journey is an important first step and will help lay the foundation for your treatment. To ensure you are receiving comprehensive care tailored to your specific needs, sometimes a team effort is needed. Your therapist is there to partner with you and others on your care team. They can consult with other mental health providers, like a psychiatrist, to develop a treatment approach that combines medication with therapy skills.
Your therapist may also speak with your primary care provider and other specialists who you may work with to determine if there are other underlying concerns contributing to the challenges you are looking to address. A collaborative approach between providers on your care team can more effectively address a range of emotional, behavioral, and somatic symptoms by creating a customized treatment plan that is specific to you and your goals.
If you are ready to take the next step toward reaching your treatment goals, you can contact us to learn more about the services offered by our team of psychologists and find a therapist who could be the right fit.
