Who's who and who do I need?
Psychiatrist? Psychologist? Therapist? Counselor?
What’s the difference? Who is right for me?
I get this question a lot. Fancy words that all sound similar... we’re good at that in the psychology world. We sort of make them up, actually. (“Biopsychosocial”... come on...)
Anyway, here’s a quick breakdown of each role and what they can do, so you know who to see when the time comes.
Psychiatrist:
This professional is actually a Medical Doctor (M.D) and is able to prescribe medication. As with many doctor’s appointments, it often involves a conversation of medical history and mental health symptoms, and the taking of vitals. If the situation is wrapped up in physical conditions, they may order physical tests as well, like MRI, EEG, and/or blood tests. Next they (almost always) write you a prescription to ease the symptoms you’ve detailed and expect to see you at monthly “med checks” after. Hopefully they also refer you to a counselor, or, in special cases, may offer to do the therapy with you.
Psychologist:
A psychologist typically has a PhD (doctorate degree) in Psychology (not medicine, so they don’t prescribe medication). Their degree is academic in nature; in practice, they typically specialize in assessment, AKA “psychological evaluation”. A psychologist will go beyond conversation and give you (and/or the minor and guardian) a series of forms and tests to arrive at the most fitting diagnosis. Much like with a psychiatrist, they may either offer counseling or refer you to a counselor for treatment. Their evaluation reports carry heavy weight in court proceedings, educational settings, and other formal institutions.
(Psychologists can do lots of other things in tons of different disciplines and markets, but when it comes to clinical professionals as is addressed in this post, I’m keeping it narrow. I see you, industrial psychologists!)
Counselor (aka “therapist”):
This is a clinical professional who has earned a Master’s degree and who has gone through a lot of supervised counseling for several years in order to earn a state license. They can not prescribe medication, but when it comes to diagnosis, a counselor is trained to provide an appropriate diagnosis pretty quickly. He or she may give a few assessments, as well, or may refer you to one of the above professionals if the situation and symptoms are much more complex than usual. Typically, however, it’s not necessary.
Yes, they will ask “How does that make you feel?” although there is so much more to it than that. Many use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, a heavily supported therapeutic approach helping you explore and understand how your mind, emotions, behavior, and body interconnect so you can experience holistic improvement. Most doctoral level professionals (that you just read about) refer you to these professionals for the counseling aspect of treatment because the counselor gets into the nitty gritty of life with you, exploring your thoughts, emotions, and choices, and how your past experiences might be informing them.
See also: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Any of these professionals can provide therapy, they just have a different lens through which they conceptualize the problems and treatment.
Phew. that was intense. But now you know! See our other post about when it is time to start seeking counseling or assessment for your child.
“Many use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, a heavily supported therapeutic approach helping you explore and understand how your mind, emotions, behavior, and body interconnect so you can experience holistic improvement.”
“Any of these professionals can provide therapy, they just have a different lens through which they conceptualize the problems and treatment.”