- Melanie Schwaba
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
When looking for mental health treatment, all the different acronyms and titles can make your head spin! Let’s break down the different types of providers and what they do:
Therapist- This is a provider that you typically see weekly for about 50 minutes. They help you work everyday life and mental health concerns, whether past, present, or future. Each therapist has their own style and modalities that they use. A therapist is a Master’s level provider and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). They may also hold another specialty license, such as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). While each license and education may provide slightly different backgrounds, one is not greater than or less than another in terms of counselor vs social worker vs marriage/family therapist.
Psychologist- A Psychologist is a doctorate level provider, often holding a Doctor of Psychology, commonly called a PsyD. They often work as therapists. They also can administer and analyze psychological testing (such as for ADHD and Autism). This is a skill only doctorate level clinicians can perform.
Psychiatrist- Psychiatrists are the doctors of the mental health world. They are the ones who prescribe medications to help with depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses. Some psychiatrists offer therapy alongside medication management, but it is not very common. Psychiatrists may be an MD, a DO, a Nurse Practitioner, or a Physician’s Assistant. The amount of psychiatric NPs and PAs has been on the rise in recent years, making medication management more accessible to those in need.
All different types of mental health providers are equally as important in the treatment of clients. I hope this clarified the different roles different providers take on, and that it helps in any future search for treatment!
