Demystifying The Mental Health Profession

Mental Health Professionals are a large and diverse group of people. People can come to the mental health profession along many different educational routes, and every person’s training is unique and individualized. While different types of professionals have distinct areas of focus and expertise, there is also overlap between the different professions.

It can be hard for a person who is seeking mental health support to navigate and sort through different types of professional licenses, credentials, and approaches to find the best fit for themself. Clients of mine frequently pose very good questions about the kinds of services and interventions I am trained to provide as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. It is clear that the mental health field can be fairly confusing for consumers, which could pose a barrier to accessing needed support.

If you would like to familiarize yourself with different areas of the mental health profession, read on! Below is a non-exhaustive list of professionals you may encounter if you are searching for mental health support, with some information about the training and clinical duties relevant to each field.

Social Workers

Social workers have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree in social work, which can encompass clinical work (psychotherapy), case management services, community services, or even policy work. A social worker who is a therapist has likely focused on clinical social work in their educational background. Social workers can obtain licensure, which means they are qualified to practice therapy independently, without the supervision of another therapist.

Social workers can and do diagnose their therapy clients with mental health disorders as appropriate, primarily using the DSM-5 as a reference. Social workers do not prescribe medication, as this requires a medical degree.

Credentials: LSW, LCSW, LISW, LICSW

Counselors

Counselors have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling psychology. Counselors may train in providing clinical mental health counseling, vocational counseling, marriage and family counseling, and educational counseling, as well as other areas. Like social workers, counselors can obtain licensure to practice counseling independently after a supervised training period.

Clinical counselors can diagnose and treat mental health disorders, but do not prescribe medication.

Credentials: LPC, LCPC

Marriage and Family Therapists

Marriage and Family Therapists have obtained at least a master’s degree or higher, likely focusing on treating families, couples, and/or children using systemic approaches. MFTs can obtain independent licensure following completion of their supervised training.

MFTs may diagnose one or more members of a family they are treating with a mental health disorder if this is appropriate and beneficial to the treatment. MFTs do not prescribe medication.

Credentials: MFT, LMFT

Psychologists

Psychologists who are practicing in the field of mental health therapy hold doctoral degrees in psychology, either PsyD’s or PhD’s. Historically, psychologists have focused on treating issues related to “abnormal psychology,” but modern psychologists are trained and interested in supporting clients with all kinds of life problems.

Psychologists will use the DSM-5 to diagnose their clients as appropriate and beneficial to treatment. While psychologists are doctors, they are not medical doctors, so they do not prescribe medication.

Credentials: PhD, PsyD

Psychiatric Professionals

A psychiatric provider can be someone with a medical doctorate (MD) or a doctoral level nursing degree (NP or APN). They have studied and trained in psychiatry, which consists of diagnosing mental illness, prescribing medication, and monitoring and adjusting medication for their patients. They may or may not provide psychotherapy as a supplement to prescribing medication.

Credentials: MD, NP, APN

Other Healers

Many mental health providers have trained to use holistic, alternative, or non-western methods to treat their clients. These providers include, but are not limited to, reiki practitioners, massage therapists, herbalists, nutritionists, spiritual counselors, and coaches. Education and training can vary widely, but you should always feel empowered to ask questions about their path to the healing profession. These practitioners cannot prescribe or advise you regarding pharmaceutical medication, but they may provide advice regarding diet and other supplements that can impact mental health. 

At different times in your life, you may benefit from support from different types of mental health professionals. It can be helpful to connect your mental health providers, so that they can act as a team and create a continuum of care for your needs.