Here are basic descriptions for four types of emotional healthcare professionals.
1) Psychologists have a doctorate degree (Ph.D, Psy.D, or Ed.D.) with a specialty in psychology. They attend college for approximately eight years of training and education. In addition to providing therapy and counseling, psychologists are mental health professionals who specialize in the administration of psychological tests and assessments and carry out psychological research.
2) Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They attend medical school and complete a three to five year psychiatric residency. They are trained to assess the need for, and are able to prescribe, medication. They are sometimes trained as surgeons.
3) Social Workers have a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare (MSW) which requires four years of education and training in human behavior, social support systems, and organizational, community and political social services. Often, they are public advocates.
In order to practice private therapy, Social Workers are required to be directly supervised by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) for approximately seven years and pass a state administered test to become an LCSW.
4) Counselors who have earned a Master’s Degree with specialized training in particular areas include Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC), Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).
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