So, you want to get help, but you’re confused about which mental health care professional can help and what they do.   

Mental health professionals can help determine if you are experiencing poor mental health or have a chronic mental illness. Some can only provide therapy; some can also prescribe medications, and some do both. They can help you better understand your drives, triggers and help you cope with your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. They can also offer you guidance to improve your mental health, so you can achieve your goals and live the life you want to live.

Mental health professionals’ job titles and specialties can vary by state. It’s important to understand that Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Counselor and Therapists are all considered mental health professionals. Finding the right mental health professionals is easier when you understand their different credentials, areas of expertise and what expect.

The following list will provide the basic information on the top 10 mental health professionals that you will typically encounter when you are looking for someone to help. The list is based on categories of service and education from highest to lowest.   

The following providers can prescribe medication; however, they may not provide therapy:  

1 Primary Care Physician (MD or DO)

Primary Care Physicians are not technically mental health providers. They can be but typically they’re not. You may see MD or DO behind their name. MD stands for medical doctor and a DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. A primary care physician may be the first person you encounter if you are struggling with your mental health. Your primary care physician is a doctor and can give you a brief assessment and provide you with a medical prescription to help you manage your mental health symptoms. More than likely what they will suggest or encourage is that you see an actual mental health professional and give you a referral to do that.   

2 Psychiatrist (MD or DO) 

Psychiatrists are who people tend to think about when they think about therapy. You may also see MD or DO behind their name. Their education focuses on Psychiatry which is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of emotional, behavioral and mental health disorders. Because psychiatrists are also doctors, they can order or perform a full range of medical laboratory or psychological tests. For someone to become a psychiatrist, they must attend medical school and take a written examination for a state license to practice medicine, and then they complete four years of psychiatry residency and after completing residency training, most psychiatrists take a voluntary written and oral examination given by the American Board of Psychiatry so they “board certified.”

3 Nurse practitioner (NP) 

Nurse practitioners who specialize in mental health are also may be known as advanced psychiatric nurses or psychiatric mental nurse practitioners. Check with your respective state to see what Nurse practitioners are allowed to do, but per the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners: Nurse practitioners may diagnose mental health conditions, develop, and implement treatment plans, order, and perform diagnostic tests, and deliver other health care services, pursuant to collaborative agreements with a licensed physician and a Nurse practitioner may prescribe drugs, devices and certain controlled substances as outlined in the written collaboration agreement with a physician.   

The following providers can provide psychological assessments and therapy. Depending on the state they generally cannot prescribe medications.  

4 Psychologists (PhD or PsyD)  

Psychologists are also who people think of when we think of therapy. Psychologists hold a doctoral degree, and they will have either a PhD or PsyD. They are also called doctors also, but they are NOT medical doctors. The main distinction between a PhD or PsyD is that a PhD may gravitate more towards research while a PsyD’s main priority is clinical. Both PhD and PsyD’s graduate-level education focuses on psychology and once finished they will gather 3,000 hours of “clinical supervised experience,” and sit for a clinical approved examination to be able to practice psychology. They can diagnose, monitor mental health conditions, provide clinical counseling, and administer psychological tests and evaluations. In some states psychologists can also provide medication. [Check with your respective state to see what is allowed]

The following clinicians can all diagnose, assess, and treat a variety of mental health conditions typically through therapy but what they cannot do is provide medication. To fill this need they will probably work with a doctor or a nurse practitioner who can prescribe prescriptions and monitor the medication if this is part of your treatment plan. These mental health professionals have master’s degrees, have accumulated 3,000 hours of “clinical supervised experience” in the field and they passed an approved clinical examination to be issued a license by the Board in their respective state.

5 Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPC) 

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) are master’s level professionals who can serve a diverse clientele but treat clients in the context of an individual’s psychological experience. Their master’s education focuses on psychology, counseling theory, counseling techniques and individual and group therapy. The American Counseling Association (ACA) defines counseling as “a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.” LPCs may use psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapy and may use several treatment techniques to help clientele.   

6 Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)   

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) are the oldest Master level clinicians in this category. Their master’s education focuses on social work, and this includes courses that focus on social welfare, social behavior, and social systems. LCSWs treat clients in the context of a wider social system, and these are the lenses in which they see things differently, than say a LPC. While both have similar therapeutic goals, LCSWs have additional responsibilities which per the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), include: “helping people obtain tangible services; counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services; and participating in legislative processes.”  

7 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) 

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) have a master’s level education, but the distinction and focus are on family dynamics and relationships. Again, they have similar therapeutic goals to that of an LCSW or LPC but per the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapists Marriage (MFTs) are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and family systems and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems.

8 School Psychologists or Counselors 

School Psychologists or Counselors have a specialty in school psychology. This category is mixed because it contains both PhD and Master’s level clinicians, who may or may not require a license to practice. You may encounter a school counselor who may have a bachelor’s degree but usually they will hold a master’s degree or a doctorate (I.e., a psychologist). All three types of school counselors will be able to provide some school counseling, but a school psychologist will be able to diagnose, treat and provide psychological testing.

Finally, are mental health counselors who are not licensed but may have some additional training in a specialty area. They may conduct screenings, assess needs, and provide brief therapy. What they cannot do is offer a diagnosis or formulate a treatment plan without some sort of oversight or supervision. 

9 Unlicensed Counselors 

Counselors who are not licensed are typically working under supervision. Typically, many agencies and institutions will hire undergraduate and graduate students who are working towards their degrees. Many counselors may hold a Masters (I.e., postgraduate) but they are working in general or working toward licensure. Please know that these counselors are dedicated professionals and can be very helpful in addressing many of your mental health concerns.

10 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselors  

Drug and alcohol abuse counselors are people who work with individuals who want to reduce or remove their unhealthy behaviors that result from their dependence on destructive substances. Substance abuse counseling is a specialized and challenging field with its own certification and unlike the other counselors, who hold a bachelor’s, master’s or a PhD, drug abuse counselors do not need a college degree. If you are someone who holds a high premium on education, please don’t let this dissuade you from working with these types of counselors because the individual who pursues a career or training is not doing it for the paycheck. Typically, these individuals have a very visceral reason for wanting to work with this population and they are very committed to helping people overcome this mental health issue and improve their lives.