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  #1  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 02:46 PM
xraychick01 xraychick01 is offline
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I'm confused by all the different types of mental health professionals. What is the difference between a therapist, counselor, psychiatrist, and psychologist? Are there others I'm missing? How do I know which one is right for me?
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  #2  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 02:52 PM
*Laurie* *Laurie* is offline
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A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. A psychologist has a PhD (doctor of philosophy) in psychology. A therapist specializes in therapy (individual, couples, family, group). A counselor is basically the same as a therapist. Any of these people can do therapy with a client, but only a psychiatrist can prescribe medication.
  #3  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 07:18 PM
justafriend306
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Well I'm not so sure a therapist and counselor are interchangeable. In my experience a therapist is generally a psychologist. Most counselors I have seen or heard of have been social workers by education.
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  #4  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 08:53 PM
*Laurie* *Laurie* is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justafriend306 View Post
Well I'm not so sure a therapist and counselor are interchangeable. In my experience a therapist is generally a psychologist. Most counselors I have seen or heard of have been social workers by education.
It's true that most counselors are social workers by education, but many therapists are MFCC/LMFTs (Licensed Marriage Family Therapists). LMFTs are not usually psychologists.
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  #5  
Old Sep 13, 2016, 06:44 AM
avlady avlady is offline
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i always wanted to know that too, thank you
  #6  
Old Sep 13, 2016, 09:14 AM
justafriend306
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When I was working, my Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) lined me up with a counselor. She suggested my problem was more than Depression and referred me back to my family doctor for inturn a referral for a psychiatrist. He simply said it was Depression, I suppose ignorred her recommendations, and gave me medications for Depression. Bad news as what followed was a difficult few years of anxiety and hypomania (turns out I'm bipolar). She did her job (as a social worker) very well I believe. It was my family doctor that dropped the ball. I also had a very good experienced with a Family counselor and Marriage counselor. Even though none of these people were psychologists I still believe I was in good hands. I think they are good enough to make a recommendation to a doctor/psychiatrist for possible diagnosis.
Thanks for this!
fishin fool
  #7  
Old Sep 13, 2016, 09:50 AM
Anonymous87912
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LauraBeth View Post
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. A psychologist has a PhD (doctor of philosophy) in psychology. A therapist specializes in therapy (individual, couples, family, group). A counselor is basically the same as a therapist. Any of these people can do therapy with a client, but only a psychiatrist can prescribe medication.
I just want to add that in the early 1970s another type of degree was added for psychologists called a Psy.D. (doctor of psychology). This degree differs from the Ph.D. in that there is more of an emphasis on clinical work.
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*Laurie*
  #8  
Old Sep 13, 2016, 10:30 AM
Anonymous45023
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Not to make anything more complicated, but should also mention PMHNPs (psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners). They do therapy, and can also prescribe. Depending on where you live, they have various levels of "prescriptive authority". In some states, they have full prescriptive authority, in other states they have various arrangements with MDs for prescribing procedure.

Since it's kind of unusual for psychiatrists to do therapy anymore, and mostly (or all?) the other therapy options can't prescribe, thought it'd be worth remembering this "two-fer" (that doesn't look like it's spelled right-- anyway, I mean two in one) option.
Thanks for this!
*Laurie*
  #9  
Old Sep 13, 2016, 11:01 AM
Anonymous87912
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In Florida a nurse practitioner can prescribe medications. The only medications that I'm aware of that they cannot prescribe are controlled substances such as a benzodiazepine and an opioid.
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