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#1
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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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![]() avlady
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#2
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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.
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#3
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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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![]() avlady
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#4
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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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![]() avlady
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#5
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i always wanted to know that too, thank you
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#6
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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.
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![]() fishin fool
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#7
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Quote:
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![]() *Laurie*
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#8
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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. ![]() |
![]() *Laurie*
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#9
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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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