Providers of Psychotherapy for Mental Health Patients

Psychotherapy is the use of psychological techniques to treat mental and emotional issues. It encourages recipients to talk about their problems and develop insight into the causes of certain behavior. The goal of psychotherapy is making behavioral changes for better functioning in life.

A number of licensed professionals can provide psychotherapy. Each provider has a different title, license and/or set of credentials.

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are medical doctors with a specialization in psychiatry and the medical study and treatment of mental disorders. They are graduates of medical school and have completed their residency program in psychiatric care. Psychiatrists receive their license after passing written and oral examinations. They may also pursue additional education and training to be certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).

In addition to psychotherapy, psychiatrists are authorized to use medication and other medical techniques to treat their patients.

Psychologists

Generally, psychologists have had six years of graduate training and received either a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology). The two overlap in content; however, the Ph.D. emphasizes research, teaching and experimental methods within psychology, while the Psy.D. emphasizes clinical practice in psychology.

In most states, graduates must have one to two years of supervised experience after their doctorate before taking written and oral exams to become a licensed psychologist. However, a number of states previously allowed, or still allow, licensed masters-level psychologists.

Counselors

Counselors have two to three years of graduate training in counseling, which may include psychotherapy, before becoming licensed. Counselors may specialize in areas such as school counseling, marriage and family therapy, and substance abuse counseling.

Licensing exams and titles vary according to state and specialty. Common titles include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).

Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) are social workers authorized to give psychotherapy. However, they are not trained to do research or assess clients. They have generally had two years of graduate training and completed an internship as well as supervised clinical experience before becoming licensed.

Advanced Psychiatric Nurses

Advanced psychiatric nurses earn a master's or higher degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing before becoming licensed. They are authorized to provide psychotherapy as well as assess and diagnose patients. In addition, they are authorized to prescribe medication in some states. They work in a range of settings, including hospitals, private clinics, mental health centers and substance abuse treatment centers.

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