How to Choose a Mental Health Therapist

Searching for mental health professionals can seem overwhelming, especially if you're not familiar with common terminology.

There are similarities among these professionals, including appropriate education and licensure, but there are also important differences that can affect your mental health treatment. It's important to understand these differences so you can see the right provider for you.

Here is a brief list of the many types of mental health professionals who may help you or your family live happier, more productive lives.

• Psychiatrist – A psychiatrist is a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who has completed medical school and residency, and focuses specifically on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Psychiatrists can assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems, conduct psychotherapy, prescribe medications and order medical tests and treatments.¹
• Psychiatric nurse practitioner – Psychiatric nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses with advanced degrees, additional education and specialized training, which allow them to diagnose, treat and prevent mental health disorders. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are able to prescribe medication and administer psychotherapy.²
• Psychiatric physicians' assistant – Physician assistants (PAs) practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs, perform psychiatric evaluations and assessments, order and interpret diagnostic studies, establish and manage treatment plans and refer as needed.³
• Psychiatric mental health nurse – Psychiatric mental health nurses are specialist nurses, but they cannot prescribe medications and can only administer therapy under the direction of a physician or nurse practitioner.
• Psychologist – A psychologist has an advanced degree, usually a Ph.D. or Psy.D., in clinical psychology, and has completed an internship with exposure to methods of treatment, analytical testing, problem-solving techniques and behavioral therapy. Psychologists treat mental health problems with psychotherapy and other behavioral interventions; however, they generally can't prescribe medications.¹
• Psychiatric social workers – Psychiatric social workers have a master's degree or a Ph.D., diagnose mental illness and perform psychotherapy. Some social workers pursue additional voluntary certification, such as a Qualified Clinical Social Worker, to demonstrate their mental health expertise. They are able to provide or facilitate therapy but can't prescribe medication.⁴
• Counselor or therapist – Counselors or therapists require a master's degree, Psy.D., or Ph.D. In addition, numerous hours of supervised training and specific national exams are frequently required to become a counselor or therapist.⁵
• Certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor – Certified addiction counselors maintain a voluntary national certification intended for professionals working within addiction-related disciplines. The level of the certification is dependent on education and experience.⁶
• School psychologist – School psychologists are certified psychologists who have gone through a specialized school psychology program and practice in a school setting.
• Licensed social workers – Licensed social workers have a bachelor's or a master's degree in social work. They are able to provide or facilitate therapy—often in a group setting—but cannot prescribe medication. These social workers typically have fewer education requirements than licensed clinical social workers.
• Licensed clinical social worker – A licensed clinical social worker must have a master's degree in social work and maintain proper clinical licenses. These specialized social workers can diagnose mental illness and typically handle more one-on-one and sensitive cases with varying levels of support, medical assistance and long-term treatment plans; however, they can't prescribe medication.
• Marital and family therapist – Marital and family therapists have a master's degree and specialized training with couples and families in individual and group settings. Marriage and family therapists are able to diagnose mental health issues, but can't administer medication.
• Pastoral counselor – Many people choose to seek mental health therapy from clergy who are trained to provide clinical pastoral therapy. These professionals can diagnose mental health issues without prescribing medication.
• Creative arts therapists – These therapists and counselors rely on creative self-expression techniques, such as music, drama, movement and art, and are certified with advanced degrees.

All of these designations require state licensure. You can go to your state's department of professional regulation to assure that the individual is licensed to practice within the state.

Crisis Workers and Non-licensed volunteers may offer mental health support in certain instances, including large-scale disasters, help lines and at specialized locations or situations. Although these positions are commonly philanthropic and may not require professional certification or advanced degrees, many do require volunteers to submit references, go through an application and interview process, and complete a training regimen.

What type of therapy do you need?

Determining the type of mental help assistance you need is not an easy task, and it may not be something you can do alone. There are several questions you may ask when seeking doctors and counselors, including:

Does this professional specialize in treating people with my symptoms or condition?
Does this professional assign homework between meetings?
What is a reasonable timeline for someone with my symptoms or condition?
How are appointments typically structured?
How is after-hours care administered? Can this professional or another staff member be contacted outside business hours?

There are practical considerations when researching mental health professionals, as well, which may include:

Does this counselor or doctor accept my insurance?
How long is the average appointment wait time?
Is there a fee to cancel appointments?
What is the referral system if medication is needed?

When to contact another counselor

If you meet with a mental health professional and don't feel comfortable talking honestly about your thoughts and feelings, you may want to discuss this hesitation at your next appointment. However, if you don't think the mental health professional is the right fit for you, it may be beneficial to meet with a different counselor or doctor.

Finding the right mental health professionals and therapists doesn't have to be difficult, especially when you utilize the best resources. Learn about the different types of mental health therapy, video chat live with a therapist for an introductory consultation today, or visit Mental Health America for a comprehensive list of mental health support organizations and therapists in your area as well as to help you find the care you need in seconds.

Sources:

1 American Psychiatric Association. Psychiatrists and Psychologists: Understanding the Differences. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/apa-blog/2016/02/psychiatrists-and-psychologists-understanding-the-differences (accessed 3/28/16).

2 American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Psychiatric-mental health nurses. https://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3292#1 (accessed 3/28/16).

3 American Association of Physicians Assistants Specialty Practice: Issue Brief. Physicians assistants in psychiatry. https://www.aapa.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=649 (accessed 4/25/2016).

4 SocialWorkLicensure.org. Psychiatric social workers and how to become one. https://www.socialworklicensure.org/types-of-social-workers/psychiatric-social-worker.html (accessed 3/28/16).

5 United States Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational outlook handbook. Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/mental-health-counselors-and-marriage-and-family-therapists.htm (accessed 3/29/16).

6 The Association for Addiction Professionals. What is an addiction professional? https://www.naadac.org/whatisanaddictionprofessional (accessed 3/29/16).