Question: What’s the difference between a therapist and a counselor?

Question: What is the difference between a therapist and a counselor?

Answer: Nothing. You can stop reading now. Just kidding! Keep reading and learn some facts to
impress your friends. Everyone knows that a little mental health knowledge and a conversation about mental illness really livens up a party!

Here’s a quick rundown on the differences between mental health professionals and how they help people. It doesn’t cover everyone (so don’t send me angry emails, psychiatric nurses!) (although psychiatric nurse is a very important and very cool profession in mental health!) but it will give you an idea of how to understand our world a little bit and how we can best serve you!

What is a Therapist?

Therapist is usually a catch-all term for those who provide therapy. We’re learning about your current and past experiences to help with everything from short term to long term care and issues ranging from low self esteem to more complex mental and behavioral health conditions both in person and through online therapy.  So this is used interchangeably with many professional labels. HOWEVER, one can also become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, licensed as such (they will have the initials LMFT), and they provide therapy in all areas, not just marriage and family!

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC)

Clinical Mental Health Counselors provide therapy under the full range of services, though
individuals normally specialize in a few areas (e.g. depression, ODC, substance abuse, etc.) and
in a few approaches (e.g. psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, existentialism, etc.).
They have their own particular license (LCMHC) and answer to the American Counseling
Association.  

A master’s degree is a requirement for becoming a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC).  In North Carolina, for example, an applicant must possess a masters degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited institution, recognized by a body like the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).  Additionally, a specific number of supervised clinical hours are required post-graduation followed by a state approved licensing exam. There are other types of counselors with different licenses, like School Counselors.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)

A Clinical Social Worker is very similar to CMHCs and MFTs, but the important factor here is that their training includes institutional settings and regulatory systems, so they often offer social work in hospitals, prisons, community agencies, etc. However, many work in private practice as well, as you can see at
Simply Thrive. They are licensed as LCSWs.

The Doctors Are In: Psychologists and Psychiatrists

Here come the professionals with a doctoral degree!  Psychologists (Ph.D.s) and psychiatrists (M.D.s or D.O.s) typically follow a medical model of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a specific issue. CMHCs, CSWs, and MFTs do the same, but usually they also incorporate a holistic approach of improving overall quality of life.

There is a lot of overlap between these professions – for example, all of them participate in
research and in clinical therapy. There are several other specialties not listed, because I don’t
want to make you read a book!  But this should give you a starting point for your own mental
health journey as you navigate the professionals that will help you to developing coping skills, long term care plans, and improve interpersonal skills.  

Whether you are seeking a mental health professional for very specific therapy like marriage and family therapy or more general talk therapy, There are two easy ways to research which type of licensed professional is right for you:

1. Look up the association tied to that specialty (e.g. National Association of Social Workers)
and it will explain what they do and how they are educated, trained, and licensed.

2. Google the initials after a professional’s name – it will tell you exactly what their license is,
which will tell you what type of therapist they are.

CarrieAnn Lefsaker

Mental Health Student Intern