There are all kinds of therapists out there with various levels of degrees. In fact, you might find it a little crazy and overwhelming to understand them all. However, many people strive to seek out a professional, and finding the right therapist for your issues is significant. Here are some of the therapists you might find useful:
- Psychodynamic therapist
- Dialectical Behavior therapist
- Social therapist
- Nutritional therapist
- Trauma therapist
- School therapist
- Social work therapist
- Youth or child therapist
- Exercise therapist
- Eating Disorder therapist
- Cognitive-behavioral therapist
- Clinical therapist
- Child therapist
- Divorce therapist
- Behavioral therapist
- Addiction therapist
- More.
If you found that list a little overwhelming, don’t worry, you are not alone. In fact, when most people start looking for a therapist for their issues, they quickly learn there are options. While there are many categories of therapists, there are also different levels of degrees that these therapists have, such as:
- Psychiatrists (MDs or DOs)
- Psychologists (PhDs or PsyD)
- Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs)
- Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs)
- Licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs)
- Licensed professional counselors (LPCs)
Then there are the Master Level Degrees that they can get, such as:
- Master of Education (MEd) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Arts or MS in Counseling or Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) in Counseling Psychology
- Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychology
- Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
Further Explanation About the Different Therapist Degrees
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who address mental health from a medical standpoint. They research the functioning of the brain and are qualified to administer drugs.
PhD-level psychologists specialize in applied psychology, social science research, and testing. PsyD has identical degree requirements to Ph.D., although they spend more time studying clinical skills and less time undertaking research.
All master’s-level therapists, including LCSWs, LMFTs, LMHCs, and LPCs, are trained to give clinical mental health treatment, just like psychologists and psychiatrists. However:
-LCSW-licensed therapists specialize in understanding the social factors that affect mental health, such as how policy, law, and social realities affect mental health on a large scale.
-LMFT-licensed therapists are trained to understand relationship dynamics and specialize in family counseling, marriage, couples, and relationships.
Therapists study human development and Individual psychology with LPC and LMHC licenses specializing in individual therapy.
There are so many options that people get overwhelmed and just quit. That’s why we have developed an online tool that will help. You start by simply honestly answering questions for free. A certified therapist created the tool to help you figure out what type of therapy you need. From there, you can seek out a therapist that is qualified for your type of work.
When searching for a therapist, be sure to take your time and find out what others have to say about that person. Usually, you can find out more about them by a simple internet search. Find someone that other people recommend and have had great success with. If you find that you just are not clicking with that therapist, remember, you can always switch!
