Mental health professionals are licensed by each state, so the requirements vary. Be sure that anyone you allow to have access to your child is licensed! Your child’s mind is the most precious thing you are entrusted with as a parent. Do not take this responsibility lightly.
Beware of “life coaches” and “career counselors” for professional child actors. Anyone can label hang out a shingle and say they are a life coach. There is no standard training, no licensing, and no accountability.
Often mental health professionals work together to help people stay mentally well. Here is a guide to the ”alphabet soup” of mental health professionals:
Psychiatrist — a physician, a medical doctor (MD or DO), who treats mental health disorders. That means they have a college degree, then 4 years of medical school, a one year internship, and at least 3 years of specialized training. If a patient needs medication, they will need to see this type of professional. Psychiatrists can also offer talk therapy, sometimes called psychotherapy.
Psychologist – people trained in the science that deals with thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Typically, a psychologist holds a doctoral degree such as a PhD or PsyD, and they have 2-3 years of training in treatment methods. They can do psychological testing and provide talk therapy, but they are not a medical doctor/physician, and they cannot prescribe medication. They are trained to make diagnoses and provide individual and group therapy. Within psychology are many different specialties. For example, clinical psychologists diagnose and treat individuals experiencing distress and mental illness, and they perform psychotherapy. School psychologists specialize in children in school settings.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – a counselor with a master’s degree in social work, and some have a doctorate in social work. They are trained to provide individual and group counseling and to provide case management and advocacy. Think of them as a connector to other resources. Their perspective is related to how a person functions with other people.
(Licensed) Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT, LMFT) — his person has a master’s degree with special training in marital and family therapy. They typically provide family or individual therapy.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – most have at least a master’s degree with some clinical experience. They identifiy mental health conditions and give counseling for a range of concerns. They are not licensed to prescribe medicine.
Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor(CADC) — a counselor with specific training in alcohol and drug abuse. They typically practice in rehab facility settings. The requirements for this are an AA degree, and a significant amount of practical work experience hours in the field.