If you’ve never sought or received mental health services before, it can be difficult discerning the differences between the different types (therapy, counseling, or psychiatric help) and deciding which is the right fit for your needs. Here's a quick primer to better understand the differences between different types of mental healthcare services so that you can choose the treatment that will best support you.
First: What Do the Letters After a Mental Health Professional’s Name Mean?
Different types of mental health services depend on the level of education and type of training that practitioners have. The letters that come after their name are an indicator of the license(s) they have earned and the services they are authorized to provide:
Counselors typically earn master’s level degrees as Licensed Mental Health Counselors, LMHC, and Licensed Professional Counselors, LPC.
Licensed therapists earn master’s level degrees as Licensed Clinical Social Workers, LCSW, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, LMFT.
Psychologists & Psychiatrists earn doctorate-level degrees. While both specialize in the field of mental health, they differ in their focus and practices.
Psychologists are trained to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, and often work in collaboration with psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals to provide holistic treatment to their patients, but they cannot prescribe medication or perform medical procedures.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors for psychological conditions and have authorization to treat patients with medications or medical procedures.
While qualifications are helpful indicators for the type of service practitioners provide, they’re not an indication of quality or effectiveness of treatment.
What’s the Difference Between Therapy and Counseling?
Therapy/counseling or therapist/counselor are terms that are often used interchangeably to refer to mental health treatment. While their education and training may differ, many therapists and counselors generally use similar approaches to talk therapy. In the past, counselors often specialized in behavioral approaches to address short-term goals in specific areas such as addictions, relationships, or grief, while therapists have specialized in longer term and holistic approaches. Counselors also typically have had more training in community mental health practices. However, these delineations between therapy and counseling have softened over time and there are many similarities between client experiences.
What makes a difference in the effectiveness of a client’s mental health treatment is not so much the licensure or extent of a practitioner’s education, or even the therapeutic method a practitioner uses, but the bond that the practitioner and the client build, as well the client’s commitment to healing and changing their life. (Read more about this in our post “What Matters More: The Therapy Method or the Therapist?”) When seeking mental health treatment, it’s important to pay attention to whether you feel comfortable being vulnerable with your therapist or counselor, and whether their insights and support are helpful for addressing your needs. If not, it’s okay to continue your search until you find the right fit.
When to Seek Therapy/Counseling vs a Psychiatrist or Psychologist
According to the American Psychological Association, a general rule of thumb for knowing it’s time to pursue mental health support is when something in your life is causing distress that interferes with your life. It could be depression or anxiety, an addiction or disorder, a relationship conflict, a major life transition (jobs, new parenthood, divorce), a loss or death, or another traumatic experience. Choosing which type of mental health service depends on the type of presenting issue you're experiencing and how acute you feel it is, but it is very common for mental health professionals to refer clients to other mental health professionals that can offer additional services to address the issue, if needed. For example, if you seek therapy for depression and anxiety, you and your therapist may decide that medication is needed to further improve your condition. At that point, your therapist will refer you to a psychiatrist, and you will likely see both professionals on a regular basis. Similarly, it is common for clients to seek psychiatric help for acute depression and anxiety, and in addition to prescribing medication, the psychiatrist might refer you to a psychologist or therapist if you don’t already see one. The goal is that you should experience holistic care, and sometimes that takes more than one type of mental health service.
Mental Health Services in Chicago
You may not find the right fit with a therapist on the first try, but the good news is that there is a vast network of licensed practitioners ready to help you find the support you need, even if that means referring you to another professional for additional support. All you need to do is take that first step to reach out and ask for help.
At ECC Chicago, we offer a multidisciplinary approach to mental health care, with a diverse team of licensed therapists and counselors who specialize in a number of different research-backed therapeutic approaches, including Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Diagnostic Behavior Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, EMDR, and more. We provide referrals to psychologists and psychiatrists, as needed. We’re committed to helping you find the right therapy method and practitioner to address your unique needs. If you’re ready to take that first step to seek support, we’ll help you find the right fit.
About ECC
Empowered Connections Counseling is a practice of licensed therapists providing quality, multidisciplinary counseling for adults, children & teens, relationships, and families in Chicago and across Illinois. Whether by in-person session or via telehealth, we can work with you to find the therapist and treatment methods that best suit your needs. Connect meaningfully with your life by booking an appointment today.