Mental Health Professionals Professional Name Degree Required Education License/Certificate Held Role Professional M.A., M.S., M.Ed., PhD, At least 2 to 3 years of Licensed Professional Assessment & counseling Counselor* or EdD graduate education Counselor emphasizing a prevention & development &/or treatment & diagnosis perspective School Counselor Master’s Degree At least 2 to 3 years of Certified School Counselor Guidance, assessment, & graduate education counseling emphasizing educ./personal/career develop, prevention, diagnosis & referral of P-12 students. Psychiatrist M.D Medical school with Psychiatric evaluation & residency in psychiatry assessment, prescription of medication, psychotherapy Psychologist PhD 4 to 7 years of Clinical or Licensed Psychologist Psychological evaluation & Counseling Psychology, assessment, psychotherapy, research oriented degree research More focus on clinical PsyD experience Clinical Social Worker M.SW or PhD At least 2 to 3 years of Licensed Master’s Social Focus is on linking clients with graduate education Worker--Advanced Clinical community resources, Practitioner psychotherapy Marriage & Family M.A., M.S, MEd, PhD, or At least 2 to 3 years of Licensed Marriage and Focus is on application of Therapist EdD graduate education Family Therapist family systems theories, assessment, psychotherapy The difference between a master’s & a doctoral level counselor in counseling is that the doctoral degree allows the counselor to teach in a university and have greater depth of clinical experience, knowledge in conducting research, and greater expertise in the development and administration of comprehensive counseling programs.
Mental Health Professionals Professional Name Degree Required Education License/Certificate Held Role Professional Counselor* M.A., M.S., M.Ed., PhD, or EdD At least 2 to 3 years of graduate education Licensed Professional Counselor Assessment & counseling emphasizing a prevention & development &/or treatment & diagnosis perspective School Counselor Master’s Degree At least 2 to 3 years of graduate education Certified School Counselor Guidance, assessment, & counseling emphasizing educ./personal/career develop, prevention, diagnosis & referral of P-12 students. Psychiatrist M.D Medical school with residency in psychiatry Psychiatric evaluation & assessment, prescription of medication, psychotherapy Psychologist PhD PsyD 4 to 7 years of Clinical or Counseling Psychology, research oriented degree More focus on clinical experience Licensed Psychologist Psychological evaluation & assessment, psychotherapy, research Clinical Social Worker M.SW or PhD At least 2 to 3 years of graduate education Licensed Master’s Social Worker--Advanced Clinical Practitioner Focus is on linking clients with community resources, psychotherapy Marriage & Family Therapist M.A., M.S, MEd, PhD, or EdD At least 2 to 3 years of graduate education Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Focus is on application of family systems theories, assessment, psychotherapy The difference between a master’s & a doctoral level counselor in counseling is that the doctoral degree allows the counselor to teach in a university and have greater depth of clinical experience, knowledge in conducting research, and greater expertise in the development and administration of comprehensive counseling programs.