Making the decision to seek counseling can be a difficult one for many people, and the confusion between all of the different types of mental health professionals tends to exacerbate the situation. Most people don’t know the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a marriage and family therapist, and a coach. I’ve created this handy guide to help you understand what all of the difference labels mean and decide which type of practitioner might be best for you. (Please note that this information is tailored for practitioners in California; other states may have slightly different guidelines and requirements.) Want personalized advice about what type of work might be best for you? Call (415) 658-5738 or visit my Appointments page to set up a consultation.

 

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists have attended medical school and received MD degrees. They are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California, which regulates all doctors. Psychiatrists generally complete eight to twelve years of training, including four years of medical school and four years of residency in the mental health field. They get trained in medications, side effects, and psychopathology, but generally do not get a great deal of training in counseling techniques. Psychiatrists tend to focus on prescribing and monitoring medication for their clients, and many psychiatrists do not provide psychotherapy. Since psychiatrists can charge upwards of $400-$500 per hour, it may be best to seek them out only if you are currently on psychiatric medication or suspect that you may need medication.

 

Psychologists

Psychologists attend graduate school and get one of three rather varied doctorate degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), or Doctor of Education (EdD). Doctorate programs typically take five to seven years. Psychologists are licensed by the California Board of Psychology. Psychologists get trained in administering tests, evaluating clients for learning or cognitive disorders, doing research, and evaluating neurobiology. Psychologists do not prescribe medication. Psychologists perform psychotherapy more frequently than psychiatrists, but less frequently than MFTs. If you would like to be evaluated for a learning or cognitive disorder, you may want to consider seeking a psychologist. Psychologists typically charge around $200-$300 per hour.

 

Marriage and Family Therapists

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) complete two-year Masters programs in clinical or counseling psychology and spend several years training in supervised clinical work. The MFT title is used interchangeable with MFCC (Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor), and many MFTs will also refer to themselves as psychotherapists. MFTs are regulated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. MFTs are not able to prescribe medication, and they typically do not conduct scientific research or testing. MFTs are the most prevalent group of mental health practitioners in California, and receive the most training in counseling techniques. MFTs can specialize in a wide variety of fields, including psychoanalysis, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, drama therapy, art therapy, and somatic therapy. If you do not require medication or cognitive testing, an MFT can be a great – and affordable – choice.

 

Coaches

Coaches are not required to complete any specific education, nor do they need a license to practice as a coach. They are not regulated by any licensing board or organization. Some coaches have coaching certificates that required the completion of specific training programs, but those training programs can be as short as a few days or weeks. Coaches can not prescribe medication, and are not allowed to say that they provide psychotherapy. Coaches tend to focus on business skills, professional development, organization, and mediation. If you are interested in those specific areas, you may want to consider a coach. While there are many wonderfully talented coaches out there, be aware that the lack of licensing and regulation also means that there are a number of unqualified people posing as coaches.

 

Sex Therapists

Much like coaches, sex therapists are not regulated by any sort of professional or governmental organization. Having the word “therapist” in the title is misleading because there are no counseling requirements for becoming a sex therapist. Anyone can call themselves a sex therapist, even if they have absolutely no training in the field of human sexuality. If you are interested in working with a sex therapist, it is extremely important to make sure you find someone who has received specific training in human sexuality, is experienced in working with your particular issue, and works in an ethical and legal manner. You may also want to consider someone who has a counseling background.

 

What does this mean for you?
It is important to do your research when deciding which type of practitioner is best for you. I encourage you to do further reading on each of the aforementioned categories. You may also want to consider interviewing practitioners with different licenses. Before working with any specific practitioner, make sure you know what degree they have attained, what license they have, and what type of training they have received. As a paying consumer, it is your right to obtain this information from a potential practitioner, and I would highly advise avoiding practitioners who seem hesitant about answering these questions or who are not forthright in their answers.