Mental Health Career Paths: Counseling vs Therapy vs Psychology

Counseling Careers

What do licensed mental health counselors do?

Mental health counselors provide client-centered therapy through the combination of psychotherapy with a problem-solving approach to address change and problem resolution. The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) summarizes the services that are offered by LMHC’s to include assessment & diagnosis, psychotherapy, treatment planning, brief- and solution-focused therapy, alcohol and substance abuse treatment, psychoeducational and prevention programs, and crisis management.

Who do licensed mental health counselors work with?

Licensed Mental Health Counselors also work with other mental health professionals in collaboration for the health and benefit of their clients.

How to Become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Some counseling specialties, such as a mental health or professional counselor, require licensure before earning certification to work with a specific population. To become an LMHC, one must obtain a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and licensure.

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What do professional counselors do?

Professional counselors diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders through psychoeducational techniques, prevention plans, consultation, and therapy.

Who do professional counselors work with?

LPCs work with individuals, families, and groups to address mental, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. The Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners summarizes that LPCs are licensed to provide Mental Health Counseling and Psychotherapy Services independently to the public. The counselor takes one the role of responsibility for knowledge, skill, and ethical consideration needed to assist individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public.

How to Become a Licensed Professional Counselor

Similar to LMHCs, licensed professional counselors (LPCs) must be licensed and obtain their master’s degree in counseling or a related field and licensure to practice. Supervised clinical work is typically required to get your license. Each state will have different licensing, certification and clinical experience requirements for how to become an LPC. Make sure to check with your state’s licensing board.

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Northwestern University

The Family Institute at Northwestern University

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New York University

NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

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What do substance abuse counselors do?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides an outline of typical substance abuse/addiction counselor activities. Substance abuse/addiction counselors evaluate a client’s mental and physical health to assess readiness for treatment.

Who do substance abuse counselors work with?

Helping to define goals and subsequent treatment plans, substance abuse/addiction counselors work with clients to develop the skills and behaviors that are necessary for recovery from addiction or to modify their behavior. These counselors also educate families about addiction and the process of recovery.

How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor

For some specialty certifications, various states will certify individuals who were addicts to provide peer counseling. Depending upon the locale and place of practice, substance abuse counselors may have a bachelor’s education, while others earn licensure after completing a recognized master’s degree program.

What does a school counselor do?

The ASCA examines in their role statement of school counselors that they engage in activities to promote equity and equal access to educational experiences for all students through leadership, advocacy, and collaboration to support a safe environment for learning.

Who does a school counselor work with?

School counselors address the needs of all students through a culturally relevant lens while integrating intervention programs that are a part of the comprehensive school counseling program.

How to Become a School Counselor

All school counselors are required to obtain an advanced degree such as a master’s degree in school counseling. In some states, according to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), you must have teaching experience before becoming certified in school counseling. Check their State Certifications page for more information.

School counseling and school social work have some similarities, like working with students to discover learning struggles and create solutions. However, there are some key differences between what a school counselor and school social worker does. The requirements to become a school counselor are also different than the requirements to become a school social worker. Each state has its own school counselor licensing requirements.

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Therapy Careers

There are many types of therapy careers, including:

To become a licensed therapist, you’ll need to complete educational, experience, exam and licensure requirements. Each state’s requirements may vary depending on the type of therapist role you want to pursue.

What marriage and family therapists do?

They treat issues that are common in those types of relationships. According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), LMFTs address depression, marital problems, anxiety, psychological concerns and child-parent problems. Therapy approaches for LMFTs involve a holistic, brief- and solution-focused therapy with therapeutic goals that are attainable. Comparing LMFT vs. mental health counselor (LPC) roles, LMFTs work specifically with married couples and families.

Who do MFTs work with?

Marriage and family therapists address clinical concerns with individuals, couples and marriage session groups. MFTs discuss the role of the individual within marriage or family dynamics and how it might influence the presenting concern. MFTs assess, diagnose and treat mental health disorders. The difference between marriage and family therapists vs. psychiatrists is that psychiatrists can prescribe medication for mental disorders, while MFTs cannot.

How to Become an MFT

To become an MFT, individuals must pursue a master’s degree in psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related mental health field and apply for licensure through their state board. Once you become an MFT, you may pursue certifications to specialize in a certain population or gain expertise in a type of marriage and family therapy method.

Aspiring board-certified behavior analysts must obtain a master’s in applied behavior analysis or another relevant field. Application requirements vary by ABA master’s program but may include a resume, letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

BCBA therapists influence an individual’s behavior by using applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. ABA therapy focuses on improving specific behaviors, such as learning, socializing, communication and occupational competence.

BCBA therapists work with those who have mental health issues, developmental disabilities or special needs, like autism. They may work in environments such as schools, hospitals and nonprofits.

To become a behavior analyst, you’ll need to take and pass the BCBA exam. First, you must meet certain educational, experience and exam requirements.

Psychology Careers

There’s a wide variety of specialty careers in psychology you may pursue. Getting a master’s degree in psychology may be a good place to start to launch a career in psychology. Another option is a doctoral degree in psychology, which is typically a requirement to become a licensed psychologist.

Clinical psychologists are required to have a doctoral degree in psychology, which can come in the form of a PsyD or PhD. While a master’s in clinical psychology is typically not required to apply for a psychology doctoral program, some doctoral programs require applicants to have a psychology master’s degree. After obtaining their doctorate, clinical psychologists are trained to provide individual and group therapy.

Providing mental and behavioral health services in both health and social care settings, clinical psychologists use scientific approaches to focus on prevention, health disparities, reduce psychological distresses, and to enhance psychological well-being.

The American Psychological Association (APA) describes the role of psychologists as including the following: assessment, diagnosis, collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, creating/monitoring programs of treatment, offering therapy, rehabilitation of clients into community, developing programs for behavioral and mental health services, consulting with other professionals and staff, and conducting evidence-based research.

A main difference between therapist vs. clinical psychologist roles is that clinical psychologists typically have a doctoral degree and may provide additional services such as consultation, training, education, supervision and clinical research.

To become a psychologist, you’ll need education, an internship or postdoctoral program, and a psychologist license. Check requirements in the state where you want to work.

Behavioral psychologists typically need to have a doctoral degree in psychology. Some choose to pursue a master’s in behavioral psychology to prepare.

Behavioral psychologists help patients modify behavior. They use research-backed practice and techniques including therapy, education and monitoring.

Behavioral psychologists work with a variety of patients, ranging from children to adults in environments like research centers, mental health clinics, and as expert witnesses in court cases. They might also work as a consultant with organizations.

School psychologists also obtain their doctorate degree, make diagnoses, and provide therapy much like their clinical counterpart. School psychologists, however, work with parents, teachers, and school staff to address the developmental needs of students as well as the formation of individual education plans (IEP).

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) examines that school psychologists help schools to improve academic achievement, promote positive behavior and mental health, support diverse learners, create a safe and positive school climate, strengthen family-school partnerships, and to help improve school-wide assessment and accountability for student progress in academics and behavior.

Collaborating with other student support staff, like school counselors, psychologists in the school settings work to promote the overall behavioral and mental health of their students.

How are school psychologists different from school counselors? Learn more in our comparison guide: School Counselor vs. School Psychologist

Like most psychologists, educational psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology. There are doctorate in educational psychology degrees students might pursue that focus specifically on psychology in an educational setting. There are also master’s in educational psychology degrees available to prepare aspiring educational psychologists.

Educational psychologists apply psychological principles and techniques to improve school and student outcomes. Educational psychologists focus on how to improve learning methods and the instructional process.

Educational psychologists may work with students to treat learning problems. They may also consult school-based professionals to improve learning, teaching and administrative strategies.

Working with all types of populations and organizations, to include businesses, counseling psychologists have earned their doctorate in their field. There are also master’s degrees in counseling psychology which, while they do not lead to psychology licensure, may lead to acquiring counseling licensure.

This profession also provides assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of severe psychological symptoms. The American Psychological Association (APA) further identifies counseling psychologists as engaging in individual, group, and family counseling and psychotherapy providing many services such as crisis intervention and trauma and disaster management while consulting with organizations and providing program evaluation and tracking client progress.

As general practice and health service providers, counseling psychologists address the emotional, social, work, school, and physical health concerns of individuals and focus on how people function both personally and within their relationships.

Health psychologists typically need a doctoral degree in psychology. Psychology doctoral programs may require a master’s in psychology degree.

Health psychologists study how people handle illness. They work with patients to improve health and pain management and develop healthcare strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Health psychologists may work with patients in medical settings like hospitals, and with healthcare administrators and professionals like medical doctors.

To become a health psychologist, there are educational, practice and licensure requirements. Each state will have its own licensure requirements.

Psychiatry Careers

For those who pursue a career in psychiatry, they receive medical training and education to become a doctor who can prescribe medication based upon the mental and physical assessment of any client.

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that is focused on mental health that include substance use disorders.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) reviews that psychiatrists are educated and trained on a medical route to focus on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention or mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders which include physical aspects of psychological concerns. Oftentimes, psychiatrists will prescribe medications in combination with the therapy that they offer.

After completion of their doctorate program, psychiatrists complete over four years of residency within a hospital working with medical illnesses. The remaining three years are dedicated to mental health treatments.

Social Work Careers

Social workers can make diagnoses, provide individual and group therapies, and provide case management and advocacy on behalf of their clients.

Licensed master social workers work with people and communities in need of help. They research and refer clients to resources that improve their well-being. LMSWs may also respond to crisis situations, develop social work programs and advocate for disadvantaged communities.

LMSWs work in a variety of settings, including nonprofits, government agencies, schools, hospitals, substance abuse facilities and community centers.

Social worker licensure requires a master’s in social work from a school that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

To become a licensed social worker, a social worker must meet state licensure expectations. Typically these include education, field experience and exam requirements.

Licensed clinical social workers help individuals, families, and groups increase their capacity in social functioning and advocate for conditions in society that support their communities. LCSW helps individuals address their own needs through psychosocial services and advocacy.

Social workers can be found in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, private practice, prisons, and in other agencies that address individual and family needs.

Licensed clinical social workers are first educated through a recognized social work master’s degree program and then apply for licensure through their state board. The education requirements to become an LCSW are the same as the ones for an LMSW. However, the social work licensure requirements for an LCSW are different. When comparing social work vs. psychology careers, LCSW requirements will also differ.

To become a licensed clinical social worker, you’ll have to meet education, experience, exam and licensure requirements set by the state board where you want to practice. 

Ever wonder about the difference between counselors and social workers? Learn more in our comparison guide: Mental Health Counselor vs. Social Worker.

Although each discipline of mental health professions varies from one another, they all involve the advocacy and attention to the mental health needs and concerns of their clients – from all walks of life and in many different locales and places of practice. In determining which profession is right for you, take into consideration the importance of working with specific populations, the roles that you would like to play, and which setting you would like to practice in. There are many other specialties, certifications, endorsements, and licenses that are available to those seeking to become a mental health professional.

Last updated: September 2020

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