Therapist vs. clinical psychologist: what’s the difference?
As you explore careers in the mental and behavioral health field, you’ll see a lot of words used interchangeably—therapist, counselor, and psychologist, for example. While each of these has some overlap, they’re not completely synonymous.
This article explores the similarities and differences between therapists and clinical psychologists. The difference between these professions boils down to three main factors:
- Education
- Licensing
- Salary
Table of Contents
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What is a therapist?
A therapist is a broad term for a mental health professional who provides psychotherapy and related services. Depending on the profession and state law, some therapists may also diagnose mental and emotional disorders. Their work may include psychotherapy.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) describes many forms of psychotherapy. Five common types include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Explores how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence one another and helps people build healthier thinking and behavior patterns.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): A CBT-based approach that emphasizes both validation and change, often through coping and mindfulness skills.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Used to help treat trauma-related distress, including PTSD.
- Exposure therapy: A form of CBT commonly used for OCD, PTSD, and phobias that gradually helps people face anxiety triggers safely.
- Interpersonal therapy: Focuses on improving relationships and interpersonal skills and is often used to help treat depression.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t provide occupational outlook information for general therapists, but it does publish information regarding marriage and family therapists.
Marriage and family therapists help people with their family and relationship problems, while substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work with patients suffering from addiction, alcoholism, or other mental health problems.
What is a clinical psychologist?
The APA defines clinical psychology as a research-based specialty of psychology in which professionals:
- Provide ongoing, comprehensive mental health care for individuals and families.
- Consult with agencies and communities.
- Train, educate, and supervise other mental health professionals.
Clinical psychologists are trained in a variety of techniques. This enables them to work in many settings such as schools, hospitals, counseling centers, community organizations, and health care practices.
Regardless of where they work, clinical psychologists help patients with behavioral and mental health issues.
Similarities between therapists and clinical psychologists
There’s a lot of overlap between the roles of a therapist and a clinical psychologist. Both can work with individuals, families, and groups. Each also fosters an open, collaborative environment in which patients can discuss their experiences and emotions. Sometimes they can work in similar environments, such as hospitals or government settings.
Psychologists are sometimes called therapists, but not all therapists are psychologists.
Education differences: therapists vs. clinical psychologists
Family and marriage therapists
Marriage and family therapists typically require a master’s degree, such as a master’s in marriage and family therapy (MFT) or a related field in psychology. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically need a master’s degree and an internship to enter the occupation, according to the BLS.
Clinical psychologists
Most clinical psychologists hold a doctoral degree from an accredited university and have passed a state licensing test. All 50 states require a doctoral degree in psychology to practice as a psychologist, according to the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).
What’s the difference between a master’s MFT and a clinical psychology degree?
People who want to become marriage and family therapists typically complete a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field that meets state requirements. Professionals who want to become clinical psychologists and require a doctorate might begin by earning a master’s in clinical psychology.
Common MFT curriculum topics include family systems, couples therapy, child and adolescent counseling, spirituality and counseling, and human sexuality. Master’s in clinical psychology curriculum topics include theories and practices of counseling and psychotherapy, multiculturalism and diversity, research methods, behavioral assessment, and the biological basis of behavior.
A master’s in MFT could take two to four years to complete as a full-time student. A master’s in clinical psychology can take at least two academic years of full-time study to complete.
Licensing differences: therapists vs. clinical psychologists
Marriage and family therapists
All states require marriage and family therapists to be licensed, according to the BLS. Licensed mental health counselor requirements vary by state, but they typically include a qualifying graduate degree, supervised experience, and a state-recognized examination. Because counselor licensure is state-specific, prospective counselors should verify requirements directly with their state licensing board. The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) provides a state board directory and administers licensure examinations used by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.
Clinical psychologists
The BLS reports that in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, you must be licensed to practice independently as a psychologist. A number of states may allow unlicensed professionals to practice psychology under the supervision of a licensed psychologist with a doctoral degree in particular settings.
Licensing requirements vary by state, but most require passage of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), and some jurisdictions also require additional exams, such as jurisprudence tests.
Salary differences: therapists vs. clinical psychologists
Therapists
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook: Marriage and Family Therapists, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2024, marriage and family therapists earned an average annual wage of $63,780.
Clinical psychologists
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2024, psychologists earned an average annual wage of $94,31.
Job outlook for therapists and clinical psychologists
Employment in the mental health professions is expected to grow faster than average across all occupations through 2034. According to the BLS, employment for:
- Marriage and family therapists will grow 13%.
- Psychologists will grow 6%.
Reasons for the increase in demand include:
- The rise in addiction and abuse of substances such as opioids.
- The aging population.
- Military veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress.
- Increased awareness of mental health disorders such as autism.
- Increased awareness of the connection between mental health and learning disorders.
Explore online mental health degrees
Earning your degree in mental health can prepare you to work with people and communities as a psychologist or therapist. Online programs offer advantages that classroom-based programs might not, including flexibility so you can study on your own schedule. OnlineCounselingPrograms.com is packed with information for aspiring therapists and clinical psychologists in our mental health degree section.
Information last updated: March 2026