Types of mental health providers and how to find the right provider.

You have realized you need more support managing life’s struggles than your family or friends can provide. You don’t want to “trauma dump” on those closest to you, but you find it hard to manage your emotions on your own.

Mental health professionals can help provide a safe and unbiased place to address the struggles you are dealing with and provide you with concrete tools to manage those concerns.

Doing a quick google search will bring up lots of options, but who is the right choice for what you need? What mental health services are available? Which mental health providers can prescribe medication? Do you need a therapist, counselor, or doctor? If you don’t have the answers to these questions, it makes it difficult to know whether you are looking for help in the right place.

Through understanding the different types of mental health providers and their areas of specialty, you can help yourself find the appropriate provider and overcome the struggles you are experiencing.

Types of licensed mental health professionals

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists (Dr) have gone to medical school and have completed psychiatric training. This specialized training focuses on an understanding of mental health conditions, physical health, and how to treat these conditions with medication. Typically, you would see a psychiatrist to manage mental health concerns with medication. Some psychiatrists will provide therapy in conjunction with medication management and diagnosis, but this is generally not their focus.  

Psychologist

A Psychologist (PsyD/ PhD/EdD) has obtained a doctoral degree in the study of psychology. Based on their training and experience they can diagnosis and treat mental health concerns. They are also able to provide psychological testing. Psychological testing is used to help determine the cause of your symptoms and how to best treat them based on the information obtained from these tests.

Psychiatric or Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners (NP) are masters or doctoral level professionals that have completed advanced training beyond their registered nursing (RN) requirements. In their training they can choose to specialize in mental health which gives them the tools they need to diagnosis and treat mental health concerns. In some states these providers can prescribe medication.

Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Mental Health Counselor

A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC/LMHC) is a master’s level clinician. They have completed their course work in counseling, psychology, or a related field. To obtain their license, they must complete several thousand hours of training under the supervision of a licensed therapist. These professionals can diagnosis and treat mental health concerns through counseling or therapy. These professionals may work with individuals, couples, or families depending on their experience and training.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is a master’s level clinician that has completed similar coursework as a Licensed Professional Counselor with more of an emphasis on couples, children, and/or family counseling. These professionals must work under the supervision of a licensed therapist before they are able to obtain their license. These professionals may work with individuals, but their focus is on healing and changing family dynamics.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is at least a master’s level clinician that has an educational background in social work. Their licensing requirements are like those of Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists with the added component of case management. This allows Licensed Clinical Social Workers to provide counseling or therapy and case management to help advocate for their clients/patients. You will often find Licensed Clinical Social Workers in settings like hospitals or in traditional clinical settings.

Other professionals that may come across in your search for a mental health provider

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

A Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor is a professional that treats alcohol and substance abuse. These professionals have a high school diploma or have continued their education. They must complete several hundred hours under supervision before they are able to practice independently. Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselors help their clients identify and address the impact of substance use on their life and relationships.  

Peer Specialist

A peer specialist is someone with lived experience with mental health struggles or diagnosis. Because of their lived experience they have decided to help others manage similar struggles. These individuals may or may not be trained to help others navigate these concerns. Their focus is on providing support and mentorship to their clients as they navigate their mental health and wellbeing.  

Pastoral Counselors

Pastoral Counselors can be ministers, chaplains, pastors etc. Their level of training varies from those that solely have spiritual training and education to those that have been formally trained in mental health treatment. Their focus is on the relationship between spiritual matters and how that impacts your daily life. Through this integration, Pastor Counselors help those they work with deepen their spiritual walk.  One thing to consider is that their requirements for confidentiality may differ from those of licensed mental health professionals.  

Life Coach

A life coach is an individual that helps their clients set and accomplish goals. Their focus tends to be on what is going on currently and where the client would like to be in the future. Often life coaches have experienced the struggles they help their clients with. This life experience often creates the foundation for their coaching programs or individual sessions. Something to keep in mind is there are no set education or certification requirements to be a Life Coach, but there are certification programs coaches may elect to complete.

Where to find a licensed mental health provider and how to get started.

There are several places you can search for a licensed mental health provider if you do not have any personal referrals. Of course, you can do a google search of providers in your area based on your concerns, but there are several therapist directories like Psychology Today, TherapyDen, or Therapy for Black Girls that can help you find a licensed mental health provider. These directories allow you to filter your search by location, specialty, and cost/insurance.

Be mindful of your location filters. Licensed providers are only able to see clients where they are licensed. For most licensed providers you also need to be in their state of licensure at the time of your appointment.

Once you have started your search to find the right provider, requesting a consultation is a great way to get a feel for how they work and their specializations. Having a provider that specializes in your area of concern can help you effectively accomplish your goals.

You also want to feel comfortable with them. A consultation can give you a glimpse into what it would be like to share vulnerable things with them (when you are ready of course). Just know that it may take some time to build that level of comfort, but it will be worth it as you start accomplishing your goals.

References

National Alliance of Mental Illness. (April 2020) Types of Mental Health Providers. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Types-of-Mental-Health-Professionals.

Scaling, J. (Dec. 8, 2021). Guide to Psychiatry and Counseling. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling