Making the decision to pursue mental health treatment is an incredible milestone. It is your first step toward understanding your thoughts, lightening your emotional load, and building a more meaningful life. With that said, finding the right treatment professional can feel overwhelming. From therapists to psychologists, counselors to psychiatrists, there are many different types of providers available—each with varying credentials, training, and specialties. How do you choose the one that’s right for you?

At a high level, psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, and counselors are all focused on helping people overcome mental, emotional, and behavioral health challenges. However, each type of mental health professional takes a unique approach to providing this support. Some providers offer talk therapy, while others focus on diagnosing conditions and prescribing medications. Certain providers combine approaches to ensure well-rounded care. 

This guide will help you understand what sets each type of specialist apart, and how to go about finding the right mental health treatment provider for your needs.

Therapists

What is a therapist?

A therapist, also known as a psychotherapist, is a professional that’s been trained in talk therapy. Therapists help their clients understand and work through emotions, behaviors, and thought patterns. They provide emotional support to clients, particularly those going through life changes or difficult periods, and work with clients to develop coping skills to manage stress, grief, and other symptoms. 

It’s important to note that “therapist” is a broad career title, not a specific credential. Any mental health treatment provider (such as counselors, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers) can be a therapist if they have been trained in – and practice – talk therapy. Therapists usually have a master’s degree and a license to practice in a specific specialty. For example, therapists might specialize in:

• Marriage and family therapy (MFT)
• Substance abuse or addiction
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Art or music therapy

When to see a therapist

If you are looking for regular, emotional support—someone to lean on through daily challenges—finding a therapist is a great starting point. Therapists can help you get to the root of your struggles, work through difficult situations and symptoms, and show you some coping skills to use in everyday life.

Here are some reasons you might see a therapist:

• Emotional support: 

You are experiencing difficult emotions, frequent stress, or negative thoughts and would like help working through them. 

• Overcoming challenges:

If you’re navigating changes in your life, dealing with relationship issues, coping with grief, or looking to improve other aspects of your life (e.g. work or school challenges), a therapist can help.

• Mental health struggles: 

You are experiencing issues with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, or other mental health conditions that can benefit from talk therapy.

• Coping strategies:

You are looking for healthy ways to handle stress and other difficult emotions, as well as tips for improving your relationships and overall well-being.

Counselors

What is a counselor?

A counselor is a mental health professional that delivers short-term, goal-oriented care to people in need. Typically, counselors practice in certain specialties (e.g. marriage counseling) or work with specific demographics (e.g. school-age children). This title is often used interchangeably with therapist, but there are some distinctions. For example, therapists are typically focused on longer-term mental health patterns and care, while counselors focus on helping clients through situational issues, like moving to a new place or working through a family conflict.

Common types of counselors include:

• Mental health counselors (LPC, LMHC)
• Marriage and family counselors (LMFT)
• School counselors
• Career counselors
• Grief counselors
• Substance abuse and addiction counselors (LADC, LCADC)

When to see a counselor

If you are seeking help with specific challenges in your life, such as a job loss, relationship struggle, or conflict at school/work, a counselor can be extremely helpful. Below are some common reasons you might speak with a counselor:

• Specific life challenge:

You’re struggling with something specific: The loss of a loved one, a career change, a divorce or family issue, conflicts at school (e.g. bullying or academic troubles), or challenging phase of life, like adolescence or motherhood.

• Specialty care:

You’re seeking help and support from someone who is trained and experienced in your specific issue, whether that’s marriage problems, academic struggles, postpartum support, career counseling, etc. 

• Short-term goals:

You have certain goals you’d like to meet, like rebuilding your relationship or self-confidence. You are seeking practical strategies and coping techniques to navigate an immediate situation in your life.

Psychologists

What is a psychologist?

A psychologist is a trained mental health professional who holds a doctoral degree and, as a result, more autonomy when providing care. Specifically, psychologists have the ability to carry out psychological testing, diagnose mental health conditions like bipolar disorder or major depression, and provide treatment (often in the form of psychotherapy). The level of care provided by psychologists is advanced, as they have several years of training under their belts in addition to licensure.

While psychologists offer advanced care, they are not medical doctors. They cannot administer or prescribe medications. They can, however, conduct advanced psychological assessments and provide clinically informed, evidence-based therapy to help clients through mental health struggles.

When to see a psychologist

If you are struggling with a potential mental health disorder and need a formal diagnosis, a psychologist can provide the testing and analysis required. Psychologists are trained to help people with more severe mental health conditions, like anxiety disorder, severe depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. They provide evidence-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Here is when you should consider seeing a psychologist:

• Psychological testing:

You need formal psychological testing or a neuropsychological assessment.

• Mental health diagnoses:

You are seeking a formal diagnosis for ongoing, long-term mental health struggles.

• Complex conditions:

You are struggling with complex mental health conditions like PTSD or bipolar disorder, or struggling with multiple, co-occurring disorders and seeking professional help.

• Long-term, structured therapy:

Complex symptoms are requiring a more structured or advanced approach to therapy than you’ve previously received.

Psychiatrists

What is a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor that specializes in mental health. Psychiatrists have completed medical school (with a concentration in psychiatry), earned their doctorate, and now have the ability to medically manage severe mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression. With their advanced clinical training, psychiatrists can conduct medical evaluations, order medical tests, and prescribe medications. Some psychiatrists will offer therapy, but it’s not typically their core focus.

When to see a psychiatrist

If you are struggling with a severe mental health disorder (or multiple, complex conditions), you may consider seeing a psychiatrist. You may also see a psychiatrist if you’re seeking medically-assisted treatment for your condition(s).

Here are the most common reasons to see a psychiatrist:

• Medical diagnosis is needed:

Because psychiatrists are among the only mental health treatment providers with medical training, they have the ability to order and analyze diagnostic tests, as well as provide assessments for mental health diagnoses. If you need a mental health diagnosis, psychiatrists can provide this.

• Underlying medical condition is present:

If you’re struggling with a biological or medical condition outside of the mental health sphere, and it may be contributing to your mental health symptoms, you might benefit from seeing a psychiatrist.

• Medication is needed:

If you need psychiatric medication, or are already taking medication and looking for a provider to oversee your treatment, a psychiatrist is a great option.

Therapists vs. Counselors vs. Psychologists vs. Psychiatrists

We’ve broken down each of these mental health providers, but the question remains: How do you choose the best provider for your needs? First, let’s review the key differences between each professional and why you might pursue their treatment:

How to Choose the Right Mental Health Treatment Provider

As you navigate your options, it’s important to note that this decision is not binary. You do not need to choose one type of treatment provider. Mental health symptoms can evolve, and your treatment must adapt to your unique needs and circumstances. As such, you might begin by seeing a therapist and then learn you need medication-assisted treatment. 

Because mental health treatment is complex, and people have constantly-changing needs, the best mental health treatment facilities will combine approaches and have the support of a range of providers and specialists. 

At Turnbridge, for example, we are focused on providing evidence-based therapy to our clients, with personalized treatment plans designed around their needs and a diversity of professionals to support their recovery journey. Our multidisciplinary team includes therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, advanced practice registered nurses, case managers, and more—all working together to provide holistic, well-rounded care for each client in need.

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues and seeking support, you can always call Turnbridge for guidance. We can assess your concerns and help you take the first steps to getting treatment, whether that’s through outpatient therapy or a residential treatment program. Contact us at 877-581-1793 today to speak with a specialist. Or explore our mental health treatment programs for young adults and teens online.