Metal Health Professionals: Credentials Decoded

Why are there SO many credentials that go after the names of mental health professionals? I’ll admit that sometimes even I get confused. First off, please know that I believe that the actual credentials are not as important as fit and experience. So that’s where I would start, but I get asked this a lot so I thought I would break it down for you.

MD (Medical Doctor) In the mental health arena if you are seeing an MD it is someone who went to medical school (hence the medical doctor degree) and then specialized in psychiatry. This person can prescribe medication. Yes, sometimes an internist or general practitioner will prescribe psychotropic medications, but a psychiatrist has received specialized training by completing a residency in psychiatry. Some psychiatrists do both therapy and medication management, and some only do medication management. Typically 4 years of medical school followed by 3-4 years of residency.

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy): A PhD means someone received a Doctor of Philosophy degree. This degree often attracts students who want to focus on research, teaching, and academia. However, they also provide plenty of experience for those who want to practice psychology in a clinical setting or administer psychological tests. Typically 4-6 years of post-graduate schooling followed by 1-2 years of full-time internships.

PsyD (Doctor of Clinical Psychology): This degree is most often pursued by people who are interested in the hands-on, clinical practice of psychology. The training they receive is focused on working directly with patients. The coursework is less focused on research and statistics and more focused on practical work in clinical settings. They are also trained to provide psychological testing. Typically 4-6 years of post-graduate schooling and field work, followed by 1-2 years of full-time internships.

MSW (Master of Social Work): Social workers are trained to help individuals and groups improve their situations with the help of community and government resources. Training will be focused on providing therapy with an emphasis on connecting clients with resources. 2-3 years of post-graduate schooling, generally followed by 2-3 years of supervised clinical work.

LCSW: (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) See MSW but added requirements to pass their state licensure exam.

MA (Master of Arts): In the mental health arena, a Masters of Arts is often in counseling, behavior analysis, clinical psychology, or marriage and family therapy. Generally 2 years of post-graduate schooling with emphasis varying, depending on the focus of the degree.

LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor): Someone who completed a master’s degree and went on to receive additional training to complete all requirements to take, and then pass, their state licensure exam.

These are just a few of the degrees that I see most often. Amazingly, there are even more degrees out there! Another challenge is that each state can have different requirements for what is needed for someone to receive licensure. For example, I am only licensed in the state of Illinois. If I were to move to a different state, I might have to meet additional requirements to be licensed to practice there. I strongly believe that it is important to seek out a licensed practitioner regardless of the degree that person has received. However, I can not emphasize enough the value in finding the right personal fit, regardless of the letters behind that person’s name.