Mental Health Provider Descriptions

Mental Health Counselors

Mental Health Counselors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat emotional and mental disorders and to promote mental health. They are trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address issues, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress, problems with self-esteem, and grief. They also help with job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, marital, or other relationship problems.

Mental Health Counselors have at least a Masters degree and some have Doctoral degrees. They must undergo a supervised clinical field internship and have at least 2 years of postgraduate supervised work employment. Most states require that couselors be licensed. Mental Health Counselors work in private practice, agencies, hospitals and other institutions.

Clinical Social Workers

Clinical social workers provide mental health services for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders in individuals, families, and groups. Their goal is to enhance and maintain their patients’ physical, psychological, and social function.

Clinical social workers must have a master’s or doctorate degree in social work, with an emphasis on clinical experience. They must undergo a supervised clinical field internship and have at least 2 years of postgraduate supervised clinical social work employment. Most states require that couselors be licensed.

Clinical social workers practice in the following settings: private practice, medical facilities (e.g., hospitals), mental health clinics, child welfare agencies, schools

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the problems of mental illness. They complete a three year residency in psychiatry. As physicians, they are licensed to use a very wide variety of treatment and may write prescriptions. Psychiatrists may work for the government, have their own private practice, or work in hospitals, clinics, or universities.

Their duties include: designing treatment programs, conducting psychotherapy sessions, prescribing potent mental illness drugs, leading a team of mental health care providers. Psychiatrists must have a Medical degree and be licensed to practice medicine.

Psychologists

Psychologists study the behavior and actions of people to understand, explain, and change their behavior patterns. They also provide counseling and therapy to those with emotional, learning, and behavior problems. Psychologists must have a Doctoral degree in most states and must be licensed. Psychologists work in schools, clinics, hospitals, and private practice. They can specialize in clinical, educational, quantitative, developmental, social, experimental, and industrial-organizational psychology.

Their duties often include: diagnosing and treating problems, interviewing and observing patients, developing, selecting, and administering tests, counseling patients, groups, and families, Developing mental health programs, conducting research and teaching.