Types of Mental Health Professionals
There are many types of mental health professionals who can help you recover, and each one specializes in a particular approach to treatment inside the two main divisions of therapy or medication treatment plans. Mental health professionals fall into four main categories:
- Those who prescribe and monitor medication: primary care doctors, psychiatrists, psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioners
- Therapists: primary care doctors, psychiatric or mental health nurses, psychologists
- Counselors: clinical social workers, counselors, pastoral counselors
- Peer specialists: social workers, psychiatric pharmacists
The following professionals are able to prescribe medication. They may also provide assessments, diagnoses and therapy.
Primary Care Physicians
Primary care physicians and pediatricians can prescribe medication but it may be wise to consider a visit to someone who specializes in mental health care. Primary care and mental health professionals should work together to determine the best treatment plan for each person. Shortages of health care professionals are not uncommon in many parts of the country. As a consequence, more primary care physicians are being trained and equipped to provide mental health care.
- Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors with medical and psychiatric training. They can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe and monitor medications. Psychiatrists are also able to offer counseling and provide therapy. Some have special training in child and adolescent mental health or substance use disorders or geriatric psychiatry. - Psychiatric or Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
Psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioners with a master’s or doctoral degree and specialized training can provide assessment, diagnosis and therapy for mental health conditions or substance use disorders. In some states, they are required to work under a psychiatrist’s supervision.
In some states physician assistants or nurse practitionersare also qualified to prescribe medication.
A therapist can help someone better understand and cope with their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. The therapist can provide guidance and help improve the ability to reach recovery goals. These mental health professionals may also help assess and diagnosis mental illness.
- Primary Care Physicians
Clinical psychologists with a doctoral degree in psychology are trained to make diagnoses and provide individual and group therapy. Some may have training in specific forms of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy, along with other behavioral therapy interventions. - Psychiatric or Mental Health Nurses
Psychiatric or mental health nurses may have various degrees ranging from a nurse with an associate’s degree to a nurse with a doctorate degree as a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Depending on their education and licensing, services can include assessment and treatment of mental health conditions, case management and therapy. - School Psychologists
School psychologists with advanced degrees in psychology are trained to make diagnoses, provide individual and group therapy and work with parents, teachers and school staff to ensure a healthy school environment. They may also participate in the development of individualized education plans (IEP) to help improve the school experience of the student with a mental health condition.
Working with a counselor can lead to better ways of thinking and living. Counselors assist with developing life skills and improving relationships.
- Clinical Social Workers
Clinical social workers have a master’s degree in social work and are trained to make diagnoses and provide individual and group counseling, case management and advocacy. Clinical social workers often work in hospitals or clinics or in private practice. Licensed, independent social workers (LICSW) have undergone an extra certification process. - Counselors
Counselors are trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. Counselors may focus on different areas and can have titles such as: Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, Marital and Family Therapist. - Pastoral Counselors
Pastoral counselors are clergy members with training in clinical pastoral education. They are trained to diagnose and provide counseling. Pastoral counselors are members of the Association of pastoral Counselors (AAPC) and can have equivalents to a doctorate in counseling. Chaplains are trained in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
Peer specialists have lived experience with a mental health condition or substance use disorder. They have often received training and certification and are prepared to assist with recovery by developing strengths and setting goals.
- Social Workers
Social workers (B.A. or B.S.) provide case management, inpatient discharge planning services, placement services and other services to support healthy living. - Psychiatric Pharmacists
Psychiatric pharmacists work directly with patients and caregivers to apply specialized clinical knowledge and skills to impact treatment outcomes. Psychiatric pharmacists are often doctoral and resident trained to provide comprehensive medication management which involves assessing the efficacy of psychiatric medications, performing medication histories, and providing treatment strategies for a therapeutic plan. Psychiatric pharmacists are most often employed within health care systems such as Veterans Affairs, hospitals, and clinics, and serve as a member of the treatment team in conjunction with a physician