Therapist Titles and the Requirements Behind Them
Psychotherapy is conducted by a professional with specialized training.
This includes therapy provided by a psychiatrist, psychologist, trained counselor, or social worker.
But how can we make sense of the alphabet soup after their names?
VOISIN / Getty Images
Abbreviated therapist titles can represent a few different things.
Among them are theirlevel of educationand whether they hold a professional license or certification.
When unsure about a psychotherapist’s credentials, ask.
Inquiring about their credentials is just one of thequestions to ask a new therapist.
These degrees can be broadly categorized based on whether they are a doctorate or master’s.
Here are doctorate-level abbreviations formental health professionals who provide psychotherapy.
Just because someone calls themselves a doctor doesn’t mean that they are qualified to offer mental health treatment.
They could just as easily have a Ph.D. in English or archaeology.
If in doubt, ask to see their full credentials.
(Medical Doctor)
Psychiatrists are M.D.sbecause they possess a medical degree.
This enables them to prescribe medications for mental health conditions, as well as administer psychotherapy.
Training for an M.D.
After passing the Medical Competency Aptitude Test (MCAT), students enroll in medical school.
After medical school, students pursuing psychiatry must complete a four-year residency in their specialty area.
M.D.s are also required to pass tests to earn a medical license and obtain medical board certification.
typically takes around 4 to 6 years to complete and concentrates more on professional practice rather than research.
Coursework is focused on topics such as diagnosis, assessment, and clinical interventions.
Both a Ph.D. and Psy.D.
require that students complete a supervised internship in a professional setting and pass state exams for be licensed.
(Doctor of Ministry)
The Doctor of Ministry is a degree that may be held by a minister.
degree is a professional degree that allows religious ministers to offer pastoral counseling.
Licensed counselors in the U.S. use different titles depending on their area of expertise.
Instead of being issued by a state’s regulatory agency, they are issued by an accrediting agency.
Accrediting agencies are tasked with establishing and confirming the level of competency needed to earn that credential.
To obtain a certification, psychology professionals must pass a competency exam.
A certification requires the professional to pass a competency exam whereas a license does not.
Some certifications seen in the psychology field include:
Physicians like psychiatrists can become board-certified in their chosen specialty.
Options include:
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc.General public.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.How to become a psychologist.
The Association of Theological Schools.The ATS Educational Models and Practices Project.
National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals.Certification.
American Board of Professional Psychology.General requirements.
