M.Home health care isn’t the easiest area to get around – it’s basically the messier, more expensive, and more complicated cousin of the messy, expensive, and complicated American healthcare system. Anyone who has tried to seek help with this knows that AF can be confusing. There are so many different types of practitioners, and their abbreviations mean nothing to most people (WTF is an LMFT?!?), So how are you going to figure out which ones to see when you are feeling depressed or anxious, or when you need to Do you need help navigating a relationship etc?

Hopefully the glossary below will help shed some light on the subject and act as a guide for your next mental health appointment. And if you need more help, your GP should be able to point you in the right direction. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is also a great resource.

Mental Health Health Practitioners: A Glossary

Psychologists

Psychologists are trained to help people cope with specific mental health problems or just the challenges of everyday life. You do this through clinical interviews (also known as those hour-long sessions on the “couch”) and may have psychological tests or other assessments. Of all psychiatrists, apart from psychiatrists, psychologists go through the most training courses, which on average take about seven more years after completing their bachelor’s degree. Some are trained in specializations such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is useful for many mental disorders, and dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), which is often used to treat borderline personality disorders.

Degrees: Psychologists have a doctorate, e.g. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in a field of psychology or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).

Licenses / credentials: Psychologists are licensed by the licensing authorities in the states where they practice.

Consultants, doctors and therapists

Counselors, clinicians and therapists have Masters degrees and are trained in specific areas such as family counseling / therapy. The exact title they are given often depends on the environment they are practicing in, and they can often be used interchangeably. The abbreviations after their names are used to identify their specific training. (For example, if you are looking for a therapist, you may see the abbreviation LMFT a lot – this means the therapist is trained in marriage and family therapy.) You will then use the techniques learned through that training to help you with difficult problems Deal with situations, navigate relationships, or improve your general psychological wellbeing.

Degrees: These mental health professionals have a master’s degree in a mental health-related field such as psychology or family therapy.

Licenses / Certification: Licenses vary by state and area of ​​expertise, but you can often see the following abbreviations: LPC (Licensed Professional Consultant); LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist); and LCADAC (Licensed Clinical Advisor on Alcohol and Drug Abuse).

Clinical social workers

Clinical social workers are trained to assess a person’s mental health or wellbeing in the context of their environment, which includes their community, family, job, etc. In essence, they marry the expertise of a therapist / counselor / clinician with that of a social worker (more on this job title below). In addition to providing therapeutic services to individuals and families, they can also stand up for their patients in court.

Degrees: Clinical social workers must have a master’s degree in social work (MSW).

Licenses / credentials: Licenses vary but include: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW); Licensed Independent Social Worker (LICSW); Academy for Certified Social Workers (ACSW).

Social worker

Essentially helpers and problem solvers, social workers can step in in crisis situations, e. or other social services.

Degrees: Social workers need a bachelor’s degree.

psychiatrist

Psychiatrists differ from psychologists in that they have medical degrees (MDs as opposed to PhDs) with special training in psychiatry. Because of this, they can prescribe medication. In addition to the diagnosis and medical treatment of mental illnesses, they can also offer therapies. Some specialize in areas such as adolescent psychiatry or substance abuse.

Degrees: Psychiatrists must have either a doctor of medicine (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) and complete specialist training in psychiatry.

Licenses / credentials: Psychiatrists are licensed by the states they practice in, and some may also be named board-certified by the Board of Neurology and Psychiatry.

Psychiatry / Psychiatric Nurses

These nurses can do most of what a psychiatrist can do – they are able to assess and diagnose patients, and offer therapy – in certain states they can even prescribe medication. They may or may not require the supervision of a psychiatrist depending on where they practice.

Degrees: Psychiatric nurses must have either a Master of Science (MS) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in nursing with a psychiatric specialization.

Licenses / credentials: Licenses vary by state, but you can see the following abbreviations: NCLEX, which stands for the National Council Licensure Examination; and PMHNP-BC, which stands for certification from the American Academy of Nurses Credentialing Center in Psychiatric Nursing.

Psychiatric pharmacists

A psychiatrist specializes in psychiatric drugs. Their main area of ​​expertise is drug management, which means they monitor and modify drugs based on patient reviews. In some states, they can even prescribe medication themselves.

Degrees: Psychiatric pharmacists have a doctorate in pharmacy (PharmD) and often complete psychiatric pharmacist training.

Licenses / credentials: These mental health professionals are licensed by the state in which they practice. They can also be certified by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.

Family doctors

General practitioners are the general practitioners who you visit for general preventive examinations or as the first point of contact with the medical system if you have a health problem and do not yet know which specialist to consult. They can prescribe and monitor psychiatric medication, but will often refer you to a specialist.

Degrees: General practitioners must have either a doctor of medicine (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO).

Licenses / credentials: Physicians are licensed by the states in which they practice.

Home nurse

Home nurses can do many of the same things your GP can do, including prescribing psychiatric medications. However, they will often refer you to specialized nursing staff as well.

Degrees: Nurses must have a Master of Science (MS) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Nursing.

Licenses / credentials: Nurse practitioners are certified in the state where they practice. You may see the following abbreviations next to their names: NCLEX, which stands for National Council Licensure Examination; and FNP-BC, which stands for Family Nurse Practitioner Board Certified.

Certified peer specialists

A certified peer specialist is someone who has been through the situation of the patient in need of treatment, e.g. B. a specific psychological problem or substance abuse. They are trained to help individuals recover.

Licenses / credentials: Certifications vary

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