Therapists & Counselors

Social Worker

Clinical social workers (LCSW, LICSW and equivalents) hold a master’s degree in social work plus supervised clinical hours. They are the largest single group of licensed psychotherapy providers in the United States. Training emphasises the person in their environment, so alongside therapy they often help with practical systems — benefits, housing, school and medical coordination.

Counselor

Licensed counselors (LPC, LMHC, LCPC and other state-specific titles) hold a master’s degree in counselling and supervised clinical hours. Scope of practice overlaps substantially with clinical social workers; the difference is mostly one of training tradition rather than what they treat. Title and abbreviation vary by state for the same underlying licence.

Behavior Analyst

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) design and supervise applied behaviour analysis programmes, most often for autistic children and for people with developmental disabilities. This is a distinct service from talk therapy and is usually delivered in sessions run by technicians under supervision.

Marriage & Family Therapist

Marriage and family therapists (LMFT) hold a master’s degree and are trained to treat the relationship rather than only the individual — couples, parents and children, or a whole family seen together. They also see individuals, usually with a focus on relationship patterns.

Psychologist

Psychologists hold a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD or EdD) and are licensed by a state board. They provide talk therapy and are the only non-physician group generally licensed to administer and interpret psychological testing, such as assessments for ADHD, learning disorders or personality. In most states they cannot prescribe medication.

Psychiatry & Neurology

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD or DO) who completed a psychiatry residency. They are the group that can prescribe and manage psychiatric medication, and many practise in coordination with a separate therapist rather than providing weekly therapy themselves.

Clinical Neuropsychologist

Clinical neuropsychologists are psychologists with additional training in how brain conditions affect thinking and behaviour. Their work is weighted toward assessment — memory, attention and executive function testing after a head injury, stroke or suspected dementia — more than ongoing talk therapy.