It can be confusing to know what differentiates one mental health practitioner from another and to decide which is best suited to help you. We feel that it is important for you as the consumer to be provided with clear information about the distinctions between professions and the degrees associated with the mental health field so that you may make the best choice for you. A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who can prescribe medication and specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. In some cases Psychiatrists also provide psychotherapy in addition to prescribing medicine. Psychiatry is a specialty in the medical profession and obtaining an MD degree requires a minimum of four years of medical school followed by a residency and possibly a fellowship. Psychologists attend academic programs at nonmedical universities and obtain adoctoral degree focused on conducting research and providing clinical services. Their professional
duties may include research, consultation, psychotherapy and/or assessment. A psychologist is not usually able to prescribe medication (This varies by State. Psychologists are not approved to provide medication in the State of Colorado at this time). Psychologists must be licensed and meet requirements for training maintained by state licensing boards. A psychologist may have a PhD, which is a doctorate of philosophy, a PsyD, which is a doctorate of psychology or in some cases an EdD, which is a doctorate of education. Often people are confused as to the difference between a PsyD and a PhD. Generally the research requirements of a PhD program are more stringent while a PsyD is more clinically focused. Specialties in psychology may include Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Neuropsychology, Educational or School Psychology. A license to practice psychology generally requires four to six years of graduate school training followed by a year
long supervised internship and additional post doctoral work that varies in length. Other practitioners in the mental health field who may practice (provide therapy) include, but are not limited to, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP) and Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBA). These professional degrees all require a minimum of a Master’s degree (usually two to three years in length), clinical supervision and completion of licensure requirements.