Search By Provider Type

Below are the most common professional titles you’ll meet while searching for support. “Therapist,” “counselor,” and “clinician” are umbrella terms; the provider’s license determines the scope of practice, insurance billing, and legal accountability.

License	Typical Education & Training	Can Diagnose?	Can Prescribe?
Psychiatrist (MD/DO)	4 yrs medical school + 4 yrs psychiatric residency	✔	✔
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)	BSN + 2–4 yrs graduate nursing	✔	✔ (varies by state)
Clinical Psychologist (PhD/PsyD)	5–7 yrs doctoral study + internship + postdoc	✔	✖
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)	2 yr MSW + 2–3 yrs supervised practice	✔	✖
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC/LPC-MH, etc.)	2 yr master’s + 2–3 yrs supervised practice	✔	✖
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)	2 yr master’s + 2–3 yrs supervised practice focused on systems work	✔	✖
Certified Peer Specialist / Coach	State certification or private program	✖	✖

Below is a closer look at how each provider type can help and when they’re most beneficial.

• Psychiatrist (MD/DO) – Physicians who specialize in mental disorders. Ideal for complex diagnoses (e.g., bipolar disorder), medication management, or when hospitalization may be needed. Many also offer psychotherapy but often focus on 20- to 30-minute medication visits.
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Advanced practice nurses who can assess, diagnose, and prescribe. They bring a holistic, nursing-centered lens and are often more available than psychiatrists for routine med follow-ups.
• Clinical Psychologist (PhD/PsyD) – Experts in assessment, testing, and evidence-based talk therapy such as CBT, ACT, or DBT. Some specialize in neuropsychological evaluations for ADHD, dementia, or learning differences.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – Provide therapy and are skilled at connecting clients with community resources (housing, benefits, support groups). Helpful when social determinants such as finances or caregiving stress compound mental-health symptoms.
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – Focus on individual, group, or couples therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. Training emphasizes counseling techniques and human development.
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) – Specialize in relational and systemic therapy. Effective for couples counseling, family conflict, parenting issues, and situations where one member’s symptoms affect the whole household.
• Certified Peer Specialist / Coach – Individuals with lived experience of recovery, trained to provide hope, accountability, and skills practice. Best as an adjunct to clinical care or for maintenance after therapy ends.

Other terms you might hear:

• Caregiver: Family members, as well as specially trained caregivers, who provide in-home assistance, community programs, and residential support. They allow long-term care and participation in community life.
• Case Manager: A provider appointed by a mental-health service to plan and oversee recovery. They coordinate services, schedule assessments, and help implement treatment plans.

Think about symptoms, goals, and preferred style:

Need	Good Starting Point
First-time therapy for anxiety or mild depression	LPC, LCSW, LMFT, or psychologist
Medication evaluation or treatment-resistant condition	Psychiatrist or PMHNP
Relationship distress or parenting conflict	LMFT
Formal psychological testing (ADHD, autism, learning)	Psychologist
Dual needs (therapy + meds)	Therapist + psychiatrist/PMHNP team
Navigation of benefits, housing, and caregiving	LCSW
Extra motivation, peer accountability	Certified peer specialist/coach

Stepped-care approach: Start with the least intensive service that is likely to be effective, then “step up” to higher intensity (e.g., add medication, move to intensive outpatient) if progress stalls. This model balances access, cost, and clinical need.

• License verification: Every state licensing board offers a public lookup. Enter the professional’s last name to confirm active status and review any disciplinary actions.
• Board certification vs. licensure: For physicians, board certification in psychiatry indicates passing rigorous specialty exams beyond a general medical license.
• Advanced training badges: Examples include EMDR (trauma), DBT (emotion regulation), Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C), eating-disorder certifications, LGBTQIA+ competency certificates, and culturally specific programs.
• Continuing-education record: Most boards require annual learning hours; a therapist who regularly trains in evidence-based modalities is more likely to offer up-to-date care.
• Professional affiliations: Membership in associations (e.g., American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers) may signal adherence to ethical codes and best practices.

• Private practice (in-person or virtual): Offers flexibility in scheduling and modality. Often shorter wait times but may be out-of-network.
• Telehealth-only platforms: Provide statewide access, evening/weekend slots, and easy switching if the match isn’t right. Good for rural areas or busy schedules.
• Community mental health centers & FQHCs: Sliding-scale or Medicaid-friendly, integrated with primary care. Waitlists can be longer, but services are comprehensive.
• Hospital outpatient programs & partial-hospitalization programs (PHP/IOP): Structured, multidisciplinary care several hours a day. Useful for moderate-to-severe symptoms that don’t require 24/7 hospitalization.
• College counseling centers & employee-assistance programs (EAPs): Short-term, goal-focused therapy plus referrals; great first stop for students or employees needing brief intervention.

Modern mental-health delivery increasingly involves teams rather than silos.

Model	Who’s Involved	When It Helps
Primary-Care Behavioral Health (PCBH)	Primary-care doctor + embedded therapist	Mild-to-moderate anxiety/depression managed in a familiar setting
Collaborative Care Model (CoCM)	Primary-care doctor + care manager + consulting psychiatrist	Med-management support in primary care improves outcomes and reduces wait times
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)	Psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, peers, dietitians	Moderate-to-severe symptoms requiring several hours of therapy multiple days per week
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)	Multidisciplinary hospital team	Step down from inpatient or step up from outpatient when safety allows
Specialty clinics (eating disorders, PTSD, OCD)	Highly trained clinicians using protocol-driven care	Complex cases needing concentrated expertise

Tip If you’re Coordinating Care Yourself: If you work with both a therapist and a prescriber, sign a release of information so they can share progress notes. This prevents duplicated efforts, conflicting advice, and medication interactions.

A good place to start is to consider your specific needs and priorities. What do you hope to get out of your experience? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. Does the provider have experience working with issues like mine?
2. Is it important that the provider share similar cultural identities to me, such as race, gender, or spirituality?
3. Can the provider accommodate my mobility needs, such as having an elevator or first-floor access with no-step entry?
4. Does the provider speak the language(s) I feel most comfortable expressing my emotions in?
5. Is the provider available when I am?

Ultimately, the provider who is right for you is someone who feels trustworthy and who is well-equipped to help you meet your goals. Just like with any relationship, some providers are a good fit for some clients, and some aren't.

One way to assess fit is to see how you feel during your first contact with the provider. Many providers require an initial consultation call before you can schedule an appointment with them. This way you can see if they are a good fit before you start working together. It’s a good idea to be prepared with a list of questions you want to ask so that you can make an informed decision. Many providers check in with their clients to see how therapy is going so that you can adjust accordingly. If they don’t ask, we encourage you to give your provider feedback about what’s working and not working along the way.

How do I know if I need to see someone for my mental health?

Every person struggles with their mental health at some point in their lives. Using coping strategies that you’ve developed over time or talking with people you trust can often help you get over the hurdles you face in life. At times these just may not feel like enough. Many people seek out the help of a professional when their ability to cope has been overwhelmed or they want a fresh perspective. If you are spending a lot of time dealing with an issue or it’s significantly interfering with some part of your life, it may be time to seek out help.

Who should I contact if I’m looking for talk therapy?

Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is a collaboration between you and a mental health provider based in dialogue. There are many approaches to psychotherapy and many types of providers that can help you learn the skills you need to overcome your challenges. Mental health providers that are trained to provide psychotherapy include marriage and family therapists, counselors, psychologists, clinical social workers and psychiatrists.

Who can prescribe medications?

Providers who are licensed to prescribe medicine often include psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses (a specific type of NP), clinical nurse specialists, primary care physicians, and physician assistants. Depending on which state you live in, different providers may be allowed to prescribe.

These providers may also offer talk therapy if they have received additional training. Talk therapy can help you alongside medicine.

I’m under the age of 18, do I need parental consent to receive therapy?

You may or may not need consent depending on state laws. See this review of state laws on parental consent for mental health treatment: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4393016/

How long will I be in treatment?

Every person has different needs when it comes to their mental health, so the length of treatment is different for everyone. Ultimately, how long you stay in treatment is up to you. Factors that may impact your length of treatment include the severity of your concerns, how long it takes for you to feel comfortable and to open up with your provider, how frequently you meet, and other life events are going on outside of treatment.

Having a conversation about how long treatment may take is a good one to have with your provider. The goal is always to feel better so you can “graduate” from care. Once you are finished, you can always return for a “tune-up” when needed.

How does confidentiality work?

Confidentiality between a mental health provider and a client means that whatever you tell your provider stays between you and your provider. Even the fact that you are meeting with a provider is confidential. If you want anyone to be able to communicate with your provider about your treatment or for your provider to share your records, you will need to sign a release of information first. Your provider will have this document and can help you fill it out. There are very few exceptions for when a provider is legally obligated to break confidentiality. Providers are obligated to share these at the outset of treatment. They vary by state, but most commonly include:

• Imminent danger to self or others: If a provider believes that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or someone else, they will contact the police or other authorities to ensure that you and others are safe.
• Abuse of a child or vulnerable adult: If a provider believes that a child or an adult who is unable to care for themselves is being abused, they will call your local child and family protective agencies.
• Records are court-ordered: If your records are court-ordered, your provider will do what they can to continue to protect your confidentiality, and often negotiate with the court to only release certain information. In some cases, they may not have a choice except to release your entire record or to testify. These cases are rare, and you will typically know before you seek treatment if a court order may be issued (e.g., a child custody case).

Your provider will explain these at the outset of treatment.

How do I know if I should change providers?

Making a great connection with a provider is exciting. We trust their approach, feel safe opening up to them, and make progress toward our goals. Not all providers and clients are a good fit, though. If you are not feeling a connection with your provider and it’s getting in the way of you meeting your goals, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Do I feel supported? A good provider will challenge you, yet will do so with compassion and understanding.
• Does my provider listen to me and understand what I say?
• Is my provider reliable?
• Does my provider push their own values on me?
• Am I making progress toward my goals?
• Does my therapist just tell me what to do rather than teaching me the skills to find my own solutions?
• Does my provider have the expertise to treat my issues?
• Is my provider crossing any boundaries that make me feel uncomfortable?

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but you should feel a change after a few months, not years. If your provider is saying it will take a few years, then you should be able to discuss this openly with your provider and come up with a better solution. If not, you should consider seeing a different provider.

What if I want a provider with specific identities?

Sometimes, meeting with a provider with specific identities can make us feel more comfortable. For example, you might find a female-id entified provider easier to talk to because you are used to talking with your mom about your problems. You may also feel more comfortable speaking to someone who shares your religious background because your spiritual values are very important to you. Other times, your decision to meet with a particular type of provider may be based on a need to feel safe and comfortable after an experience of gendered trauma, such as wanting to meet with a male provider after being sexually abused by a woman. You may also prefer to meet with a provider who speaks your primary language because it is easier to process emotions without translating them at the same time. Based on your own identities, you may have encountered discrimination, stereotyping, or identity-related trauma (e.g., racism, transphobia, homophobia). These lived experiences can have serious, negative consequences on your mental health. Meeting with someone who shares your identity may help you feel more secure that you can avoid explaining how you have been impacted.