A psychologist or a therapist? Now that you are ready for a professional intervention, your next step is to decide who to seek help from. You need to know the basic similarities and differences between the different types of emotional health professional to make a smart and fitting decision. You must also decide if you can benefit more from in-person or telemental health, popularly called online counseling.

How to compare the two?

• They have identical objectives. The results that these professionals aim to achieve are the same. Generally, the result they want is to improve the overall quality of their clients’ lives. This happens when their functioning is restored, when they are able to control the ‘controllable’ aspects of life, and when their ability to make decisions are enabled.
• The clinical approaches are similar. The methods and approaches that the therapists and psychologists use in making the diagnosis and in evaluating their signs and symptoms are actually the same. The way they develop treatment plans are also similar.
• The nature or scope of work overlap. Having the same objectives and employing similar clinical approaches in their work, the possibility of overlapping work is high. This explains why the general public has difficulty differentiating the two.

The Work of a Psychologist

To become a full-pledged psychologist, one must finish an advanced degree-either a PhD or PsyD – a doctorate degree program in psychology. They must also be supervised and pass board exams to apply for a license in order to practice emotional/behavioral health care. Their academic background can prepare them to become social scientists who can teach and do research, should they choose to move in that direction.

In their practice, they undertake the clinical appraisal of symptoms for a methodical diagnosis of the client’s condition or for fair assessment of the state of their emotional/behavioral health. They make therapy plans that show how to support and guide you. They may also partner with other professionals for an integrated treatment.

The Work of a Therapist

The word ‘therapy’ is an umbrella of a number of licensed mental health professionals. To be able to perform counseling/therapy work, they must be able to graduate from college and must finish a master’s or doctorate degree in any of the following disciplines: social work, psychiatry, counseling, or marriage and family counseling. They will then be supervised, take board exams for licensure and complete continuing education to maintain their licensure.

Simply, a therapist can be – a social worker, marriage counselor, family therapist, or a clinical psychologist. You have choices. To make the right decision, research and ask the right questions. Consider their academic background, experience, affiliations, and their personal traits, many of which will be on a therapist’s profile on the updated website.

Who can help you?

According to Bridgett and Lilly (2013), two questions that can help you finalize your decision are:

• “What is the problem that needs to be treated?”
• What is the best treatment?

The first question identifies the goal of therapy, which can indicate who can help you best. Knowing the best standard treatment for your concern can also lead you to the right professional who trained for the job.

Finding the right professional may not be as easy as just choosing between a psychologist and a therapist. There are a lot of options, especially in the Big Web, if you are doing teletherapy or online counseling. For a successful counseling or therapy, it is best to work with Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina (N. Main St.), NC. CCS is backed by almost three decades of counseling experience. With its telemental health, you can now do counseling without the challenges of face-to-face therapy. Contact us for your appointment.