Mental Health Professionals

If you decide that your child does need help from a mental health professional, your next step will be to choose an agency or private therapist.

A mental health professional is a person formally trained to help people in emotional distress and who has earned some additional credentials, usually in the form of state licensing, certification, or both.

"Therapist," "psychotherapist," or "counselor" are terms most often used to refer to mental health professionals. But these are all general terms that could refer to a professional who is well trained and experienced - as well as to one who may have no formal training and little experience. When looking for a therapist, inquire about his or her professional training and experience. Every profession has its skilled, dedicated, and helpful practitioners. Be sure the person chosen has extensive training and experience in treating children and families and is well respected in the community. Equally important is that he or she can be trusted and treats people with understanding and respect.

It would be far too complicated to explore in depth all of the differences in training, licensing, and/or certification among these major mental health professions, but here is a brief summary:

Psychiatrists (M.D., D.O.): are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional difficulties and who spent four years in residency training after completing medical school. A child psychiatrist will have had additional special training in understanding and working with children and adolescents and their families. Psychiatrists, because they are physicians, are the only mental health professionals who can prescribe medication and supervise its use.

Clinical Psychologists (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D., M.S.): are specially trained in the evaluation and treatment of emotional problems. They work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in an effort to treat and prevent serious problems by helping people cope with stress or crisis, or by helping them reduce stress in their environment. A licensed psychologist has at least a master's degree in psychology (two year's graduate training) and often has a doctorate (five years of training).

Psychiatric or Clinical Social Workers (M.S.W., A.C.S.W., L.C.S.W.): are professional social workers who have earned the degree of Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) and may have completed additional training. Social work training includes working directly with people and under the supervision of other professionals. Social workers who have completed a program approved by the National Association for Social Work receive an A.C.S.W. degree. Some social workers are certified for clinical or psychiatric practice through state licensure (L.C.S.W.). Social workers staff many of the community-based programs in Philadelphia.

Family Therapists (M.F.T., M.S., M.A.): have been trained in graduate programs or special certificate programs designed to give them specific experience and training with families.

Psychiatric Nurses are registered nurses (R.N., B.S.N.) who have had special training and experience working with people in emotional distress. Some may have earned a master's degree (M.S.N.) in a psychiatric/mental health nursing program. They often work closely with psychiatrists or other professionals.

Pastoral Counselors: are not always ministers, priests, etc. Pastoral counselors can also be individuals who have completed a faith-based training program which provides credentials as a pastoral counselor.

Trainees, Interns, Residents: are training for the professions listed above and spend varying amounts of time working as staff members in clinics, counseling agencies, and hospitals as part of their education. They are supervised by members of the permanent staff.

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