FAQ’s

Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors (MDs) who have had additional training in mind-body interaction. Psychiatrists and other physicians can legally prescribe medication for "mental health" problems. Licensed pharmacists can advise on medications, fill prescriptions, and refer to psychiatrists and other health care providers. Psychiatrists usually work with individual adults or children.

Psychologists are trained in individual and group behavior, but usually not in medicine. Licensed clinical psychologists provide therapy and counseling to individual adults and/or kids or groups. Typical psychologists are skilled in using a variety of non-medical tests ("instruments") to help diagnose a person's personality and problems. Like psychiatrists, they often specialize in one or more problem-types. Most psychologists have Master's and Ph.D. degrees. The latter may be called "doctor."

Social Workers usually have less training in instruments, no medical training (unless they work in a hospital), and more training in providing a range of community-networked services to individuals, couples, children, and their families. Licensed psychiatric and clinical social workers provide individual, marital, and family counseling and therapy in public and private agencies; hospital, school, and welfare departments; and private practices. They have Masters (MSW) or Ph.D. level (DSW) degrees, and usually need a state license to practice (LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker).

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) provide therapy and counseling like clinical social workers. MFTs focus more on healing relationship problems than other (generic) therapists. LPCs are more general. They both are licensed by state organizations like the other service providers.