Key Takeaways:
Are therapists doctors? Some are, but most are not. Many therapists hold master’s degrees and are fully licensed to diagnose and treat mental health conditions, while psychologists and psychiatrists typically hold doctoral degrees.
“Therapist” is an umbrella term. It includes behavioral therapists, cognitive behavioral therapists, behavioral health therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists—each with different training and roles.
Psychiatrist vs psychologist: Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication, while psychologists focus on assessment and psychotherapy but usually cannot prescribe medication.
Mental health treatment works. Therapy helps people understand their symptoms, develop healthy coping skills, improve relationships, and achieve lasting change with proper aftercare and support.
Question:
Is a therapist a doctor?
Answer:
Many people starting therapy wonder, are therapists doctors, and the answer depends on the provider’s education and credentials. A therapist is a broad term that includes professionals trained to treat mental health, behavioral, and substance use concerns through talk therapy and evidence-based approaches. Most therapists, such as licensed professional counselors, behavioral therapists, and cognitive behavioral therapists, hold master’s degrees and are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health conditions, even though they are not medical doctors. Psychologists typically earn doctoral degrees and specialize in assessment and psychotherapy, while psychiatrists are medical doctors who focus on the biological aspects of mental health and can prescribe medication. Understanding the difference between a psychiatrist vs psychologist can help people choose the right level of care. Regardless of title, mental health treatment has proven benefits, including improved self-awareness, healthier coping skills, stronger relationships, and long-term recovery when paired with consistent care and aftercare support.
Deciding to start therapy in the New Year says so much about staying accountable to your own mental health. It’s a step in the right direction toward getting a better understanding of yourself and learning how to become more mindful of the relationship between your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
As more people become invested in their well-being, talk therapy’s popularity continues to rise. A recent NPR study revealed that in recent years, the number of adults in therapy increased from 6.5% to 8.5%, approximately 16.5 million to almost 22 million people. Therapy’s growth, notes the report, contrasts with a decrease in the number of people relying on medication.
Given this promising data, you might have questions in discerning which type of therapist you should seek since so many mental health professionals carry different titles, licenses and specialty areas. Are therapists doctors, and is that distinction necessary when looking for a counselor?
Knowing what is a behavioral therapist versus a psychiatrist versus a psychologist can help you start your therapy journey, so keep reading to learn more about the different types of therapists and how they can help.
What Is a Therapist?
A therapist is someone trained to help people navigate emotional distress, mental health disorders, substance abuse struggles and difficult life transitions. A therapist provides a safe, confidential environment where you can:
- Talk openly about what you’re experiencing, without judgment
- Develop practical strategies you can apply in your day-to-day life to feel better and manage symptoms you may experience
- Reconcile unresolved issues from your past or present
- Build healthier coping skills and patterns of thinking
“Therapist” is an umbrella term used to include a wide range of mental health professionals. For example:
- A behavioral therapist might focus on changing unhelpful patterns in how you act or react.
- A cognitive behavioral therapist works specifically on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, helping you identify negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier ones.
- A behavioral health therapist takes a broader approach by addressing both mental health and substance use concerns together.
Other Types of Therapists
There are also other types of therapists, including licensed professional counselors (LPC), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) plus psychologists and psychiatrists. Each of these types of therapists can help you work through a wide range of issues, including:
- Anxiety disorders and depression
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress
- Relationship problems and family conflict
- Grief and loss
- Addiction and substance use
- Life transitions and major changes
You might see a therapist working in a variety of locations, like a community mental health center, private workplace, school/university, hospital, rehab clinic or treatment center, prison/correctional facility or in their own private practice, working with everyone from individuals, couples, children, teens, adults and families. They also work with special demographics like veterans, Native Americans and the LGBTQ+ community.
As talk therapy continues to trend upward in popularity, so does the demand for therapists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is projected to grow 18% from 2022 to 2032, along with 14% in projected opportunities for marriage and family therapists and 11% for clinical and counseling psychologists.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates there are about 1.2 million behavioral health providers in the U.S., and the American Psychological Association reports there are over 106,000 licensed psychologists in the United States. The BLS also counts more than 700,000 social workers nationwide.
Looking for quality treatment for substance abuse and mental health that’s also affordable? Aliya Health Group's treatment facilities accept most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now!
Check Your CoverageIs a Therapist a Doctor?
Yes — and no. Some therapists are doctors, and some are not.
Most therapists hold a master’s degree in counseling, social work or a related field. If you’re curious about how to become a mental health therapist, the academic and experiential path usually involves first earning a bachelor’s degree, completing a graduate program (usually two to three years), accumulating thousands of hours of supervised clinical experience, and passing a state licensing exam. An LPC or LMFT who completes this educational and credential work is qualified and allowed to make a diagnosis and treat mental health conditions through the therapy they practice.
A licensed counselor, therapist or social worker is highly trained in their line of mental health, but they don’t hold doctoral degrees, so they’re not officially “doctors.” However, some therapists do earn doctoral degrees. Psychologists typically hold a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or PsyD (Doctor of Psychology), which takes five to seven years beyond a bachelor’s degree — approximately four years of school plus two to three years of internships and amassing clinical hours. In the academic sense, psychologists are doctors, but they are not physicians (MDs).
It’s an important distinction to make because, in most states, a therapist with a doctorate cannot prescribe medication, whereas a medical doctor can.
Psychiatrist vs Psychologist: What’s the Difference?
Both titles are often confused for the other or used interchangeably, but there are some significant ways that a psychiatrist vs psychologist align and differ in their practice areas:
- Psychiatrists are fully-fledged medical doctors (MDs or DOs). They’ve attended medical school and completed a residency in psychiatry. Because a psychiatrist is a physician, their primary focus is often the biological aspects of mental health, where they can also treat substance use disorders. They can diagnose complex conditions, carry out testing, and prescribe medication.
- Psychologists typically hold a doctoral degree in psychology. They focus heavily on psychological testing, diagnosi,s and different types of psychotherapy. They can also perform a wide range of diagnostic tests and formally diagnose someone with a mental health or substance abuse condition, but don’t have the medical credentials to prescribe medication. In such cases, they can recommend medication as part of your treatment plan and refer you to a psychiatrist.
Psychiatrists and psychologists are experts of the mind who share in common a clinical approach rooted in helping people recover from mental health struggles and live their best lives free of the symptoms and stressors that bring them to treatment.
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Speak With Our Admissions TeamWhat Are the Benefits of Mental Health Treatment?
When you choose to work with a therapist, whether it’s a licensed counselor or psychologist, staying the course with treatment will start to reveal immeasurable improvements in your quality of life. Here’s how it can help:
You’ll begin to understand what you’re experiencing.
Many people struggle for years without knowing that what they’re dealing with has a name, is treatable and that others have gone through similar challenges. They may have undiagnosed or unaddressed depression, anxiety, or a trauma disorder they’ve simply coped with or simply accepted as part of life. But a proper diagnosis and treatment plan in place gives you a framework to move forward.
You’ll learn practical coping skills.
Too often, many people turn to unhealthy ways of coping with mental illness, including using drugs or substances to self-medicate, which can raise one’s risk of health issues or overdose. But in treatment, your therapist teaches you the techniques and tools to challenge negative thought patterns, recognize your symptoms and triggers,, and develop healthier responses you can apply in your day-to-day life.
You’ll strengthen your relationships.
Mental health struggles can place a strain on interpersonal and professional relationships, sometimes without someone realizing their issues are creating conflict or pushing loved ones away. But treatment helps you to see, acknowledge and embrace the person you are and show up more fully for your family, friends and colleagues. Not to mention that in areas like group therapy, you can forge new relationships and connections with your peers in treatment for some of the same reasons — a support network to lean on and be there for others to lean on.
You’ll achieve lasting change.
Studies show that mental health treatment works, demonstrated by symptom reduction and an overall improvement in one’s mental, emotional and behavioral well-being. (Read more about our treatment success rates.) Many people might worry that they’ll fall back into old patterns or relapse after treatment is over, but aftercare, a type of post-treatment continuing care program, is designed to keep you on track. Your therapist and case manager can find you temporary transitional housing, schedule occasional follow-up therapy appointments, or connect you with local 12-Step meetings in your area to keep you accountable for your own recovery.
Mental Health Treatment at Aliya
Aliya Health Group strives every day to be a beacon, resource, and partner for people struggling with addiction and mental health disorders, and we believe that everyone deserves accessible, affordable, and high-quality care, where you can find a treatment center in any one of eight states across the U.S.
Getting started is simple. Our admissions process begins with a confidential conversation to understand your history and needs. We can verify your insurance quickly to confirm what treatment costs are included in your coverage. From there, our clinical team designs a personalized, customized plan that may include medical detox, residential care, or outpatient therapy — derived from your own needs, not a template.
Our goal and clinical philosophy are to heal, teach, and empower — but more than that, to see you get the treatment you need without compromises. Help is one phone call away, and we’re on hand 24/7/365 to answer questions and start the process. You can change your life with one phone call.
- Talk therapy is on the rise : NPR
- Types of Mental Health Professionals | National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- What do practicing psychologists do?
- Strong growth projected in mental health-related employment
- Behavioral Health: Available Workforce Information and Federal Actions to Help Recruit and Retain Providers | U.S. GAO
- How to Become a Therapist – Step-by-Step Guide | Bellevue University
- What is Psychiatry?
- Psychologist: What They Do, Specialties & Training
- Psychotherapies – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Self-Medicating
- Mental Health Treatment – How Does it Work? | SAMHSA
