Other Helping Professions

Clinical psychologists engage in a wide array of professional activities, but differ from some other mental health professions in the following ways.

Counseling Psychologists

While both clinical and counseling psychologists complete doctoral programs, their primary difference is in the populations with whom they work. Clinical psychologists tend to work with more seriously disturbed patients in hospitals and inpatient settings, while counseling psychologists tend to work with higher-functioning patients in counseling centers. They would be more likely to administer vocational tests, rather than the psychological tests often used by clinical psychologists to diagnose and treat patients (Pomerantz, 2024).

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists go to medical school, complete medical internships, and are licensed as physicians. And, although psychologists have gotten prescription privileges in a few places, psychiatrists primarily prescribe the psychotropic medications used to treat mental disorders. Additionally, psychiatrists are more likely to conceptualize mental illness as biologically based, although some go on to seek training in psychotherapy. Traditionally, psychologists focus more on psychotherapy to treat mental disorders.

Social Workers

Social workers receive master's degrees and, unlike psychologists, their graduate training is not as focused on research activities or learning how to do psychological testing.  Traditionally, social workers focused on activities like connecting patients to social service or welfare agencies.  More recently, their work activities have expanded and much of their work can look similar to psychologists as some social workers specialize in conducting therapy with patients.  However, their training in psychopathology tends to emphasize the role of social and environmental factors.

School Psychologists

School psychologists, as the name would suggest, work in school systems.  Depending on state requirements, some school psychologists obtain master's degrees, while other states require that school psycholoigsts earn doctorate degrees.  Their work often involves psychological testing and identifying learning problems or issues such as ADHD.  They work to make sure the educational and emotional needs of children are met within the school system.  They also interact with all the adults in children's lives:  parents, guardians, and other educators.  They may do counseling with students, but typically in a school setting and it can be limited in scope.

Professional Counselors

Professional counselors receive master's degrees and complete training within 2 years.  They receive licensing that allows them to work as Licensed Professional Counselors (or LPCs).  Their training focuses primarily on providing direct services to clients.  Their clients are more typically those living with mild mental health rather than working with people with more serious mental health challenges.

Marriage and Family Therapists

Marriage and Family Therapist (or MFTs) also earn master's degrees.  Their training is heavily focused on helping couples and families.  However,  they may also do therapy with other types of individuals, but the issues tend to be related to relationships (partners/spouses) and other issues related to family dynamics.  Most MFTs work in private practice, although they may also work in clinics and agencies.