Mental Health Provider Cheat Sheet
By Alana Mendelsohn, MD PhD
One of the challenges of navigating mental health treatment in New York City is that when it comes to finding a provider, there is an embarrassment of riches. This city is filled with outstanding mental health providers who can help you reach your mental wellness goals. The problem is that parsing through the alphabet soup of credentials to figure out what type of provider is right for you can be confusing and frustrating. Here’s a breakdown of different types of mental health specialists, their required training and areas of focus, and how you can use this information to make the most informed decision about your mental health.
It is important to keep in mind that there are many paths to becoming a mental health professional and providers often pursue individualized paths of training and specialization. At the end of the day, what ultimately matters is that you find a provider who is trustworthy, who understands your needs, and who helps you identify and meet the goals that are important to you.
What Is a Mental Health Professional?
When we talk about a mental health professional, we are referring to a broad range of licensed professionals who are qualified to diagnose mental health issues, and provide treatment in the form of medication, talk therapy, or both. Here are some of the most common mental health specialists you’ll find in New York City.
Psychiatrist (MD)
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental health conditions with medication, psychotherapy, and/or newer neuromodulatory therapies such as ketamine infusions or TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). Psychiatrists complete four years of medical school, as well as four years of clinical training in psychiatry, also known as a residency. Psychiatrists train in both hospital and clinic settings, which means that they have experience managing a broad range of mental health conditions. Their medical background also means that they are trained to examine the interaction of physical and mental health issues. All psychiatrists train in the most common types of psychotherapy. In practice, some psychiatrists focus mainly on managing medication. However, in cities like New York City, psychiatrists often make psychotherapy a central part of their work.
Psychiatric Nurse (NP)
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who evaluate, diagnose and treat mental health conditions with medication and/or psychotherapy. These mental health providers complete a master’s in nursing with a concentration in mental health treatment and psychotherapy. In New York State, licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners can practice independently, as long as they have an established collaborative relationship with a physician or health care facility.
Clinical Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)
Clinical psychologists are mental health professionals who study the science of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. While these specialists are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health with psychotherapy, unlike psychiatrists and nurse practitioners, they do not provide medication. Clinical psychologists complete a four to six-year doctoral degree and must obtain at least one year of clinical training called an internship before being eligible for licensure. While PhD programs place an additional emphasis on research methodology, PsyD programs focus primarily on clinical training. Clinical psychologists train in a range of psychotherapies, often with advanced training and specialization. Historically, clinical psychologists have held particular expertise in a type of therapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some clinical psychologists are also qualified to perform neuropsychological testing, which is used to diagnose conditions such as learning disabilities, autism, and dementia.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
A licensed clinical social worker has a master’s degree in social work with specialized training in the treatment of mental health disorders with psychotherapy. In New York City, licensed clinical social workers are required to have at least three years of supervised training in diagnosis, psychotherapy, and assessment-based treatment before being eligible for licensure. Social workers without this additional training have the title licensed master social worker (LMSW) and can also provide psychotherapy, but do so under the supervision of a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker. Social work training emphasizes the relationship between behaviors, thoughts, and emotions to the social, economic, and cultural systems in which people live.
Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
A licensed marriage and family therapist has a masters in the study of psychotherapy and family systems and has specialized training in diagnosing mental health disorders and providing psychotherapy to both individuals, couples, and families. Marriage and family therapists look at the individual’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the context of his or her surrounding relationships, helping this to inform their assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan. In New York City, a licensed marriage and family therapist must complete at least three years of supervised training before being eligible for licensure.
Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
A licensed mental health counselor is a mental health professional who has a master’s degree in counseling and is qualified to diagnose and treat mental health issues as well as provide psychotherapy. Mental health counselors address a variety of concerns including relationship, career, and addiction issues. In New York City, mental health counselors must obtain at least two years of supervised training after graduate school in diagnosis and psychotherapy before they can obtain a license. Mental health counselors can specialize in treating specific issues like addiction.
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT)
A licensed creative arts therapist is a mental health professional who has a master’s degree in creative arts therapy, which focuses on the use of creative processes (such as art-making, dance, or music) in a therapeutic context. Many creative arts therapists also use traditional talk-based psychotherapy as part of their practice as well. In New York City, creative arts therapists must obtain an additional year of supervised training after graduate school before they can obtain a license.
Psychoanalyst
This is a provider who has advanced training in the theory and practice of an intensive form of psychodynamic psychotherapy called psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis focuses on the subconscious mental processes and how these affect a person's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. While psychoanalytic training programs are open to most licensed mental health professionals, most psychoanalysts in New York City are psychiatrists or clinical psychologists. Formal psychoanalytic training can take upwards of four to six years to complete on top of the candidate’s prior academic and post-graduate training.
Licensed Psychoanalyst (LP)
Licensed Psychoanalyst is a newer designation that allows individuals without a license in psychiatry, psychology, or social work to complete a certificate in psychoanalysis to practice psychotherapy privately and in other settings. The training program includes coursework in the theory, practice, and technique of psychoanalysis and supervised training.
How to Choose the Right Mental Health Professional
Still confused about which provider to choose? We don’t blame you! There is a lot of overlap between many mental health professions and the types of treatment they provide. Most advanced training in various models of psychotherapy are open to all mental health professionals, so if you know you’re interested in a specific treatment approach, the best way to find out is to ask. Reach out to your provider, tell them what you’re looking for, and ask about their treatment philosophy– don’t be afraid to ask if your provider has experience working with the specific issue you’re dealing with.
Remember, mental health treatment is a very intimate process, and often, the success of treatment depends on whether you feel a connection to your provider. Think of this process like dating: if after a few appointments the fit doesn’t feel right, don’t get discouraged– try again!
Helpful Resources:
https://childmind.org/guide/guide-to-mental-health-specialists/
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling#091e9c5e804d6eff-
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Types-of-Mental-Health-Professionals
https://www.verywellhealth.com/types-of-psychotherapists-5188864
