What's The Difference Between A Therapist & A Counselor?
-
Loading... - Hermann Bille
- 11 Aug 2022
- 81 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
When talking about therapy, the terms “counselor” and “therapist” are often used interchangeably to refer to mental health professionals. There are, however, a few key differences between counselors and therapists. Here’s how to choose between the two and know whether you should work with a counselor vs. a therapist.
How is a therapist defined?
A therapist is a licensed mental health professional who is trained in using therapeutic interventions to help people learn how to cope with mental illness or otherwise support their mental well-being. Therapy, or psychotherapy, is a specific type of treatment intended to heal or relieve a psychological or mental health issue.
“Therapists are trained to help people who are struggling with mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. They diagnose, assess, and provide treatment of mental disorders,” Christine R. Melendres, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, recently told mbg. She adds that therapists can also help clients with crisis intervention, grief counseling, or processing and healing from past hurts and traumas.
How is a counselor defined?
While a therapist typically works with people who are struggling with mental illness or who are looking to process their past, a counselor is more present and future-oriented, according to GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor at Psychpoint. Counselors tend to focus more on coping skills and stress management to help their clients have a healthier lifestyle, according to Guarino.
“Counselors typically provide short-term, solution-focused strategies to address behaviors that include exploring stressors, coping skills, and environmental factors contributing to behaviors which are negatively impacting one's life,” says Angeleena Francis, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor, therapist, and executive director at AMFM Healthcare .
It’s also important to note that “counselor” is a general term used in many different fields, such as a guidance counselor (at school), a career counselor (at work), a spiritual counselor (in religious contexts and communities), and beyond. These are different and separate from a mental health counselor, who is legally required to hold a license. Additionally, in different countries, these words mean different things–for example, a counselor in Canada is the equivalent of a therapist in the US.
Key differences between the two.
There are definite similarities between counselors and therapists, and they also work with many of the same types of people and treat many of the same types of issues. However, it’s important to note key differences.
1. Counselors and therapists may have different approaches.
While they certainly borrow from each other’s playbooks, counselors and therapists may have different approaches. According to Francis, therapy often addresses underlying mental health issues such as negative core beliefs, unresolved trauma or grief, and cognitive distortions. “Therapy brings awareness of unconscious beliefs that impact the view of self and interactions with those around us,” Francis tells mbg.
On the other hand, counseling often focuses on current behavioral patterns and creates tangible strategies to address these. Because of this, counseling can also be used as a component in addition to therapy (and vice versa).
Notably though, there’s a lot of overlap between how many therapists and counselors practice. Many licensed counselors are also trained in therapeutic methods and incorporate them into their practice, and many therapists are trained in modalities that are based in the here and now, coping with present emotions, and present and future behaviors. In general, it’s far more effective to ask your potential therapist or counselor about how they practice therapy or counseling than to guess based on the title alone.
2. Therapists and counselors may have different credentials.
Therapists have very specific credentials and are legally required to hold a license to practice therapy in their state. “A licensed therapist has obtained a masters or doctorate level education in either clinical psychology, mental health counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or similar field,” Francis explains, “[and] has also completed requirements for state licensure, including 2-3 years of practicing under the supervision of a licensed and state-approved supervisor, as well as passing a state approved exam.” Read More...
