Types of Mental Health Providers

Team Wellthy

In this document, we outline the general information about types of mental health providers and why they are commonly seen.

Therapists

Therapists provide therapy and do not provide medication management. Examples include:

• Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs)
• Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs)
• Licensed Clinical Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor (LCADAC)

Therapists can specialize with certain populations but generally they provide therapy for mental health issues including anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc. Examples of specializations:

• Play therapists usually work with young children
• Psychologists can specialize in adult or child/adolescent psychology

For ABA therapy, services are provided in home, in center, or at school by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Psychologists

Psychologists (PhD or PsyD) see patients for individual therapy but can also provide testing for mental health disorders including anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and autism.

Examples of specializations:

• Psychologists can choose to specialize in child/adolescent or adult psychology
• They can also choose to specialize in testing or providing therapy

Psychiatric Providers

Psychiatric providers include psychiatrists (MDs or DOs), psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP), and Physician Assistants (PAs). They provide medication management and psychiatric evaluations. They do not usually provide talk therapy.

Examples of specializations:

• Child/adolescent psychiatry
• Addiction psychiatry
• Geriatric psychiatry

Psychiatric Treatment Centers

Psychiatric treatment centers include both inpatient and outpatient programs for mental health, substance abuse, or both (usually referred to as dual diagnosis).

Examples of specific types:

• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) usually include individual or group therapy and sometimes incorporate medication management
• Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) usually meet more frequently than IOP programs
• Inpatient programs are when a person is admitted into a hospital for psychiatric treatment
• Alternative programs such as wilderness programs, support groups, and detox centers