What is the difference between counselors and psychologists

Both mental health counselors and psychologists provide counseling services to help people navigate the mental health or emotional issues that make life difficult. Both practitioners work directly with clients, often in weekly sessions, engaging in talk therapy and giving homework assignments. Mental health counselors and psychologists each require state licensure to practice.

However, the overall scope of practice differs according to their training. These roles can overlap. Mental health counselors can use assessments in their practice, and psychologists also receive training to provide clinical mental health therapy.

Psychologists may conduct research, psychometric studies, and other scholarly activities, and they may work with a multidisciplinary team to provide wraparound services.

If you are choosing between these two professions, consider which kind of work you find most interesting and how you want to spend the majority of your time and energy in your practice. If you have any questions about these career paths or Counseling Northwestern specifically, request information and an admissions counselor will contact you. Two such options are counseling and psychology. Within each field, there are a variety of opportunities for aspiring counselors and psychologists to specialize in a particular area.

While the two fields share many similarities, there are also many differences between counselors and psychologists. This article will explain the common duties and responsibilities of each, as well as some specific career specializations available to those who choose to pursue a job in either of these rewarding disciplines. They also work with people in academic and organizational settings to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for school or career success. Those working in counseling may choose to focus their practice in a certain area.

Here are some of the common career paths that may be available to counseling students:. Addiction Counselor. These counselors work with individuals who are struggling with substance abuse or behavioral disorders, such as alcoholism, drug use or gambling. In some cases, addiction counselors host group counseling sessions Other addiction counselors work with specific populations or with those who have been court-ordered to receive treatment.

Mental Health Counselor. Mental health counselors work to help their clients manage or recover from a variety of conditions, such as stress, anxiety or depression, grief, or thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Jaime Zuckerman is a Philadelphia-based clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in adults with anxiety, depression, and those adjusting to medical illnesses. Zuckerman received her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and her doctorate in clinical psychology from La Salle University. After returning to Pennsylvania, she took a position as head psychologist at the Coatesville, Virginia, for the acute medical, nursing, and hospice units.

She was also actively involved in an internship training program. In , Dr. Zuckerman accepted the position as Director of Psychology at The Center for Neuroscience in Media, Pennsylvania, where she remained for several years until entering private practice full time. In addition to her practice, Dr. Zuckerman offers seminars and support groups for the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania and frequently presents at their conferences.

First, I had always been interested in how the body worked. Even as a young child, I was always fascinated with the pictures in my father's medical textbooks. Eventually, when I got to high school, I took an intro to psychology course as an elective and began to take a real interest in the brain and its role in emotions, cognition, and behaviors. I'm fascinated by the fact that electrical impulses in our heads were solely responsible for every action, every thought, and every decision we made.

I also became very interested in behaviorism and how modifying even the smallest of reinforcement schedules could drastically alter behavior.

I loved the idea that there was a way to explain and modify what seemed like intangible variables, such as emotions and thoughts. I also felt an innate obligation to help others. For as long as I can remember, I have held the belief that if you are in a position to help others, you do so. And what better way to combine my two interests of brain-based behavior and helping others than to become a clinical psychologist?

I chose the path of earning a doctorate in clinical psychology because I wanted the flexibility to work across different domains within the field. It enabled me to teach, see patients and work in various types of institutions.

Furthermore, I wanted to develop more of a specialized approach in the empirically supported treatment of adults, specifically in cognitive behavior therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy.

The extended clinical training of the two year-long practicums, the year-long predoctoral internship, and the year-long postdoc experiences were of great interest to me. In addition to the clinical experience offered by a doctoral program, I wanted to take part in research opportunities, as well.

It was important to me that I become an educated consumer of empirical research in the field and I contributed to it, too.

First, social media has inevitably affected the practice of psychology. In fact, and this is especially true for my millennial patients, social media is an integral part of their interpersonal experiences. To understand their experiences, I must remain aware of the ever-changing social media landscape.

Second, social media has drastically changed the way psychologists market themselves. Whether it's a practice's website or an informational Instagram page, psychologists' presence on social media has become somewhat commonplace. And while I do believe that such a platform can be extremely beneficial, it remains a grey area. Currently, there are no hard rules about social media presence, other than to not engage with your patients on these platforms.

Finding that healthy and appropriate balance is something that I have found to be a day-to-day challenge. Juggling different roles also presents a challenge.

In addition to working as a clinical psychologist, I am also a mother of three little children all under the age of seven. The coordination of schedules, homework, doctor appointments, playdates, and carpools keep my head swimming -- and that is before I add in seeing patients. I sometimes struggle with the constant switching of hats from psychologist to mom, but with time management strategies and leaving room for self-care and a lot of support, it can be truly rewarding.

By far, the most rewarding thing about my career as a psychologist is seeing my patients improve. There is nothing better than a patient who once had crippling social anxiety begin dating, or a person with severe depression re-enrolling in school and finishing their semester with a 4. Seeing a patient with low self-esteem and toxic relational patterns finally understand and change their behaviors is such a satisfying thing to observe.

Also, it is extremely gratifying when patients who have been in therapy with me for some time permanently incorporate our therapeutic language into their everyday problem-solving. First, make sure you thoroughly research the programs that interest you. Are they APA-accredited? In some states, you only need a high school diploma and the required hours of training to become a CADC. They may be counselors, technicians, or case managers.

The terms therapist , counselor , psychotherapist , etc. What should you consider about a potential provider? So give yourself time! Remember that choosing any type of provider is personal. At Footprints to Recovery, our team is staffed with mental health professionals who have a wide range of education, experience, and professional expertise. Learn more about us here. Since , it has extended resources, advocacy and thought leadership to its members.

Footprints has the Gold Seal of Approval, which means we possess the highest standard of safety and quality of care. LegitScript is a third-party certification that demonstrates Footprints complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including our ongoing commitment to transparency. NALGAP is The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies is a membership organization founded in and dedicated to the prevention and treatment of alcoholism, substance abuse, and other addictions in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer communities.

NAADAC , the Association for Addiction Professionals, represents the professional interests of more than , addiction counselors, educators and other addiction-focused health care professionals in the United States, Canada and abroad.

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