Guest Author - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

When you're facing "minor" body image issues, such a fleeting discomfort with the size of your thighs or the shape of your face, it may help to read appropriate books, talk to a friend, or focus on your strengths. Most of us struggle with our body image at some point in our lives (or even in every single day!).

However, if you're obsessed with the size of your nose or constantly checking your skin for blemishes, then you may want to consider getting professional help. Facing serious mental health issues such as body dysmorphic disorder, depression, or other psychological disorders is much easier when you have an objective, trained point of view.

How do you know who to see? Here's a description of the basic roles of various psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors.

Five "typical" mental health professionals:

Counseling psychologists focus on problems in daily life. They often work in the community – at hospitals, schools, businesses, clinics, and in their own private settings. They help with relationships, work, grief, major life stresses – and body image issues. They specialize in a number of disciplines, such as cognitive-behavioral, Freudian, Jungian, existential-humanistic – or a combination of two or three.

Clinical psychologists specialize in more severe psychological disorders such as depression, learning disabilities, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, and anxiety. They often work as part of a team, with social workers, doctors, and other health professionals. Group, marital, or individual therapies are both offered by most psychologists (in fact, most mental health professionals will work with groups or individuals).

Psychiatrists are medical doctors. Typically, they treat mental and emotional disorders with a combination of prescription medication and counseling therapy. They deal with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder.

Clinical social workers often work in hospice, hospital, or out-patient care facilities and focus on the social context of their client's problems. They work with families in most situations; often the entire family is involved in therapy. Elder abuse, child abuse, family violence, adjustment to illness, substance abuse, cultural concerns, and guardianship issues are all common ground to clinical social workers.

Pastoral counselors are trained in both psychology and theology to help people with mental health struggles or psychological disorders. Often they combine spiritual insights or guidance with problem-solving tactics. Their fees can be lower than other professionals' as they often work in non-profit settings.

These descriptions aren't absolute, which means that the roles of various mental health professionals can shift and change. For instance, pastoral counselors may not include theological matters or prayer in their counseling; a counseling psychologist may introduce spirituality if appropriate. Psychiatrists don't always prescribe medication, and clinical psychologists can work with people struggling with everything from poor body image to multiple personality disorder.

Find the right person!
Finding the right fit between client and therapist can depend on the style of therapy and theoretical orientation of the therapist. If you as a client aren't comfortable with a certain psychologist as your therapist, then it's your right and responsibility to seek another source of help – one that fits you and your personality.