Mental health professionals are more alike than different: they all want you to feel your best and live a healthier, happier life. All of them receive specialized training and maintain some form of certification and licensure. But psychiatrists, psychologists, and professional counselors differ in some core educational, philosophical, and practical ways. This article outlines some basic distinctions between these three common helping professions.

1. Psychiatrists (MD)

Psychiatrists are medical physicians with medical degrees and special training in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.

Because of their medical background, psychiatrists usually focus on the physical and behavioral aspects of mental health problems.

Psychiatrists seek information to assess, diagnose, and treat your problem. This may include an interview, physical exam, laboratory tests, or psychological tests. They generally do not offer long-term “talk therapy.”

Psychiatrists are uniquely qualified to prescribe medication to treat your symptoms. Primary care providers often refer patients to psychiatrists for an accurate diagnosis and to obtain medication such as antidepressants or sleep aids.

Psychiatrist services can be used in combination with talk therapy with a psychologist or professional counselor.

2. Psychologists (Ph.D. or Psy.D.)

Psychologists have doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) from a four-year or longer graduate program in psychology: Clinical, Counseling, and Social Psychology are common specialties.

Psychologist training includes a high degree of research on the behavioral, social, or personal aspects of mental health. As such, psychologists tend to use treatments (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy) that have been validated by research.

They may administer psychological tests to assess and diagnose your condition, and treatment might include a combination of education and talk therapy.

Psychologists offer individual, family, and group services and often specialize in fields such as addictions, mood disorders, or child development. Check with your provider to determine his or her specialty.

3. Other Professional Counselors (LMHC, LMFT, and LCSW)

Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), and Social Workers (LCSW) have master’s or doctoral degrees in counseling, psychology, or social work. These professionals may work in community-based treatment centers or private practice; all counsel individuals, families, and groups.

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists place less emphasis on pathology (i.e., “disease” or “problems”) and more on wellness and solutions.

Counselors may assess your social support network and personal abilities and try to build on those strengths. They use talk therapy to explore behavioral, social, and personal aspects of mental health.

Marriage and family therapists are specially trained in couples and family work. They perceive mental health issues as part of a “system” that extends beyond the individual.

Social workers are highly aware of how social and cultural factors affect mental health. They may include referrals and linkages to financial, housing, or medical resources in your treatment plan.

These counselors’ services usually cost significantly less than psychologist and psychiatrist visits.

These descriptions are broad generalizations, but they can help you decide what type of provider might work best for you. Each profession’s website includes further descriptions and links to find a provider in your area.

You’ll still need to shop around to find someone who is a good fit for you. You may wish to start with referrals from health care providers, friends, or coworkers. Future articles will provide further guidance on choosing the right professional for your needs.