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» Consumer Site Content » Types of Therapist Degrees
Understanding Therapists' Professional Degrees
As you may already know—and will certainly notice as you review therapists’ profiles in 4therapy’s Therapist Locator—there are many types of mental health professionals, each with specific educational backgrounds, training, licensure, philosophies, and techniques.
Therapists’ academic degrees include:
- M.D.: Psychiatrist—Doctor of Medicine
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who undergo four years of clinical residency in psychiatry after receiving their medical degree and become trained in the biology, medical aspects, assessment, and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders. As M.D.’s, psychiatrists can prescribe medications.
- Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy degree in psychology
A Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology qualifies the professional to become a researcher as well as a practitioner. Psychologists with a Ph.D. will frequently work in an academic setting and/or a clinical practice. Ph.D.’s are trained in psychological assessment and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders.
- Psy.D.: Doctor of Psychology
Psychologists with a Psy.D. degree are prepared to be clinical practitioners and interpreters of research. Similar to Ph.D.’s, psychologists with a Psy.D. are trained in assessment, and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders. However, the practices of therapists with a Psy.D. tend to place an emphasis on fieldwork and clinical experience rather than research.
- M.A.: Master of Arts degree in psychology
An M.A. degree is essentially a counseling degree with an emphasis on clinical experience and psychotherapy. Therapists with an M.A. in psychology have a background in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders and emotional issues.
- M.S.: Master of Science degree in psychology
Individuals with an M.S. degree in psychology have a background in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders and have a focus on clinical research. Professionals with this degree are often more inclined toward research than clinical practice and usually have a specific area of focus.
- Ed.D.: Doctor of Education
Professionals with Ed.D.’s have a thorough background in education, child development and learning disabilities, education policy, and general psychology. Therapists with this degree are particularly focused on developmental and educational assessment, educational planning, and treatment of development issues.
- M.S.W.: Master of Social Work (Also M.S., M.S.S.W., M.A. or A.M. in Social Work)
Social Workers apply social work theory, knowledge, methods and ethics to restore or enhance the functioning (social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial) of individuals, couples, families, and groups, as well as organizations and communities. Social workers are educated and trained to consider their clients within a social context and, in particular, to be attentive to diversity and the ways in which cultural influences affect individuals and families.
Licenses that may be obtained in association with psychology, education, and social work include:
- M.F.C.C.: Marriage, Family and Child Counselor
An MFCC therapist has earned a Master of Science degree in counseling with a specialization in marriage, family and child issues. MFCC’s are trained to understand problems from both individual and family systems perspectives; develop intervention skills; incorporate cultural, age-specific, and gender-respectful understanding in theory and practice; and handle clinical, ethical, legal and general professional aspects of their practice.
- M.F.T.: Marriage and Family Therapist
A marriage and family therapist has earned a master’s degree in social work with a particular emphasis on relationships. This professional is interested in who each person is within the context of their family, both past and present. Marriage and family therapy applies therapeutic techniques and focuses on issues of human development, communication skills, and interpersonal relationships.
- L.C.S.W.: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The LCSW is a state licensure designation for practitioners with a master's or doctoral degree in social work. Clinical Social Work, a practice specialty of Social Work, utilizes social work theory, knowledge, methods, and ethics to restore or enhance the functioning (social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial) of individuals, couples, families, and groups, as well as organizations and communities. Clinical Social Workers apply specialized clinical knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional conditions and addictions. Treatment methods include individual, marital, couple, family and group counseling and psychotherapy.
In some states, Clinical Social Workers are licensed as L.I.S.W. (Licensed Independent Social Worker) or L.I.C.S.W. (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) or CSW-C (Certified Social Worker-Clinical).
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