Q&A: What are the difference between these Mental Health Professionals?

Question by Ashley A: What are the difference between these Mental Health Professionals?
What is the difference between a Mental Health Clinical Social Worker, Mental Health Psychologist, and a Mental Health Physician? I know that schooling is probably different. Do any of them have the ability to prescribe? Also, is there a difference between Behavioral health and Mental health? If so what is it so I know what kind of Dr. I should go see. Thank you!!

Best answer:

Answer by Libraryanna
A social worker has a master’s degree. A psychologist has a doctorate in psychology. A physician who specializes in mental health is a psychiatrist and, in addition to medical school, has several years of specialized training.

The prescribing ability depends on the state. In many cases, however, the social worker or psychologist refers the patient to a psychiatrist for prescriptions, if needed, but does therapy themselves. Social workers usually concentrate on how your problems affect your ability to function in society. (It varies a lot though). Generally they do more short term treatment focused on functioning. They are not usually ones to treat very serious mental illnesses. For more serious problems, a psychologist is more appropriate as they also focus on the mental processes. A psychiatrist is best if it’s a chemical disorder or the most serious of mental illnesses, such as severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia.

Cant’ advise you as to which you should see without knowing what problems you think you have.

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