Navigating the world of mental health care can often be daunting, particularly when faced with so many professional titles and initials. What’s the difference between a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed professional counselor, and a licensed marriage and family therapist? If you’re in the Nashville-Brentwood-Franklin, TN area, this guide will help to clear up the confusion and lead you towards the right professional.
Starting with psychologists, these professionals are experts in human behavior, emotions, and thought processes. They typically hold a doctoral degree, either a Ph.D. or Psy.D., and are trained to provide psychotherapy and perform psychological testing. Our outstanding psychologists at Southeast Psych Nashville use evidence-based practices to help individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges.
Next, we have psychiatrists. Unlike psychologists, psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health, including substance use disorders. They can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and monitor medications, and sometimes provide psychotherapy, though many of them are so busy with medicine management that they have limited time for therapy. We do not have any psychiatrists at Southeast Psych Nashville, but we can direct you to medical professionals we have come to know and trust.
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) are professionals who assist individuals to overcome personal and systemic barriers to optimal functioning in their individual or family life. They provide counseling for a variety of issues and connect clients to resources in the community. In the Nashville-Brentwood-Franklin area, LCSWs work in various settings, including mental health clinics, schools, and hospitals. We have some outstanding LCSWs at Southeast Psych Nashville who are world-class clinicians.
Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) are mental health professionals who typically hold a master’s degree in counseling or a related field and are trained to provide counseling for a range of mental health issues and life struggles. LPCs work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat emotional and mental health disorders and promote optimal mental health.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) are professionals trained to work primarily with couples and families in a therapeutic context, though many of them see individual clients, as well. They consider the structure, dynamics, and function of families in the treatment process. In the Nashville-Brentwood-Franklin, TN area, LMFTs can provide invaluable support in addressing complex relationship and family issues.
As you can see, there is a lot of overlap between these professionals. Often a psychologist and an LCSW, for example, may see the same issues in therapy, but come at those issues from different perspectives. However, the best therapists, whether they are psychologists, LCSW’s, LMFTs, and LPC’s, use evidence-based treatments that have been shown by the research to be effective with a majority of individuals.
Much of the decision comes down to how well your needs and style match the style of the individual mental health professional. At Southeast Psych Nashville, we have excellent psychologists, counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists. We serve all ages from young kids to older adults. We hire based on interpersonal qualities and their track record of excellence, rather than what category their training fits into. That approach has proven to allow us to draw the strongest clinicians from all disciplines.
Choosing the right mental health professional is a key step in your journey towards better mental health. Whether you’re in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, or the surrounding areas in Middle Tennessee, remember that the goal is to find someone who can provide the type of therapy or counseling that aligns with your mental health needs. At Southeast Psych Nashville, we are committed to providing personalized care that respects and honors your unique experiences. We’d love to serve you or your family. Give us a call at 615-373-9955.
