Professional therapists can come with a variety of abbreviated letters after their name. As Robert Epstein notes, “In the U.S., more than 50 different types of credential and licenses’ gives someone the right to practice therapy.” (Epstein, 2010) This page will help you understand what those different credentials mean, so that you know precisely what you’re getting when choosing a licensed therapist:

Psychiatrists (MD)

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in psychiatric illness. Psychiatrists are trained in psychotherapy and have at least 8 years of post-grad education. Because they have medical training, psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe drugs.

Psychologists (PhD or PsyD)

Psychologists are not medical doctors, so they do not prescribe psychiatric medication. (They often give referrals to a doctor who will prescribe them with their recommendation, however.) Yet they have spent six to eight years in graduate school, training in psychotherapy. They often have training in cognitive behavioral therapy.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (MS, MSW)

This requires a master’s degree in social work, which typically involves two years of education beyond the traditional 4 years of college. Although generally less pricey than MDs or PhDs, they often have less focused education in psychotherapy, but rather, general social issues.

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)

Professional counselors have at least a master’s degree in counseling, generally in psychotherapy. They are often more affordable than psychiatrists or psychologists, and have less training than MDs or PhDs, but their education is generally more focused on psychotherapy than it is among clinical social workers.