Who are all these different kinds of mental health people?  When you first think about getting mental health help it can seem confusing to figure out who you need to talk to; there are so many different names used to refer to different mental health professionals. Who are all these people and who do you need to contact? The task can seem overwhelming at first. Here are some answers for you.

The list can seem confusing: Shrink, Psychologist, Head doctor, Psychiatrist, Mental Health Counselor, Mental Health Therapist, Mental Health Practitioner, Mental health professional, Psychotherapist, Psychotherapy, Marriage and Family Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Counselor, Psychoanalyst, Therapist, Counselor, Pastoral Counselor, Social Worker and Analyst.

To sort out the therapist list a bit:

The main mental health professions asked about are: Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselor.

The way to describe some of the work all these professionals do is: therapy, counseling, talk therapy, or psychotherapy.

Therapist or Counselor is the general way to refer to these Mental Health Professionals.

Which of these mental health professionals do you need?

f you are seeking talk therapy, any of these professions has individuals trained and experienced in talk therapy. Where they differ is in the focus of their specialty, for example:

• Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has mental health training and specializes in the way the brain and medications interact.
• Psychologist is a usually doctorate level professional who specializes in testing and assessment of brain function (i.e. learning disabilities, etc.)
• Social Worker can be a master's level or bachelor's level professional who specializes how organizations and families function in society (how to get the agency help needed, etc.)
• Pastoral Counselor can be a master's level or bachelor's level, or community level professional who specializes in spiritual concerns and how they affect individuals. Often Pastoral Counselors are ministers in churches.
• Marriage and Family Therapist is a master's level professional who specializes in working with couples and family relationships (also works with individuals).
• Professional Counselor is a master's level professional who specializes in general talk therapy with individuals (also works with families and couples).

When seeking a mental health professional it is appropriate to ask about the credentials of the therapist you are considering.  Some good questions include: How many years have they been providing therapy, are they licensed, what is their level of experience, training and education for your specific area of concern. Another area to consider is your level of trust and comfortable with this professional, and whether they are a good fit for you.

For a further discussion of the titles and phraseology used by therapists see the article The Titles and Descriptions Used by Mental Health Professionals