Psychotherapist, Psychoanalyst, Psychologist, Psychiatrist: What’s The Difference?
As a Manhattan-based licensed psychotherapist in private practice, I get this question a lot. What do all these acronyms after last names actually mean? And what do you need to find the very best NYC therapist for you and your healing goals? You are struggling right now and need to find high-quality mental health care in New York City, but it’s all so confusing. Your search for the right therapist can be intimidating and downright overwhelming. Should you work with a private therapist or should you sort through the group practices to find the best therapist for you? All those acronyms; all those modalities—getting started with therapy should be easier!
I’m sharing with you a trend that I’ve noticed, which you may not be aware of. Many group therapy practices charge standard psychotherapy fees and even high fees, and place you with a therapist in training. This practice should be disclosed to you so you are fully informed about your care. When you are assigned to a therapist, you have a right to ask about their training and experience.
All therapists in training (in my field, that’s an LMSW, until they reach LCSW designation) will undergo nearly 3 years of supervision or about 3000 mandatory practice hours. If you’re assigned to an LMSW, you’re working with a therapist who is being supervised as they work towards their hours. After a therapist in training has met this requirement, they are autonomous and can then work in private practice without supervision. If you work with a therapist undergoing supervision, your therapist or counselor will need to discuss your case at weekly meetings with their licensed, supervising therapist.
Psychotherapists are licensed mental health professionals (LCSW’s, LMHC’s, LMFT’s, PhD’s, MD’s, as examples) who are licensed to practice psychotherapy and have diagnostic privilege. They may have an MD, Master’s or Doctoral degree. They use “talk therapy” and other approaches to help people process their emotional lives and experiences. Psychotherapists may be psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists. They have varying years of foundation training, and some, but not all, go on to receive advanced post-graduate training in specialized areas.
Psychiatrists (MD’s & DO’s) are able to prescribe medication but may not provide psychotherapy, however some do. Many psychiatrists are trained to provide a range of psychotherapies to assist their patients. CBT therapy, for example, is a good fit for many psychiatrists to help their clients overcome emotional and behavioral problems.
Psychologists (PhD, EdD or PsyD) have a doctorate degree as a foundation, often with a focus on research or clinical. They may or may not have received additional specialized training in therapeutic methods beyond what they learned in graduate school. Some psychologists teach, work in research and some provide therapy.
Psychoanalysts (LP) can be LCSW’s, MD’s or PH.D’s, and have been through an extensive training experience that includes their own psychoanalysis or psychological exploration. They help people develop awareness of unconscious aspects of the mind. Some training institutes are allowing individuals with a non-psychology graduate degree (law, history, as example) to study psychoanalysis. Once they complete their psychoanalytic training and personal analysis, they are able to provide mental health care as a psychoanalyst.
You may not know whether your therapist has had their own therapy—it’s a question that you can ask. It makes sense that a therapist should understand their own thoughts, feelings and motivations before helping others. Individual therapy is not mandated for mental health providers. Can you believe that?
In your search for a therapist, all psychotherapists are licensed professionals trained to help you identify blocks to success and happiness, develop healthier coping strategies and process painful emotions and memories. The relationship that you develop with your therapist should lead to a sense of safety and honesty, allowing you the freedom to share and explore all that is on your mind. Therapy can become your weekly form of self-care and refuge from the chaos of New York.
What does any of this have to do with finding the best therapist in New York for you? While it’s important to find someone who has the skills and experience to help you, the quality of your relationship matters most. What research tells us is that the connection that you develop with your therapist determines positive therapy outcomes. We call this the magic of the therapeutic alliance. Positive relationships can heal.