The fields of clinical, counseling, and school psychology involve
working
with people in a helping relationship. There are four core mental
health
disciplines, of which psychology is one. The other three are
psychiatry,
clinical social work, and psychiatric nursing.
| Psychologist: | Doctorate (Ph.D., Psy.D.) in clinical or counseling psychology followed by a one or two year internship. Psychologists arethe only mental health professionals who perform psychological testing. |
| Psychiatric Nurse: | Baccalaureate (B.S.N.) and master's (M.S.N.) in nursing with a focused interest in mental health. |
| Psychiatrist: | Medical doctor (M.D., D.O.) who has completed a 3 year residency in psychiatry after completing medical training. Psychiatrists are the only mental health professionals who prescribe medication. |
| Social Worker: | Master's degree in social work (M.S.W.) followed by several years of supervised clinical experience (leading to state licensure and the ACSW). |
| Psychotherapist: | No academic degree required and not legally protected term. |
| Psychoanalyst: | A person who has received training from a psychoanalytic institute following receipt of an advanced degree (Ph.D., M.D., M.S.W.) |
Confusion abounds with regard to the best preparation for a career in mental health. Survey research and our graduates' experiences attest to the value of behavioral statistics and research methods in addition to clinical skills. Consequently, students oriented toward graduate training in any of the helping professions are well-served by the psychology core curriculum.
A related misconception concerns required training for certain
clinical
specialties. A doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology is
required
prior
to specializing in clinical neuropsychology, clinical child psychology,
or health psychology. Accordingly, the most appropriate major for
individuals
with these interests is psychology.