The Most Influential Figure in Mental Healthcare Today: Unveiling the Key Player

Many people feel like they need to see someone for their mental healthcare but the question is who should one see?  (ALSO, in the next newsletter, we explore when to go it on your own and when to seek help. Sign up or miss out!)

Let’s talk about who are all of the various professionals that you could see for your mental health and wrap up with who is the most important.  There are many different kinds and I’ve organized them into 5 categories. Let this list help you find what you need.

• Psychiatric practitioners

Psychiatry is the medical specialty of mental health.  These people are doctors (MDs and DOs), physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NP or PMHNP- psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner) who have education and degree to evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders with medications.  This is what sets these practitioners apart from the other mental health team and are sometimes referred to as prescribers as a result. Though they use therapeutic techniques and some may do full therapy, these practitioners tend to focus more on the chemistry of mental health.

• Therapist and counselors

These are the ones that do talk therapy.  Their credentials vary as do their expertise and specialty.

Doctoral level- PhD and PsyD

These people have gone to school to study psychology for at least 5 years after a bachelors degree!  Wow! The PhDs are usually headed to research while the PsyDs are headed to practices and clinics to see patients. They are able to do more clinical testing.

Masters level, LPC, LCSW, LMFT

The master’s degrees have differing titles from school to school but you’ll see these professionals with letters like LCSW (licensed clinical social work), LPC (licensed professional counselor), and LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist).  It can take a few years after graduation to get licensure (L) because typically they need a year or two of supervised worked and a national exam to get that. LCSW and LPCs are typically your individual counselors while LMFTs are your couple and family counselors. These degrees are versatile and can be used in many different jobs in many different ways.

Certificate holders

These are people who likely have a bachelors degree and have taken a class that focuses on a specific skill.  For example, Colorado regulates licensure for CAC (certified addiction counselor).

• Case managers and social workers

While providing some emotional support, these bachelors level professionals help people with high needs or in underprivileged situations get connected with resources for what they need.  Sometimes this is getting them into special needs health services, housing, food needs, and getting them connected with legal services.  Case managers and social workers do a wide range of work and serve an even larger range or people in need.

• Complementary and alternative healthcare providers.

Mental health is complexly intertwined with all parts of our body, mind, and environment. That’s why I think that massage therapists, acupuncturists, meditation guides, Tai Chi instructors, and others are an essential part of the team.

But who is number one??  

The link that keeps the rest of this chain going???

The one that puts the ME in Team!!!

THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTHCARE TEAM!!!!

YOU

You are THE most important member of your mental healthcare team.  The rest of us have education, expertise, ideas, and techniques on how to get you where you want to go but if you don’t show up, this train isn’t leaving the station. There’s the classic joke that goes “How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb? One but the lightbulb has to really want to change.”  If you really want to change, I 100% guarantee the professionals on this list can guide you to making it happen.

Remember, change is scary…even terrifying.  Even changing for the better can be tough! Personal change takes time and is best considered as a lifelong journey.  And on journeys we need guides! There are many people to guide you along your way.  If you have questions about where you should start or where you should go next, please send that question in the Contact Us option on the website!

If I’ve forgotten your profession or mis-defined you, please let me know by email or in the comments! The mental health field is growing and changing and, as an imperfect human, I make mistakes sometimes but I’d love to learn and grow.

Thanks for letting me be a part of your journey.