The Difference Between Counselors and Psychologists

Finding the right mental health professional isn't always easy, especially when you aren't sure exactly what all their titles and professional acronyms mean. For example, while counseling and psychology share many similarities, counselors and psychologists have significant functional differences.

Counselors and psychologists perform similar duties, but there are critical differences. Both help people live better lives, but counselors and psychologists have different educational backgrounds, areas of focus and specialization, and work settings.

If you are considering a career in counseling or psychology, knowing the differences between the two is critical for planning your education and training. It's also important to know the differences when seeking mental health treatment. If you are confused about choosing the right professional, consider talking to your doctor or calling a referral service.

However, don't get too hung up on understanding the ins and outs of all these differences. What's most important to your treatment is often the therapeutic relationship between you and your mental health provider, whether they are a counselor or psychologist.

Similarities Between Counseling and Psychology

There are similarities between counselors and psychologists, including that both professions:

• Are mental health practitioners
• Can diagnose and treat mental health conditions
• Can provide psychotherapy
• Help clients improve their well-being
• May specialize in a particular area, such as working with children, adults, or couples
• Work in diverse areas, including hospitals, government offices, mental health clinics, academic settings, and private practice

Differences Between Counselors and Psychologists

Some of the major differences between counselors and psychologists are in their level of education, the scope of their practice, and the settings in which they work.

Counseling is usually a short-term therapy that addresses the problems or situations you are currently dealing with. It stresses talk therapy and usually has specific goals. 

Psychotherapy provided by a psychologist, on the other hand, is often focused on longer-term, underlying mental health issues. It may focus on helping people understand their internal experiences, gain insight, and apply skills to chronic or recurrent mental health issues.

Educational and Training Differences

There are important differences in terms of education and training between counselors vs. psychologists.

Counselor Educational Requirements

Counselors typically hold a minimum of a master's degree in either counseling or psychology. To become a licensed professional counselor (LPC), an individual must pass a national professional exam and complete a specified number of supervised hours in the field.

Some master's programs allow for part-time study, making it possible for students to remain employed in their current job while they earn their degree. Many of these programs are also available partially or completely online.

Psychologist Educational Requirements

Psychologists, on the other hand, hold a PhD or PsyD in psychology. Some professionals are known as counseling psychologists and may hold an EdD degree in counseling psychology.

These doctorate programs typically take at least five years to complete. The first four years are spent on required courses, research, clinical experiences, and a dissertation; a supervised internship in the field is completed during the fifth year.

As with master's programs, some PhD, PsyD, and EdD degree programs can be done partially or completely online.

Accreditation and Licensing

Counseling psychology and counseling degree programs are sometimes housed within a university's College of Education. Both programs receive accreditation from different accrediting bodies in the United States.

Both counselors and psychologists must also be licensed to practice within the state where they work. To become licensed, counselors and psychologists must meet specific education, training, and testing criteria established by the state.

The requirements typically include meeting a minimum education level, completing required supervised experience hours, and passing state certification exams.

Counseling vs. Psychology: Scope of Practice

Another key difference between counselors and counseling psychologists is in the type of duties they typically perform.

Clinical and counseling psychologists typically work with clients with serious mental health conditions. They may offer therapy that is specific to certain types of disorders, such as using dialectical behavior therapy to treat borderline personality disorder. They also typically administer diagnostic tests and assessments.

Clients with emotional, relationship, social, and academic problems, on the other hand, are often referred to a counselor because these professionals typically offer more cost-effective treatments.

Specializing

Counselors and psychologists can both choose to specialize in a particular area, which can be related to the setting they practice in or the type of clients they work with. Specializing generally requires additional education, training, and licensure, and may require research, internships, or fieldwork.

Counselors may choose to focus on a specialty area such as school counseling, career counseling, marriage and family counseling, mental health counseling, and addiction counseling.

Counseling psychologists may choose to specialize in areas such as substance abuse, child development, health psychology, community psychology, crisis intervention, or developmental disabilities.

Which Is More Effective?

Both counseling and psychology can provide effective solutions for mental health problems. Research has found that for many issues, counseling can be just as effective in treating some mental health conditions as psychotherapy provided by a psychologist. 

One study found that in the short term, psychotherapy (in this case, interpersonal therapy), improved symptoms and functioning more than counseling. However, a follow-up study with the same group of participants found that counseling had better efficacy in the long term.

One study concluded that CBT was the most effective treatment for depression and that counseling was recommended only after other interventions have been ineffective.

What This Means for You

While counselors and counseling psychologists perform many similar job duties in the field of mental health, it is essential to be aware of the differences between the two professions. If you are considering counseling or psychology as a profession, you must determine which one is right for you and adjust your educational plan to meet the requirements in the state where you intend to practice.

If you are looking for mental health services, talk to your healthcare provider about the type of mental health provider who would best meet your needs. For example, if you need help coping with stress at school or work, a counselor might be able to help. If you have a mental health condition that requires treatment, you might be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist who can manage your care.