What is the difference between a therapist and a psychologist?
14 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Questions & Answers, Treatment Tags: certification, licensing, psychologists, therapists, therapy
A psychologist has a degree in psychology, the study of the mind. Psychologists may or may not be therapists. Those who do therapy are known as Clinical Psychologists. Other psychologists are engaged in research and a variety of other pursuits.
A therapist has special training in ways of helping clients identify and deal with behavioral and emotional issues. Therapists may be psychologists, Social Workers, or have other training. Some psychiatrists, who are also medical doctors, occasionally practice therapy.
The essential characteristics are training and hours in the field. Before licensing or, in some cases, certification, therapists are required to have thousands of “contact hours,” where they work with clients under the supervision of a licensed therapist. In addition to contact hours, a certain number of hours of formal training are required, often received as part of their college work. They must also pass a comprehensive licensing examination.
Addiction therapists — often called “Addiction Professionals”, or “CAPs” — have additional specialized training and experience in dealing with issues surrounding alcoholism and addiction to other drugs. They may or may not be recovering themselves.
Shel
Bill
