Opinion & Entertainment

Every clinic, hospital, or community health center you walk into will have professionals offering all forms of health care. Many of their titles sound similar and even their goals overlap. However, psychiatrists, psychologists, professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists each bring a distinct training, philosophy, and role to the care of mental health. It is important to understand the differences between these professionals when seeking help. This is about clarifying roles and not about ranking importance. Many know that they need help but not who does what or when each professional may be most helpful. So let’s look at each mental health provider and what they do.