Mental Health Professionals
(Updated: 200220917)
Stages
 Clinical/Counseling Psychologists
 Psychiatrist
 Other Mental Health Professionals
Final Degree
 Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology)
Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology)
 M.D. (Medical Doctor)
D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy)
 Clinical Social Worker
  • MSW = 2 yrs of class & clinical work
  • DSW = more classwork & research thesis

LCSW = Licensed Clinical social Worker
LMSW = Licensed Master Social Worker

Psychiatric Nurses

  • RN & specialized training

Counselors

  • Masters' degree = 2 years of class and clinical work
Schooling
 Graduate School
  • 3 years in class studying clinical psychology & working in clinical settings
  • 1-2 years preparing a doctoral thesis (research)
 Medical School
  • 3 or 4 years in medical school studying general medicine with clinical rotations through different specialties including psychiatry
Clinical Training
 Internship in clinical/counseling psychology for 1 year

State license in Psychology requires 1 further year of supervised clinical work + passing state licensing exam
 Internship in a hospital for general medicine for 1-2 years

Residency program in psychiatry for 1-2 years
(Total = 4 years post school)
Prescribing Drugs?
 Not usually.

Exceptions = 5 states (NM, IL, LA, ID, IA) & Federal agencies: Public Health Service, Indian Health Service, & US military hospital system after 1-2 years of further clinical training
 Yes as a licensed physician.
 No.