Finding the best, the most revered, or the most qualified psychologist or mental health therapist in Idaho can be challenging. Call 888.341.3607 to speak with someone from Ashwood Recovery about our psychologists and therapists in Boise, Idaho, that offer evidence-based anxiety and fear treatment.
Which Mental Health Professional Should You Seek Treatment From?
Let’s look at the definitions of the different mental health professions to assist you in your search for mental health treatment in Boise, Idaho.
What Is a Psychologist?
Psychologists practicing in the United States usually require a minimum of a Master’s degree in psychology. Clinical psychologists undergo additional training in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.
With state licensing, a psychologist can set up a private practice involving direct “talk therapy” with patients. Furthermore, they can clinically assess and evaluate the mental health of their patients, diagnose mental illness, and advise on the best course of treatment for each patient.
What Is a Psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor—they have attended medical school and become medical doctors before doing specialist training in mental health. Therefore, they can prescribe an appropriate course of medication to help their patients.
Psychiatrists can provide a wide range of treatments, according to the mental health issue involved, including:
- Prescription medication
- General medical care
- Psychological treatments
- Brain stimulation therapies
Psychiatrists have at least 11 years of training. First of all, they will study for a medical degree at university. Then, it’s at least one or two years of training as a general doctor. After completing this, they have to complete at least five years of training in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.
What Is a Counselor?
The professional title of “counselor” can mean a licensed clinician. It can also mean those who offer other forms of counseling. Mental health counselors help patients to achieve emotional well-being and often see their patients on an ongoing basis as a singular part of an overall treatment plan.
To operate, counselors do not require advanced training, university qualifications, or state licensure. However, through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), counselors can acquire professional certification—a voluntary credential that the individual has met the national standards set by the counseling profession.
What Is a Therapist?
Some U.S. states—like California—protect the professional title of “therapist” by requiring the individual to have licensure to operate. In the states where this term is not legally protected, the term “therapist” can include life coaches and others who may not have the same licensure and degree requirements.
Different degrees can offer routes to the protected title of “therapist,” such as a Master’s degree in psychology, marriage and family therapy, social work, or counseling. A therapist may also have a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in any of those fields.
What Is a Psychotherapist?
Psychotherapy, also called psychological therapy or “talk therapy,” is the use of psychological methods to help a person after a problematic mental health or behavioral issue.
The term “psychotherapist” can refer to several variations of mental health professionals—such as psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or professional counselors. Therefore, depending on which U.S. state they practice professionally, they can be regulated, voluntarily regulated, or unregulated.
Anxiety vs. Fear: What’s the Difference?
Being fearful is a natural human response to danger. Feeling fear over an extended period can, however, result in feelings of anxiety. Anxiety, the state of being anxious—either periodically or seemingly constantly—is the natural response to an unknown or poorly defined threat that is not immediate but expected to happen soon. Both anxiety and fear produce similar psychological, emotional, and physical reactions in an average person and can co-occur. The most common anxiety disorders in the U.S. are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder.
Find Mental Health Treatment in Idaho at Ashwood Recovery
Ashwood Recovery offers a highly structured and personalized outpatient program for people whose primary diagnosis is mental health-related. Contact Ashwood Recovery today at 888.341.3607 to learn more about our psychologists and therapists in Boise, Idaho.