What is the difference between a licensed professional counselor and a mental health therapist?
If you’re interested in becoming a professional in mental health, you must know the various available job functions. The most common are counselors, therapists and psychologists.
The difference between licensed professional counselors and therapists is their level of education and training. To be a therapist, you must complete a master’s degree or higher education in counseling.
While counseling requires a bachelor’s degree, depending on the state, some counselors can work under a state license or with an associate degree.
Another key difference is that counseling is usually a short-term approach. They provide resources and techniques so patients can move toward a healthy lifestyle. Therapy is often a longer-term process, identifying the cause and effect to reach a lasting outcome.