But before you can decide if a therapist has the right stuff, you need to find one. So if that title is the only information you have about a potential therapist, proceed with caution. Your best bet is to begin with a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, or clinical nurse specialist. These mental-health professionals must meet fixed standards in all states. There's no good evidence that one group provides better psychotherapy than another, but there are differences among them.
Psychiatrists are physicians, trained to provide medical diagnosis and treatment.
If you need medication for your problem or have medical illnesses that affect your mood, a psychiatrist may be the best choice for you. Except for clinical nurse specialists, the other professionals are not medically trained and can't prescribe medication. Clinical psychologists often have strong backgrounds in personality development, psychological testing, and various forms of psychotherapy. Many are well trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy, an important technique in treating several anxiety disorders. Psychiatric social workers are often skilled in dealing with community resources, interpersonal problems, and the special needs of families.