Which Type of Psychotherapist is the Best? | Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, or MFTs

This video attempts to answer the question: What are the differences between the major mental health professions, like counselors, social workers, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists? Another question I've heard is: which one is the best? I've heard this from the perspective of the client and the professional: Which one is the best for a client? Which one is the best in terms of being that professional? I am a counselor educator (Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision) so my bias is going to be toward my own profession.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2014) National Provider Index Database

[xcxxcccvbnnvjml]

I’m so interested in all these topics but due to a brain injury I often can’t retain the information I’ve just learnt. However I’m actually able to remember some of your content and that’s a testament to how clear and concise your videos are. Thank you

[amandalynn]

I think it’s also important to note that social workers can also work in clinical settings delivering 1.1 counseling to clients with an LSW or LCSW. What I love most about social work is you don’t necessarily need a Doctorate to deliver 1.1 services. It’s a matter of time and hours under supervision in order to take the proper testing to become licensed in this field. Social work is very complex working at the macro, micro, mezzo levels where counseling is more concrete. Thanks for your perspective and taking the time to make this video Dr. Grande. I just wanted to shed some light for people entering the field of mental health or considering pursuing an education in this field. It’s so important to know because there are so many differences in terms of counseling and it can be quite confusing deciding between them all.

[dbsw]

LCSW here! I just passed the national exam! :)

[serendipitous_synchronicity]

I love how you break these type things down...Many thanks for your dedication to teaching us Dr Grande.

[veronica.gv.]

As a Psychology major this is very informative thank you. I'm graduating with my BA next year

[dougbehan]

The description of a social worker's approach to therapy was a cliche. They conduct traditional therapy in every town in the country. The social work masters degree is also the strongest masters degree in the job market by far.


Also, when looking for a therapist, the research says it is best to interview and find a person who you relate to, regardless of their profession. The degree a therapist holds has not been shown to impact effectiveness. The best therapists are empathetic, engaging, genuine, and relate to a wide range of people.

[dharmafey]

I didn't hear you mention anything about insurances. I am an LMHC (LPC) with 20 years of experience, and I can never accept Tricare or Medicare. The real problem here is that those agencies need to open their requirements to include more professions. Our seniors and vets deserve more options.

[arianaajbeaverhausen]

I've been seeing psychologists since I was 12 (20 years) and it just never seems to work out. This video has explained a lot for me, though I'm still unsure of which therapy will work best for me in the future but this gives me a starting point to research the different councellors/therapists available in my area.

Thank you Doctor! Have a great week! ☺

[throttle.therapist]

This is SO great - thank you! I'm beginning a Master's Program in Psychology with LMFT licensing opportunity at the end, but have been debating between LMFT and LPC, and this was so helpful!

[chocodiego]

Social workers at the highest licensure level (LCSW) could be employed in all of the areas that were discussed.

[pocoeagle]

An excellent informative + well structured presentation about this topic.
Thank you very much Dr. Grande 😃

[Sheri]

I'm a NYS social worker. Your explanation of the licensing and roles of a Social Worker is portrayed in a limited manner. For New York State.. the licensing levels are LMSW and LCSW. Here the BA level is no longer recognized due to lack of graduate level education and licensing. Also, Social Workers are no longer limited to merely referring and accessing services. We overlap with psychologists in that we are able to assess, diagnose and counsel individuals. We can provide short and long-term therapy too. Social Workers are now very valued in some clinical setting where they may have been disregarded as support staff years prior.

[thebarky]

I am a social worker. I love your channel. Your an excellent teacher and presenter. You make it understandable. Thank you

[margaretthatcher]

I enjoyed this video, it rings true to everything I have experienced in professional life. The only thing I think may have been missed is that psychological theory plays a LOT into the work. CBT, brief solution focused, DBT, addiction specialization, they all make different amounts of money and do very different things. I can’t stress enough that if you want to be a counselor you should have a theoretical framework. Yeah you can use technique from all types of therapy but you should have a clear theory to direct care and goal setting for clients so therapy is not just Unguided whine sessions.

[KIMMYKIM]

Marriage and Family Therapists see individuals, families, couples and perform group therapy. They perform assessments and diagnose. They treat mental health issues along with relational issues like marital or family problems. The use of systems thinking and the emphasis on relational dynamics is very useful when working as a consultant for organizations/companies. When in session, at least half of your time will be spent working with people on an individual level. For example, a family comes in for an initial session however you will eventually see members individually and or in subgroups (mom and dad, siblings, parent and child). There are several foundational MFT therapy models that you can choose from and many other models that branch off from those original models. The Bowenian Family Therapy model is an option for those who prefer a psychodynamic and systemic perspective. The model strives to enact change on the individual and family system level whereas some other models view the problem exclusively as a systems problem. I mention this for those who wonder whether systems theory is too restrictive. You have options within the field. There are other models that also emphasize the individual more and not just the family. Some models focus on behavioral patterns where others emphasize self awareness, emotions, and communication. There are plenty of licensed MFTs who solely see individuals because they prefer it to working with families and couples, however they practice from a systemic perspective...meaning you conceptualize the presenting problem within the context of the systems that impact the client client (school, church/religion, community, family, friends, society, etc.). You are not restricted to dealing with couples and family problems. You can specialize in any area that interests you (trauma, mood disorders, eating disorders, marital counseling, behavioral issues, etc.)
Dr. Grande did a great job and I agree that when it comes to the actual practice of psychotherapy they all do pretty much the same thing just from a slightly different perspective due to formal training. It was hard for me to decide when I was picking grad program because they were so similar.

[marydepugh]

I’ve been crazy for quite awhile and the best help I ever got and continue to get from a psychologist and she’s great.

[katarinatomic]

Great video! I went through four years of training in marriage and family therapy and currently I'm under supervision. Im MFT we focus a lot on interractions and communication, but we also put an emphasis on individual experience and development, emotions, cognitions, attachment styles, mental health problems (but, of course, related to family dynamics). MFT has grown beyond basic system analysis and corrections according to so called "ideal nuclear family" idea to focusing on individual narratives and co-construction of new client-individual-family reality in real time interactions. It demands a lot of self-reflection. I really liked what You said in one of Your videos - this kind of work is transformative and takes time. I apsolutely agree. It transforms both sides in a unique human encounter.

[rhyami]

I am sharing my experience here in case it is useful to anyone. I understand we will all have different experiences and different needs. I have used various types of talk therapy for bipolar disorder over the past 30 years, having at least one of each type of these therapists. I found that psychologist and counselors are much more focused on accomplishing measurable goals, tracking symptoms to prevent mood swings, and doing homework with practical steps aimed at stabilizing moods, improving relationships, and preventing boredom. However, the two times I worked with a social worker were very disappointing because they were just like talking to a friend over a cup of tea. I felt warm and fuzzy, understood, by the time I left my session, but I have no game plan, no accountability for doing things that would help myself feel better, and no one gently confronting me if I started doing destructive behaviors. The two social workers lived in different states and didn’t know each other. While I like them very much, I would not agree to do therapy with them again and I am unwilling to try another round with a social worker in the new city where I live. I’m only willing to work with a counselor or psychologist now who uses CBT, possibly elements of DVT, mindfulness, and other strategies that are tangible, measurable, and effective.

[HoneyBadger]

Over the decades I've had the best help through seeing a psychiatrist. They seem to know right away what they are seeing, know what Rx's are the most helpful for what you need and what outpatient therapy will help you disorder the best, ie; Cognative therapy as an example.

[IJCJR]

Dr. Grande great breakdown. I think you hit on a key point in this video. Similar to other professions, clients should seek out the best professional for their issue. The issue I’ve been seeing in the Mental Health professions is two fold.

1. Clients having not been educated in services provided by these professionals assume all these professionals have the same level of expertise, and can provide the same level of service and care.

2. Counselors, Therapist, and Social Workers accepting clients with issues outside of their scope of expertise and training. Sometimes the best and most ethical thing to do is refer to another professional.