Mental health is a vast field with diverse opportunities. To narrow down your choices, spend some time learning about the types of mental health professionals and what they do.
Mental Health Counselor
Substance use, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors provide support to people struggling with different life challenges, including substance use disorder, anxiety, stress, grief and others.
They may do any of the following:
- Evaluate clients’ behaviors and concerns and developing treatment plans
- Help clients learn how to develop healthy behaviors and coping skills
- Support clients’ family members by teaching them about the disorder and helping them learn how to support their loved one at home
- Refer clients to needed services, such as job placement services or support groups
Career requirements can vary by state, but all counselors who work in private practice or in advanced positions must be licensed. Licensure requires a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, along with completion of supervised clinical experience hours and a passing score on a licensure exam.1
It's common for aspiring counselors to start by earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, counseling or social science. They may start in an entry-level role, but after obtaining state licensure, a counselor may decide to position themselves to potentially pursue career advancement by opening up their own private practice or working in an agency setting.1
Psychiatrist
People often confuse psychiatrists with psychologists, but there are notable differences. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who specializes in mental health. They can deliver psychotherapy and prescribe medications and other medical treatments.2
By contrast, psychologists undergo extensive training in clinical practice, but they are not medical doctors. Psychologists can provide psychological evaluation, testing and treatment, but they cannot prescribe medications.2
Psychiatrists can work with patients suffering from any mental health disorder.
They may do any of the following:
- Perform patient intake assessments, such as by taking medical histories
- Evaluate symptoms and diagnosing patients
- Develop treatment plans, including prescribing medications
- Provide counseling and psychoanalysis in regular sessions
Becoming a psychiatrist starts with earning a bachelor’s degree that can allow you to meet the admission requirements for medical school. It’s also helpful to volunteer or intern at a clinic to bolster your resume in anticipation of applying to medical school.2
To apply for medical school, you’ll need to first take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). If accepted, you can earn a doctor of medicine (MD) degree or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree. After graduating, you’ll need to complete psychiatric residency training, and you may decide to complete fellowship training, as well. You’ll also need to obtain a medical license by passing the licensure exam.2
Marriage and Family Therapist
A marriage and family therapist specializes in working with couples and families. They treat behavioral disorders within the context of relationships, such as by helping couples work through relationship problems and better understand each other’s emotional needs. For example, a marriage and family therapist may help couples whose relationship is suffering from addiction, low self-esteem or emotional neglect.
These therapists may do any of the following:
- Ask open-ended questions designed to encourage clients to share their experiences and emotions
- Help clients process feelings and adapt to changes
- Teach coping strategies and decision-making skills
After earning a relevant bachelor’s degree, an aspiring marriage and family therapist must earn a master’s degree in psychology, marriage and family therapy or a related field. Requirements vary by state, but generally they must also complete supervised clinical experience hours (similar to internships) and take a licensing exam in order to obtain a license.3
Mental Health Nurse
Not all who work in the mental health field are counselors or psychologists. If you feel drawn to the nursing field, you might consider becoming a nurse who specializes in mental healthcare. This career path also provides opportunities for potential career advancement.
A mental health nurse may do any of the following:
- Provide crisis intervention services
- Assess patients
- Administer medications and other treatments
- Lead therapeutic activities for groups of patients
- Provide case management services
To become a registered nurse (RN), you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. You’ll also need to pass the NCLEX-RN® to obtain licensure, in addition to meeting your state’s other requirements for nurses. These may include passing a criminal background check and obtaining additional certifications.4
After working as a mental health nurse for a while, you may decide to position yourself to potentially pursue career advancement to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), which is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). You’ll need either a master’s or doctoral degree that focuses on your nursing specialty, and you’ll need to pass the board certification exam.5 As a PMHNP, you’ll be able to practice with greater autonomy.
