Counselor vs Therapist

The term counselor is used to broadly refer to a professional trained in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work, or a range of medical fields such as nursing.

Their duties include conducting patient evaluations, providing education and informational resources to their clients, and making suggestions that the client or patient can use to solve the problem they are seeking counseling to address. Often, counselors will specialize in substance abuse, sexual abuse, marriage, and relationships, or family counseling, among others.

A therapist, on the other hand, is an umbrella term that encompasses several different roles. In some states, such as California, it's a protected title that refers to a trained and licensed mental health professional who works in a specific context or medium. They are there to provide some form of therapy to a patient that addresses either mental or physical disorders.

In many cases, both therapists and counselors hold a master's degree and are licensed by the state in which they practice. A Master of Science in Counseling Psychology is a commonly held degree, and common licenses include Licenced Mental Health Counselors (LHMCs) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) may also hold the title of counselor or therapist.