Social worker vs Therapist

Typically, therapists predominantly focus on the thoughts, actions, and emotions of a person, couple, or family and work with them to diagnose mental illnesses and develop helpful therapeutic plans.

Social workers, on the other hand, provide individual, group, family, and couples therapy; work with clients to develop strategies to change behavior or cope with difficult situations; and refer clients to other resources or services, such as support groups or other mental health workers.

Social workers assess the systems implemented in institutions such as schools, governments, and communities that affect a person's well-being. They then strive to address these challenges by offering resources and counseling and acting as advocates for the people with whom they collaborate.

Therapists, on the other hand, specialize in helping clients develop better cognitive and emotional skills, reduce symptoms of mental illness, and cope with various life challenges to improve their lives.

To become a social worker, a master's degree is the minimum educational requirement for employment in supervisory, clinical, and specialty practice. In many cases, both therapists and counselors require both a master's degree and a license from the state in which they plan to work.

The median annual salary for all social workers in the United States is $51,760 per year. The median salary for a therapist averages $71,859 per year. Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow by 13% from 2019 to 2029 while employed as a therapist, while employment rates for marriage and family therapists are projected to grow by 16% from 2020 to 2030.