Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesConditions TreatedFinding a CounselorBecoming a CounselorFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Conditions Treated
Finding a Counselor
Becoming a Counselor
Frequently Asked Questions
If you find yourself experiencing distress that is affecting your everyday life, mental health counseling may be for you. Counseling can show you how to navigate through dark, uncertain times in your life. It can help you improve relationships with those closest to you as well. Whileself-carecan relieve minor issues, you may need professional help with severe symptoms that last longer than two weeks.
About 1 in 5 U.S. adults—almost 50 million Americans—are living with a mental illness. Unfortunately, more than 27 million of them are not receiving any treatment.
However, thanks to the Internet and other resources, counseling is more accessible than ever before. You can find help at your job, school, healthcare provider’s office, community center, or online.
This article discusses types of counseling, costs, and who can benefit from this service. It also shares how to become a counselor to help countless others.
What Is Mental Health?
Mental health involves how we think, feel, act, and get along with others. It also relates to our ability to make choices and handle challenges.
Being mentally healthy helps us to develop positive relationships with ourselves and others. It enables us to lead productive lives and empower others to do the same.
Mental health can affect physical health as well. People with mental illness have a greater risk of having heart disease,type 2 diabetes, andsubstance use disorders.
Types of Mental Health Counseling
Mental health counseling aims to diagnose and help improve emotional and behavioral well-being. It may serve as an alternative to medicine or be used with medications or other mental health treatments.
Mental health professionalsuse a variety of counseling formats depending on the person, group, or type of mental condition.
Counselor vs. TherapistTechnically, the terms“counselor” and “therapist” are not the same. Training, licensing, and treatment methods are different between the two professions and can influence your experience and results when being seen.Counselors and therapists both use talk therapy with patients, but counseling is not as regulated as therapy is. Counselors such as life or career coaches may not have advanced degrees or be subject to a professional licensing board.Therapists must be licensed to advertise their services.
Counselor vs. Therapist
Technically, the terms“counselor” and “therapist” are not the same. Training, licensing, and treatment methods are different between the two professions and can influence your experience and results when being seen.Counselors and therapists both use talk therapy with patients, but counseling is not as regulated as therapy is. Counselors such as life or career coaches may not have advanced degrees or be subject to a professional licensing board.Therapists must be licensed to advertise their services.
Technically, the terms“counselor” and “therapist” are not the same. Training, licensing, and treatment methods are different between the two professions and can influence your experience and results when being seen.
Counselors and therapists both use talk therapy with patients, but counseling is not as regulated as therapy is. Counselors such as life or career coaches may not have advanced degrees or be subject to a professional licensing board.
Therapists must be licensed to advertise their services.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is when a person, couple, family, or group meets with a mental health provider and talks about their concerns.
This counseling method helps a person learn about their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and how these factors influence their lives. It also offers ways to help reframe their thinking and their response tostress.
Psychotherapy includespsychoeducation, which educates people and their loved ones about their mental disorder, recommended treatment, and coping strategies.
Mental health professionals can offer several types of psychotherapy including, but not limited to:
Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It explores biological, environmental, and social factors that influence people’s emotions, thoughts, and actions.
The field of psychology includes many specialty areas, such as:
Psychiatry
Psychiatry addresses the mental and physical aspects of mental illness.Psychiatristsare medical doctors, so they can prescribe medications in combination with talk therapy as needed.
Psychiatric care may include medications such as:
Electrical Current Therapy
In severe mental illness cases that don’t respond to talk therapy or medication, psychiatrists may turn toelectroconvulsivetherapy. During this noninvasive, painless procedure, a healthcare professional administers controlled electrical currents to the brain.
The person receiving this treatment is given anesthesia and muscle relaxants to reduce injury risk. Depending on the severity of your condition, you can receive this therapy up to two to three times a week.
Psychiatrist vs. PsychologistPsychiatrists and psychologists have crucial differences in their training and what they are allowed to do, including:Psychiatristsare medical doctors who can prescribe medications and offer counseling.Psychologistshold doctorate degrees, but they are not medical doctors. Most can provide talk therapy, but they cannot prescribe medications.
Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist
Psychiatrists and psychologists have crucial differences in their training and what they are allowed to do, including:Psychiatristsare medical doctors who can prescribe medications and offer counseling.Psychologistshold doctorate degrees, but they are not medical doctors. Most can provide talk therapy, but they cannot prescribe medications.
Psychiatrists and psychologists have crucial differences in their training and what they are allowed to do, including:
Social Work
Social workerscan provide mental health counseling with individual, group, andfamily therapy. According to theirlicensureor certification, they may assess, prevent, diagnose, or treat mental health disorders and addictions.
These professionals work in private practice, primary care settings, community mental health centers, hospitals, and treatment centers.
Treatments formental distresswill be different for everyone. Each person comes with unique experiences and needs that require a personalized approach. For instance, some therapies work well for children with depression. Other treatments can help aging adults cope with the loss of a spouse or child
Mental health counseling can help you manage these and many other conditions:
Anyone Can Benefit From CounselingMental health is important for everyone at every age. Counseling can bring relief and hope when it becomes difficult to maintain positive emotional well-being on your own. Therapy can also help you build thought and behavior patterns to manage symptoms of mental health conditions.
Anyone Can Benefit From Counseling
Mental health is important for everyone at every age. Counseling can bring relief and hope when it becomes difficult to maintain positive emotional well-being on your own. Therapy can also help you build thought and behavior patterns to manage symptoms of mental health conditions.
You don’t have to be experiencing mental illness to qualify for counseling. Mental health counseling can help people overcome or deal with:
Distress Signals
If the following symptoms linger for weeks or are getting worse, it’s time to speak with your healthcare provider and/or mental health professional:
Doomscrolling: The Meaning and Impact on Mental Health
Considering the variety of mental health specialists available, it may seem hard to find the right mental health counselor. Here are some tips:
If you are in a crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately.
How to Become a Mental Health Counselor
The need for qualified mental health professionals is growing fast. Society is losing $1 trillion every year due to physical illnesses and lost productivity stemming from mental health disorders.
The first step toward becoming a mental health counselor typically involves earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology or another human services field.
A master’s degree in a mental health related field is also a requirement, with at least two years of supervised training. Counselors must also pass a national test—and a state test in some cases—to obtain their license.
Licensed counselors must also undergo continuing education to stay up to date on current practices.
Licensed counselors can earn titles including:
Mental health counseling can be a rewarding career in which you can change people’s lives for the better. It is quite demanding, though. You’ll need to have strong listening, communication, and critical thinking skills.
Counselors work in a wide variety of settings, such as:
Summary
Mental health counseling includes various kinds of talk therapy for managing or preventing emotional distress. It is suitable and helpful for people of all ages and situations in life. Individuals, families, and groups can learn and grow with confidential, knowledgeable assistance from a professional.
Although therapists and counselors do similar work, therapists are licensed and certified to perform their work. Only psychiatrists can prescribe medication and electroconvulsive therapy to help manage severe mental illness.
This service can be expensive. Fortunately, many insurance plans and social service agencies offer free or low-cost options in person or virtually.
Mental health counseling requires extensive education and outstanding people skills. It is a wide field offering opportunities to bring hope and healing.
A Word From Verywell
If you’re experiencing severe physical pain, you’d need to seek medical attention right away. Emotional pain is just as serious. In the way that managing prediabetes or lowering blood pressure can keep physical health conditions from escalating, mental health counseling is available to help preserve and restore your emotional well-being.
Getting therapy is not a sign of weakness. It shows that you have the wisdom to recognize your need for help and the willingness to become a better you.
Mental health care is more accessible than you may realize. Reach out for counseling and open your life to greater hope, comfort, and clarity.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe government requires most Marketplace, small group, and individual health insurance plans to cover mental health benefits. According to the law, this coverage must be as comprehensive as coverage for medical care.Check with your plan’s benefits summary or enrollment materials to understand what your insurer offers.Learn MoreMental Health Parity Rules for Health InsuranceHow much mental health care will cost youdepends on the type of therapy and treatment, the counselor’s credentials, and location. Rates can range from $60 to over $200 per hour.However, some organizations and health insurance plans offer online or phone therapy at no or low cost. These methods can be as effective as in-person sessions.
The government requires most Marketplace, small group, and individual health insurance plans to cover mental health benefits. According to the law, this coverage must be as comprehensive as coverage for medical care.Check with your plan’s benefits summary or enrollment materials to understand what your insurer offers.Learn MoreMental Health Parity Rules for Health Insurance
The government requires most Marketplace, small group, and individual health insurance plans to cover mental health benefits. According to the law, this coverage must be as comprehensive as coverage for medical care.Check with your plan’s benefits summary or enrollment materials to understand what your insurer offers.
The government requires most Marketplace, small group, and individual health insurance plans to cover mental health benefits. According to the law, this coverage must be as comprehensive as coverage for medical care.
Check with your plan’s benefits summary or enrollment materials to understand what your insurer offers.
Learn MoreMental Health Parity Rules for Health Insurance
How much mental health care will cost youdepends on the type of therapy and treatment, the counselor’s credentials, and location. Rates can range from $60 to over $200 per hour.However, some organizations and health insurance plans offer online or phone therapy at no or low cost. These methods can be as effective as in-person sessions.
How much mental health care will cost youdepends on the type of therapy and treatment, the counselor’s credentials, and location. Rates can range from $60 to over $200 per hour.
However, some organizations and health insurance plans offer online or phone therapy at no or low cost. These methods can be as effective as in-person sessions.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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