What is the difference between a counselor, therapist, and psychologist?
What type of education does a therapist require?
Becoming a therapist requires that you complete a four-year bachelor’s degree, plus a master’s degree (which takes an additional 2 – 3 years to earn from an accredited university) or a doctoral degree (which is yet another 2 – 3 years). Once a therapist has finished school, they must complete an internship (one year) and then a period of supervised clinical hours (usually about 2 years). If you’re counting, this is a grand total of anywhere from 9 – 12 years to become a licensed therapist.
Therapist and Counselor can be used interchangably…
That leaves the psychologist, who will always hold a Ph.D. To learn more about the differences in types of mental health professionals, please check out our blog on the Differences Between Counselors, Therapists, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists and Which Should I Choose.
How to get started with counseling
We’ll start by arraging a free phone consultation with you an one of our trusted thereapist. You'll briefly discuss your needs and decide if you'd like to process with booking a session. Many clients opt for a combination of online and in-office sessions; others choose one or the other as their schedule demands - we offer both to suit your needs!
We offer online therapy to Arizona residents and in-person therapy for those in the Scottsdale are - and we are currently accepting new clients.
Take the first step today...
At Claibourne Counseling, we offer a supportive and collaborative environment – we’re here to help when you’re ready!