What Is A Clinician In Psychology Vs A Psychologist?

A clinician in psychology is a licensed mental health professional who diagnoses and treats mental health conditions. A psychologist is a person who holds a doctoral degree in psychology, but not all psychologists work with patients. The key difference is that a clinician in psychology is a specific type of psychologist with advanced clinical training and a state license to provide therapy, testing, and diagnosis.

What is a clinician in psychology?

A clinician in psychology is most often a clinical psychologist. These professionals have earned a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in clinical psychology. They complete several years of supervised training in hospitals, clinics, or private practices. After that, they pass a national exam and obtain a state license.

Clinicians in psychology are trained to assess mental health using interviews and psychological tests. They also provide treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy. Many work in private practice, hospitals, community mental health centers, or university counseling centers. Some also conduct research, but their main focus is patient care.

It is important to know that the term “clinician” can also include other licensed professionals like clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and psychiatric nurses. However, when someone says “clinician in psychology,” they are usually referring to a clinical psychologist.

What is a psychologist?

A psychologist is someone who has earned a doctoral degree in psychology. This degree can be a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology). The training prepares them to understand human behavior, emotions, and thought processes. But the field of psychology is broad. Not all psychologists treat patients.

There are many types of psychologists. Industrial-organizational psychologists work in businesses to improve productivity and employee well-being. School psychologists help students learn and cope with behavioral issues. Research psychologists work in universities or labs studying topics like memory, social behavior, or brain function. None of these professionals typically provide therapy to clients.

In many states, the title “psychologist” is legally protected. To call yourself a psychologist, you must have a doctoral degree and, in most cases, a license. But the license may not require clinical training if you work outside of patient care. Some psychologists are licensed specifically for research or consulting.

What is a clinician in psychology vs a psychologist?

The central difference is the clinical focus. A clinician in psychology is a psychologist who is trained and licensed to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. A psychologist may have the same degree but work in a non-clinical setting, such as academia, research, or corporate consulting.

Here are the main points of comparison:

• Education: Both have a doctoral degree in psychology. But clinicians take extra courses in diagnosis, therapy, and assessment, and complete a year-long internship and postdoctoral supervised hours. Non-clinical psychologists may focus on statistics, experimental design, or organizational behavior.
• Licensure: Clinicians in psychology must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and meet state-specific requirements for supervised clinical hours. Non-clinical psychologists may not need a license at all, or they may need a different type of license (e.g., for school psychology).
• Scope of work: Clinicians treat patients. They conduct therapy, give psychological tests (like IQ or personality assessments), and diagnose conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Non-clinical psychologists may teach, design research studies, or consult on workplace efficiency.
• Patient contact: Clinicians see clients regularly. Psychologists in other fields may never see a patient.

A helpful way to remember: all clinicians in psychology are psychologists, but not all psychologists are clinicians.

Education and training requirements

Becoming a clinician in psychology takes many years. First, a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. Then a doctoral program, which usually lasts 4 to 6 years. During that time, students complete a predoctoral internship (typically one year) that provides hands-on clinical experience under supervision.

After earning the doctoral degree, clinicians must complete postdoctoral supervised hours. This often takes another 1 to 2 years. Then they take the EPPP exam. Once they pass, they apply for a state license. Some states also require a separate jurisprudence exam on state laws.

Psychologists who do not pursue clinical work may skip the internship and postdoctoral hours. For example, a research psychologist may only need the doctoral degree and can work in a university lab without a clinical license. Similarly, industrial-organizational psychologists may not need a license at all, depending on their job duties.

Scope of practice

Clinicians in psychology have a broad scope. They can diagnose mental health disorders using criteria from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). They provide various forms of therapy, such as individual, group, and family therapy. They also conduct psychological testing for conditions like ADHD, learning disabilities, and personality disorders.

In some states, clinical psychologists with extra training can prescribe medications. As of 2024, only a few states (like New Mexico, Louisiana, and Illinois) allow this. Elsewhere, psychiatrists (who are medical doctors) handle medication.

Non-clinical psychologists generally cannot diagnose or treat mental illness. Instead, they apply psychological principles to other settings. For instance, a forensic psychologist may work with courts to evaluate competency. A school psychologist helps students with learning and behavior issues, but typically does not provide long-term therapy.

How to choose the right professional for your needs

If you are seeking help for a mental health concern like depression, anxiety, or relationship issues, look for a licensed clinician in psychology. This could be a clinical psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a licensed professional counselor (LPC), or a marriage and family therapist (LMFT). All of these are licensed clinicians, even though they are not all psychologists.

To find a clinical psychologist specifically, check that they have a doctorate in psychology and a current state license. Many have specialities such as child psychology, trauma, or addiction. You can verify credentials through your state’s licensing board website.

If you need a psychological evaluation for school, work, or court, a clinical psychologist with training in testing is usually the right choice. For research or workplace consulting, a psychologist in that specialized field (industrial-organizational, for example) may be better. Always ask about their training and experience.

It is also fine to start with a general therapist. They can refer you to a clinical psychologist if a more specialized assessment or treatment is needed.