When comparing psychotherapists vs. psychologists, you’ll find that psychotherapy is an umbrella term describing professionals who provide psychotherapy—also known as talk therapy—including some types of psychologists. Clinical and counseling psychologists, for example, can both practice psychotherapy, as can therapists and counselors with less education and clinical training.
In other words, clinical psychologists and counseling psychologists can identify as psychotherapists, but not all psychotherapists are psychologists.
Keep reading to learn the difference between psychology and psychotherapy so you can gain clarity about your desired career path.
What Is a Psychotherapist?
A psychotherapist offers talk therapy to treat mental health conditions. Nurses, licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, psychiatrists, and clinical and counseling psychologists can practice psychotherapy.
Psychotherapists use evidence-based practices to help people overcome emotional, psychological and behavioral challenges such as anxiety, depression, career and relationship issues. Depending on a client’s needs, a psychotherapist may apply different therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, art therapy and play therapy.
Psychotherapy sessions with clients are typically 30 to 60 minutes. An intake session, a client’s first meeting with a psychotherapist, lasts more than an hour as it involves completing intake forms and understanding the patient’s background and goals for therapy.
Psychotherapists can work in schools, hospitals, clinics and businesses. They practice one-on-one therapy with individuals, groups and families and children.
Psychotherapist Salary and Career Growth
According to Payscale, psychotherapists earn an average salary of $63,400 per year. Your exact earnings as a psychotherapist depend on your exact position, your degree type, where you live and your years of experience.
Non-psychologist psychotherapists include marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors and mental health social workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects above-average growth rates for all of these professions between 2022 and 2032 (15%, 18% and 11%, respectively).
Psychotherapist Education Requirements
Most psychotherapy roles require at least a master’s degree in counseling psychology, social work, nursing or a related field. A master’s degree prepares you to earn the relevant state licensure for your chosen career path.
A master’s program takes about two to three years to complete, requiring between 48 and 60 credits, depending on the program.
Psychotherapist Licensure Requirements
There is no singular license for psychotherapists. Licensing requirements vary depending on your chosen career path and the state where you intend to practice. Generally, however, you can expect to complete the following before practicing psychotherapy:
- A master’s degree from an accredited program
- Internship or practicum experience
- A specified amount of supervised clinical experience within a certain period of time
- Completion of a clinical licensing exam, such as the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) or the National Counselor Exam (NCE)
What Is a Psychologist?
Psychologists study human processes and behavior, and they can work in various positions and environments. A psychologist might perform academic research, teach higher education or practice psychotherapy.
Counseling and clinical psychologists both use psychotherapy in their practice. Counseling psychologists counsel their patients to help them identify and manage problems in their lives. Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat more complex mental health disorders.
Many clinical psychologists specialize in particular research areas or psychotherapeutic practices. For example, some clinical psychologists focus on individuals with ADHD, pediatric populations or people who struggle with eating disorders. Depending on their area of expertise, clinical psychologists may also supervise psychology students or provide consulting services to fellow mental health providers and businesses.
Psychologist Salary and Career Growth
According to the BLS, clinical and counseling psychologists earn a median annual wage of $102,740 as of May 2022, though the exact number varies based on experience and location. The BLS projects an 11% growth in employment for these psychologists from 2022 to 2032.
According to a recent American Psychological Association (APA) survey, 6 out of 10 clinical psychologists cannot take on new patients, and 46% cannot meet treatment demands.
Psychologist Education Requirements
All psychologists must earn a doctoral degree and often choose between Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs. Ph.D. programs emphasize research; Psy.D. programs focus on practical applications of psychological studies, working directly with individuals and groups. Both rigorous doctoral programs involve extensive learning, research and hands-on application.
Only a bachelor’s in psychology or a closely related field is needed to apply to a doctoral program. A master’s degree is not required, though it can give applicants a leg up.
Completing a psychology doctorate, including undergraduate education, can take between eight and 12 years. Psychologists must complete postgraduate clinical hours before applying for licensure.
Psychologist Licensure Requirements
Each state administers counseling licensure, which in most cases requires the following:
- Proof of completion of a doctorate program
- Completion of an internship
- Completion of required post-program clinical hours
- Completion of the licensure exam, the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
Check your state’s specific requirements to ensure your application for licensure is complete and accurate. The APA’s Handbook of Licensing and Certification Requirements for Psychologists in the U.S. and Canada is a beneficial resource for future psychologists.
Similarities Between Psychotherapists and Psychologists
Mental health terminology can be tricky, making it tough to define which terms apply to one profession and not another. A psychotherapist is someone who practices psychotherapy, which can describe many professions, including clinical and counseling psychologists. Not all psychotherapists are psychologists, but many clinical and counseling psychologists are psychotherapists.
Psychologists and psychotherapists may both:
- Provide talk therapy to individuals and groups
- Help improve patients’ mental health and overall well-being
- Provide treatment for anxiety, depression and other types of mental health conditions
- Require a graduate degree to practice
- Require state-specific licensure to practice
- Use expert listening skills, empathy and creativity to help people
Differences Between Psychotherapists and Psychologists
Not all psychotherapists are psychologists, and not all psychologists are psychotherapists. Psychology generally requires a higher level of education since licensed psychologists must hold doctoral degrees in most cases.
Differences between psychotherapists and clinical psychologists include:
- Clinical and counseling psychologists must earn a doctoral degree, while a master’s degree is only required for psychotherapists.
- Psychologists can perform academic research and work in labs, other psychotherapists mainly provide talk therapy to clients.
- A psychotherapist is more likely than a clinical psychologist to perform talk therapy.
- Clinical psychologists can perform assessments and make complex diagnoses. Psychotherapists diagnose and treat more general mental health conditions.
- Clinical and counseling psychologists and psychotherapists can use different approaches to mental health treatment, based on specialty, degree or training.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychotherapy vs. Psychology
Is a psychotherapist better than a therapist?
Most therapists practice psychotherapy and may be considered psychotherapists. Psychotherapist is simply an umbrella term that includes therapists, so neither is better than the other.
What does a psychotherapist deal with?
Psychotherapists work with their clients to identify and treat cognitive, emotional and behavioral challenges. A psychotherapist’s clientele may vary depending on their exact position. For example, clinical psychologists may treat patients with complex mental health disorders, while marriage and family therapists often help clients with simpler day-to-day struggles.
