What’s the Difference Between a Therapist, Counselor, and Psychologist in Michigan?
Are you searching for a therapist near you, but keep seeing the titles therapist, counselor, and psychologist—and wondering what the difference is? You’re not alone. The mental health field can be confusing, with many different licenses, credentials, and professional titles.
If you don’t work in mental healthcare, there’s no reason you’d automatically know who does what. The good news is, whether you’re looking for therapy in Michigan, counseling for anxiety, or psychological testing, there are professionals ready to help.
In this post, we’ll break down the differences between therapists, counselors, and psychologists—so you can feel confident choosing the right kind of care for your needs.
To be transparent, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Michigan, so this perspective comes from both my professional experience in the field and the research I’ve done on these respective credentials and titles. While I can speak most directly to the role of a counselor, my goal is to give you a clear picture of these therapist options.
A Quick Cheat Sheet: Decoding Mental Health Credentials in Michigan
When you start looking for a therapist in Michigan, you’ll probably notice a confusing mix of letters behind people’s names. Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you make sense of the most common titles and credentials you’ll see.
Education Degrees
Some providers list their educational degree after their name. For example, psychologists often include PsyD or PhD in their marketing. This indicates they hold a doctoral degree and may provide additional services, such as psychological testing, in addition to therapy for anxiety or counseling in Jackson, Michigan. Others may list a Master’s degree (MA, MS, or MSW), or even a Medical Doctorate (MD) if they’re a psychiatrist.
State Licenses
Providers also include state license abbreviations. For instance:
LPC = Licensed Professional Counselor
LMSW-C = Licensed Master’s Social Worker – Clinical
It’s confusing because every state has slightly different versions of these licenses—but they all represent a professional trained to provide counseling or therapy.
“Limited” Licenses
You may also see a provider with a “limited” license (e.g., LLMSW or LLPC). This means they’re practicing under supervision while they gain post-graduate experience and prepare for their full licensure exam. These providers can still offer therapy and counseling, often bringing fresh training and support from a licensed supervisor.
Best Fit Often Comes Down to the Individual
While titles and credentials matter, the best fit for therapy often comes down to the person themselves. Do they listen to you? Do they understand your goals? Do they have experience with the challenges you’re facing, like anxiety, ADHD, parenting stress, or LGBTQ+ support? That fit matters just as much—if not more—than the letters behind their name.
Specialty Credentials
Sometimes you’ll also see extra letters that represent special training, not state licenses. For example, I have an ATR (Registered Art Therapist) credential. Michigan doesn’t license art therapists separately, but this additional certification reflects my training in art therapy. Many providers pursue similar specialty credentials in areas like trauma, EMDR, or perinatal mental health.
Psychologists
Let’s start with psychologists, since this is one of the titles people most often wonder about when searching for therapy.
Education & Training: Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD), advanced training in assessment, diagnosis, and research.
In Michigan, you may also come across Limited Licensed Psychologists (LLPs). These providers hold a master’s degree in psychology rather than a doctorate. LLPs can still provide therapy and counseling, and in some cases, psychological testing. However, they are not doctoral-level psychologists and typically practice under the supervision of a fully licensed psychologist.
Services: Psychological testing (ADHD, learning disorders, personality), therapy, research, academic roles.
When to Choose a Psychologist:
Need a comprehensive evaluation or diagnosis.
Want therapy with someone trained extensively in psychological science
If you want to learn more about psychologists in Michigan, check out the Michigan Psychological Association website.
Therapists
When we talk about therapists, it’s worth starting with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs). That said, most mental health professionals who provide therapy simply call themselves therapists.
The term therapist is a broad, common title used for any clinician licensed to provide counseling, psychotherapy, or therapy. While LMFTs specifically include “therapist” in their licensure title, the role is similar to other licensed therapists in that they provide individual, couples, and family therapy.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists
Education & Training: LMFTs hold a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy and are licensed by the state of Michigan. Their training focuses on relationships, family systems, and mental health across the lifespan.
Services: LMFTs provide individual, couples, and family therapy. Their education often has more of a focus in relationship dynamics and family communication.
When to See an LMFT: Choose an LMFT if you want therapy with a provider whose training is specifically focused on relationships with partners and families. That said, many LMFTs also pursue additional training in other areas, such as anxiety, trauma, or eating disorder treatment, so their expertise can extend beyond family and couples therapy.
If you want to learn more about Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, check out the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy website.
Counselors
Education & Training: Counselors are typically master’s-level clinicians, though some hold doctoral degrees in counseling. Their education focuses on the counseling process—helping people manage stressors, build coping skills, and move toward greater independence.
Services: Similar to therapists, counselors in Michigan provide individual therapy, group therapy, couples counseling, career counseling, and support for stress, anxiety, and life transitions.
Overlap with Therapists: The terms counselor and therapist are often used interchangeably, which can add to the confusion when people search for therapy services.
When to Choose a Counselor:
If you’re looking for therapy to navigate a life change, career decision, or ongoing emotional struggles, a counselor can be a great fit. Many counselors also pursue additional training in specialized areas such as trauma, anxiety treatment, substance use, or sex therapy.
If you want to learn more about counselors—check out the American Counseling Association Website.
Social Workers
Education & Training: Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LMSWs) in Michigan are typically master’s-level clinicians (MSW). Some may go on to earn doctoral degrees in social work (DSW or PhD). Their training combines mental health counseling with a strong focus on systems, resources, and advocacy.
Services: Social workers in Michigan provide a wide range of services. Social workers can provide indivudal, couples, froup, or family therapy. They also work in case management and help with connecting people to resources they may need.
Overlap with Therapists: Many LMSWs work as therapists, so the terms social worker and therapist are often used interchangeably. However, social workers may also have additional expertise in connecting clients to community resources and support systems.
When to Choose a Social Worker:
You want therapy or counseling.
You’re looking for a therapist who also has a background connecting to community resources.
If you want to learn more about social workers in Michigan, check out the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – Michigan Chapter website.
What about Psychiatrists?
Unlike psychologists, therapists, or counselors, psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) who can prescribe medication for mental health conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, or depression. Some psychiatrists also provide therapy, though that is less common in practice.
You may also see other prescribing providers, such as physician assistants (PA-C) or nurse practitioners (NPs). These professionals hold master’s degrees and work under the supervision of a physician. While they are not technically psychiatrists, they often play an important role in mental health care by helping bridge the gap in access to medication management services—a gap that has been growing in recent years.
Which One Is Right for You?
So now that we’ve deciphered these different titles and credentials, you might still be wondering: Which type of therapist is right for me? Here are a few things to consider as you decide:
Focus less on the title and more on:
Do they treat—and have experience with—the issues you’re struggling with (such as anxiety, depression, or stress)?
Do they accept your insurance?
Do you feel comfortable with them?
Since most of these providers are licensed to provide therapy and counseling, it’s often more important to focus on whether they can support your specific mental health goals. Consider whether their availability works with your schedule so you can attend therapy consistently. Ask yourself if you feel comfortable opening up to them—and whether you could eventually talk about deeper, more personal topics.
And remember, it’s okay to “shop around” for the right fit in therapy. Sometimes it takes a session or two to know if a provider is the best match for you.
Therapy Options in Jackson, Michigan
Many mental health providers in Jackson, MI hold titles such as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or Psychologist. While their credentials may differ, they all share the same goal: supporting your mental health.
It’s completely okay to schedule a consultation call and ask about their credentials, additional training, and experience to see how they can best support your goals. With the rise of virtual therapy in Michigan, counseling has become more accessible statewide.
I often hear from clients that the hardest part is simply taking that first step—reaching out to a therapist. Once the appointment is scheduled, many people feel a sense of relief knowing they’ve started the process.
At Create Wellness Counseling, we provide virtual therapy across Michigan. If you’re wondering whether we’d be a good therapy fit, click here to schedule a consultation call
