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Blog » Types of Therapists and Prescribers: A Guide for College Students Seeking Mental Health Support

Types of Therapists and Prescribers: A Guide for College Students Seeking Mental Health Support

When you're a college student looking for mental health support, understanding the different types of professionals available can help you find the right fit.

What Types of Therapists Are Out There?

  • Social Workers (LCSWs), Counselors (LPCs, LMHCs), Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), and Psychologists (PhDs, PsyDs) provide psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. They do not prescribe medication. While all of these professionals can be referred to as therapists, only doctoral-level clinicians are considered psychologists. Each type of provider has unique training based on their degree, but all are licensed to support mental health. You can see what type of provider each therapist is on ThrivingCampus, and you can filter by provider type.

Providers Who Prescribe Medication

  • Psychiatrists (MDs, DOs) and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) can prescribe medication, and some also offer talk therapy. On ThrivingCampus, use the “Prescribers only” filter to find providers who can prescribe medications.

Knowing these differences can help you feel more confident in choosing the right provider for your needs.

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