Difference in degree requirements for Counselor and Therapist?

Question

While doing research for a paper, I've noticed that some people have both counselor and therapist out to the side of their name. What is the difference in these two? What is the difference in education/degree requirements or can someone practice using either title with one degree?

Answer 1

A counselor does not have a practice.It depends on how many years of schooling one has. I only have an associates, that is a two year and many counselors have this degree. You can have a Master's and a Dr.'s it just depends.There are counselors ( 2 year) , therapists 4 year), psychologists6 year or more) and Psychiatrists. (11 or 12 year) The higher up the ladder the more knowledge. As a counselor I would often refer clients to some other agency that had better educated therapists. They would be able to offer much more than I was trained to do.

Answer 2

There are no widely requirements for either title. In fact, in most states people can advertise themselves as counselors, therapists or psychotherapists without any specific qualifications. Many groups treat the terms as meaning about the same thing, so you will see job listings or practicioner registries with categories like "counselor/therapist." Many organizations require at lest a Master's degree to accept someone as a counselor or a therapist (usually in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or Marital and Family Therapy). Oddly enough, there are people who call themselves counselors who have degrees in Marital and Family Therapy, and people who call themselves therapist who have counseling degrees.

At one point, the idea of the therapist was someone who tried to heal illness (i.e. to do "therapy") while a counselor's role was to provid advice and guidance (i.e. to "counsel").

Health Insurance companies often have fairly strict requirements for credentials before they will pay for therapy or counseling - but I have yet to see a company that makes clear distinctions in the type of training required for therapy or counseling.

(This comes from my experience in psychology and in dealing with credentials and insurance)

Answer 3

Counselors have to be licensed. anyone can put therapist beside their name and practice unfortunately. But if someone puts counselor by their name they need to have a license

Answer 4

nothing really! couselors ,counsel pple. therapists counsel!