Therapist vs counselor vs psychologist: What’s the difference? by Angela Myers | Jan 12, 2026 | Beginning Therapy, Mental Health Topics Trying to figure out mental health care can be confusing. Therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners—they all treat anxiety and depression, but the titles seem interchangeable. Then there are the licensing abbreviations (LPC, LMFT, Psy.D) that vary by state, making it even harder to know where to start. Understanding…