Psychology students who are figuring out what kind of psychology professional they’d like to be after graduation often ask the question, what is the difference between a psychotherapist and a clinical psychologist? Although these aren’t the only types of professions, with over seven professions listed in psychology, they are the most popular. Here are some of the ways that these professions are different.
Psychotherapist is an Umbrella Term
One of the biggest differences between these two professions is that one is an umbrella term while the other is a very specific profession; confusion between the two is common and has led to some people seeking help from the wrong professional.
A psychotherapist is an umbrella term, meaning all clinical psychologists, along with other psychology professionals, can put themselves under this term. A psychotherapist is a name that is given to professionals who provide therapy for clients.
Clinical Psychologists Have One Focus
Clinical psychologists differ from psychotherapists in one other major area: the area of emphasis of their work.
Clinical psychologists are either research-focused or applied in their emphasis; this professional can work as a researcher in labs and academic settings or become a therapist that works with clients in a clinical or private setting.
Psychotherapists generally only work in therapy with clients and don’t do any research. They can be found in schools, medical settings, community health centers and more.
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Academic Requirements Matter
When it comes to education, psychotherapists and clinical psychologists have requirements that need to be met before becoming licensed or certified. For both professions, a college education is required, which includes training in a real-world setting and research projects; at least an undergraduate degree is required for anyone looking to become certified in either profession.
But there are differences between the education that is required of psychotherapists and that of clinical psychologists.
Clinical psychologists major in psychology at the undergraduate degree level and then move on into clinical psychology programs at the doctorate level, which requires four more years of school. They are also required to complete clinical placements and a research thesis as well. Only after graduation can this professional seek licensure in their state; requirements for licensure can differ between states.
Psychotherapists, on the other hand, do not require an undergraduate education based in psychology; psychotherapy training begins at the graduate level, so as long as a student comes from a professional background, they will eligible to train as a psychotherapist. This profession requires a graduate education and some applied practice. Some states require psychotherapists to have certifications.
Professional Background can Differ
Professional backgrounds vary widely between psychotherapists and clinical psychologists, meaning that choosing one or the other comes with advantages.
Psychotherapists can have formal training in any profession prior to becoming a professional in psychology. This can include medicine, psychology, public policy, criminal justice, and more. They gain their professional training in this field at the graduate level, taking on internships while in school to understand how the career works.
Clinical psychologists, however, have worked nearly their entire adult life in psychology. Because so much schooling and clinical placements are required for clinical psychologists, they rarely work in any other industry, ensuring that they have a long and successful academic and professional career prior to being certified as a professional.
The psychology field can be difficult to navigate, particularly for students who know whether or not they want to be researchers or therapists. The above article has answered the question, what is the difference between a psychotherapist and a clinical psychologist, and will allow both students and clients find the therapist that works best for them.
See also: Top 25 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Northeast
To be licensed as a Mental Health Counselor in Florida you must have the documents listed below. Endorsement applicants should only submit items 3 through 7. Registered Interns applying for full licensure need items 2 and 4-7.
1. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT: Minimum of an earned master’s degree from an institutionally accredited program in mental health counseling or a closely related field that consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours and required graduate coursework listed below. The transcript will be reviewed for the degree conferred date, required graduate level coursework, and total number of semester hours. A separate practicum letter from the university is required for non-CACREP graduates.
Beginning July 1, 2025, an applicant must have a master’s degree from a program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), or an equivalent accrediting body which consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours to apply for licensure.
NOTE: Electronic Transcripts may be sent through a secure parchment service directly to [email protected]. Please check with your university to see if this service is available.
Mailed transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope from the university or they will not be considered official. A degree conferred date must be listed on the transcript. This document CANNOT< be uploaded in your online account. Official transcripts may be mailed to:
Florida Department of Health
Board of CSW, MFT, and MHC
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin C-08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3258
We hold a national register of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. The main purpose of the UKCP Register is to protect the public, and to provide public confidence in the profession we regulate. Only therapists who meet our exacting standards and training requirements can be on our register. Our register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Find your therapist
To find out if a therapist is registered with UKCP, you can search our UKCP register.
UKCP national register
If the therapist is a member of UKCP but still in training they won’t appear on the register, but you can find them in our separate directory of trainee members.
However, if you are looking for therapy, you may wish to consult our Find a Therapist to search for a therapist near to you. Our Find a Therapist directory lists members on our register who are open to new clients.
If you’re looking for a therapist, you might want to read more about how what psychotherapy is or how to choose a therapist.
Meeting high standards
You can be assured by the high standards of our register because it is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. Every therapist on it is in turn accredited by one of our member organisations and agrees to adhere to:
We conduct random sample audits of our registered members to make sure our standards are being met and maintained. Our register includes psychotherapists, psychotherapeutic counsellors working with adults and those who work with children and young people, and with families.
Psychotherapists undergo a four-year, postgraduate, in-depth and experiential training in how to work with a variety of people with a wide range of emotional distress, mental health issues and difficulties. Psychotherapists are trained in one or more psychotherapy approaches.
Psychotherapeutic counsellors are counsellors who have trained to a UKCP recognised standard (normally graduate level or equivalent). In psychotherapeutic counselling, the emphasis is on the in-depth therapeutic relationship jointly created by the therapist and client.
Psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors working with children and young people, and with families have specific skills, training and experience to work with these clients because it is not the same as working with adult clients.
Some of our psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors who usually work with adults and occasionally work with children and young people may be awarded a Child and Adolescent Proficiency Marker. This shows that they have met a minimum standard of proficiency in relation to therapeutic work with children and young people.
Are all therapists on the UKCP register?
Our register is voluntary. Therapists do not have to register with UKCP or any other organisation, which means that anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist. Choosing a therapist who is UKCP-registered gives you reassurance about their training and qualifications. It means they have agreed to follow ethical codes and standards and to undertake ongoing training and development.
Some of our members may also be registered with statutory bodies such as the General Medical Council (GMC) or Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
If a therapist is not on our register it may be because:
- they have not applied to be on our register
- they have resigned their UKCP membership
- we have removed them from our register (check our complaints hearings and decisions page for more information).
A core element of our service to the public is dealing with concerns and complaints about therapists on our register. We publish decisions arising from complaints cases and information about forthcoming hearings.
Your views are important to us. If you have any comments or suggestions about our register, please let us know.
Trainee directory
UKCP trainee members are completing a training course with a UKCP-registered organisation, or are completing practice hours in order to become a member of a UKCP accrediting organisation. They do not appear in the national UKCP register or on Find A Therapist. Instead, we have a separate listing directory of UKCP trainee members which you can browse by surname to find a specific trainee.
