Can A Counseling Psychologist Or Counseling Psychology Help My Mental Health?

Over 41.7 million US adults saw a counseling psychologist in 2021, and the number is growing as mental health continues to be destigmatized. A licensed counseling psychologist can help individuals identify their strengths while providing resources in coping and resilience strategies. In addition, counseling psychology often involves resolving conflicts and psychological challenges with research-backed therapeutic methods, including talk counseling. Understanding the counseling profession in more detail may help you make an informed decision about the type of care you receive for your mental health. 

The role of psychologists and counseling psychologists in mental health care

A psychologist is an expert of knowledge in the field of psychology and its history. Clinical and counseling psychologists both play significant roles in providing mental health care, addressing a wide range of psychological concerns through evidence-based practices. They study the science of the human mind, focusing on how thoughts lead to feelings and behaviors. Psychologists work in mental health clinics, hospitals, research facilities, online counseling platforms, businesses, and educational institutions. Not all psychologists are counselors. However, counseling psychologists offer therapeutic support, such as talk counseling to help clients make positive changes. 

Types of psychologists and the practice of counseling psychology

Psychologists can engage in diverse professional roles depending on their pre-professional experience, and practice setting. Counseling psychology professionals focus on helping individuals navigate personal challenges and improve their emotional well-being. These include the following psychology and counseling careers:

How a counseling psychologist offers guidance and support for mental health

Also known as a clinical psychologist, counseling psychologists focus on talk counseling to help individuals with mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, grief, anger, or social challenges. A counseling psychologist often works directly with clients whether through one-on-one practice or community settings, and may have a specialty in specific psychological disorders or a therapeutic modality. Not all counselors are psychologists, however. Psychologists can have a doctorate in psychology, whereas counselors often have a master's degree and particular licensing in counseling or clinical social work. 

Online counseling psychologist 

An online counselor uses talk counseling and other methods in psychology in the same way as other in-person psychologists. However, they may practice remotely using online forms of traditional therapeutic approaches. 

School psychologist or counselor

School psychologists are experts in learning, behavior, and mental health. They apply their expertise to help students succeed on many levels, including academically, socially, and emotionally. School psychologists foster a team approach, working with students, parents, and faculty to build a healthy learning environment.

Child psychologist

Child psychologists serve children of all ages, including teenagers. Typical goals for child psychologists and their programs may include helping a child cope with adverse events, improve family relationships, address behavioral challenges, and foster healthy psychological development.

Business and consumer psychologist

A counseling psychologist's career in business may involve various jobs, including working in human resources, designing marketing strategies, and finishing other tasks related to helping the business succeed. They use their sociology and public psychology knowledge to explain which marketing techniques may be most effective. Consumer psychologists often study the decision-making processes consumers use before purchasing a product or service and what motivates them. 

Research psychologist

A research professional designs, oversees, and reports on scientific studies, often in an academic environment. These professionals may write journals and lead research and psychological testing.

Forensic psychologist

Forensic psychologists work within the legal system using scientific methods to investigate the potential psychological aspects of a crime, including motivation and mental health conditions. 

How a counseling psychologist offers guidance for mental health support

According to the American Psychological Association, clinical psychologists have a doctoral degree in clinical psychology have undergone board certification, and often work in various settings, including research, university, and health sectors to address behavioral and mental health issues, such as:

• The Psychology of Mental Disorders

• The Psychology of interpersonal challenges and dysfunctional social behavior

• The Psychology of substance use and dependency 

• The Psychology of traumatic stress reactions and adjustment concerns

• Crisis intervention

Clinical psychologists specialize in different types of talk counseling, such as cognitive-behavioral counseling, dialectical behavior counseling, psychodynamic counseling, or interpersonal counseling. Their work often emphasizes improving both personal and interpersonal functioning, addressing emotional and social challenges that clients may face. Others use a more eclectic approach that relies on merging elements of different types of talk therapies. Algorithm psychology, a step-by-step problem-solving approach, is also used when the problem requires an accurate solution.

Therapy and medication from counseling psychologists and the benefits of counseling psychology

Medications are often prescribed to treat mental disorders and conditions in conjunction with other psychotherapy treatments. Psychotherapy can help individuals manage a wide range of mental and emotional disorders, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. However, psychologists cannot prescribe medication in most states. They work alongside other mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists and social workers, to provide comprehensive care and counseling psychology. A psychiatrist or other medical doctor manages this part of the treatment and may then refer clients to a counselor for talk counseling. However, according to the American Psychological Association, psychologists can prescribe medications in Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Idaho, and New Mexico if they are appropriately trained. 

Please consult your primary care physician before starting, changing, or stopping a medication. 

The BetterHelp platform is not intended to provide any information regarding which medication or medical treatment may be appropriate for you. The content provides generalized information that is not specific to one individual. Do not take any action without consulting a qualified medical professional.

Psychologists, counselors, and counseling psychologists supporting our mental health

If you want to improve your mental health, a counselor may be an advocate in this journey. Psychologists offer a broad range of support, including the following:  

• Counseling with a psychologist can help by them acting as a sounding board

• Contributing observations

• Identifying areas for growth with the use of counseling psychology

• Assisting clients in setting reasonable goals with the use of counseling psychology

• Counseling psychology benefits by helping clients recover from traumatic experiences

• Helping clients alleviate stress and resolve crises using therapeutic methods and counseling in psychology

• Counseling can help in teaching individuals to change dysfunctional thinking patterns related to psychology

• Counseling psychology is good for teaching clients healthy behavioral skills

• Teaching acceptance and resilience through counseling in psychology

Psychologists are often trained in active listening skills and work with their clients at their own pace by offering validation, encouragement, and verbal support. This support can be valuable for individuals struggling to support themselves in this way. A counselor can offer the skills clients seek to be their own advocate in the future. 

Offering expertise 

When starting sessions, the client is often familiar with what has happened to them and how they have dealt with challenges thus far. An advantage of opening up about these areas with a counselor is that they often experience similar concerns from past or current clients. As trained psychologists, they have developed a level of expertise that allows them to see the situation from a professional viewpoint. In addition, they can offer solutions that have proven effective in studies along with their clinical experiences.

Acting as a sounding board

Perhaps you have some ideas about your mental health conditions, what caused them, or how you could make changes. As counseling is a collaborative process for your benefit, psychologists may welcome your opinion on what treatment could suit you best. They can often offer feedback to facilitate your insight.

Contributing observations

Whether you see a therapist for support with depression, anxiety, or work stress, your mental health challenges may affect how you see your situation. In these instances, a therapist can provide an objective perspective. Even if you describe an event in intense emotional terms, the psychologist can glean facts from your description and contribute their objective view.

Helping identify challenges and emotions

Although you may have a general idea of what you're experiencing, a therapist with knowledge of clinical psychology can offer a diagnosis or help you further identify these challenges. There may also be other concerns contributing to your distress. A clinical psychologist uses therapeutic strategies (such as interviews or self-tests) to evaluate your thought processes, emotions, and behavior. These interventions can help the therapist determine if you would benefit from an official evaluation or further treatment. 

How counseling psychologists can help clients identify emotional challenges

Many individuals who have experienced psychological trauma choose to see a therapist to address the emotions surrounding the traumatic event or situation. Counseling psychologists work with their clients and offer listening skills and understanding, as well as insight into the impact of trauma and how it may have affected you. They can guide you to a healthier perspective and offer strategies to build resilience, such as coping skills surrounding emotional control. These resources may include relaxation, breathing, and mindfulness practices. Some evidence-based therapeutic modalities are specifically designed to treat the impact of trauma and mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may improve psychological well-being. 

Helping you set goals for your mental health

If you become overwhelmed by mental, emotional, or behavioral challenges, reaching out to a psychologist may guide you in decision-making. Setting reasonable and achievable goals at first can help remove the overwhelm from counseling. Counseling is often a process and may take time. Your counselor can offer you coping skills as you work to obtain more challenging results. 

Teaching cognitive restructuring 

In many forms of counseling, psychologists work with clients to change thought patterns called cognitive distortions, which are unwanted or unhelpful thoughts. Through cognitive restructuring, a counselor can help you transform your thought patterns concerning troubling events, dysfunctional relationships, or your concept of yourself. In this method, a psychologist may use a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you evaluate, challenge, and modify your unwanted beliefs and transform them into healthy or realistic forms of thought. 

Teaching behavioral change through counseling psychology

Changing thoughts is often used as the doorway to changing behavior. However, along with changing your thoughts, you may benefit from actively choosing different behaviors. You can learn and practice new behavioral skills through roleplay, journaling, brain mapping, and other cognitive techniques with your counseling psychologist.   

Offering support

Counseling psychologists help offer positive reinforcement during times of significant stress and emotional difficulties. Although many people turn to loved ones during a struggle, a counseling psychologist can provide validation, empathy, and compassion through a session dedicated to you. In addition, you can know that their advice is research-backed and from their years of experience. No matter how you think, feel, or behave, your counseling psychologist supports your sincere efforts to improve your mental health and emotional well-being. Below are some additional areas that counseling psychologists can give support:

• Building self-esteem in a counseling session

• Improving relationships with the aid of a professional expert in psychology and counseling

• Recognizing and emphasizing strengths through counseling and therapy

• Addressing issues in decision-making using methods in psychology and counseling

• Counseling can also support in unloading frustrations and grievances

• Encouraging hope and motivation by understanding the psychology of the self

• Counseling with a professional serves as a safe outlet for venting issues 

Online counseling psychologist 

Online counseling psychologists face the same requirements as in-person counselors and can offer many of the same forms of counseling. A counseling psychologist who works through an online platform can provide the same level of emotional support that an in-person psychologist may offer in your community. For example, one study found that people who used BetterHelp experienced a significant decrease in the severity of depression symptoms.

Online therapists

You can begin counseling through a platform like BetterHelp after finishing a questionnaire to be matched with a professional within 48 hours. Without having to leave the comfort of your home, you can begin addressing your mental health concerns with a supportive and understanding online therapist. In addition, BetterHelp's therapists maintain over 1000 hours of supervised clinical experience, at least a master's degree, and an up-to-date license in their state of practice.